Phenology Update 14 April 2013
We have a new bird that showed up last week at the feeders. The bright yellow bill caught my attention as did the stripes on the head. Turns out to be a White-crowned Sparrow. We usually don't see many sparrows here, so this one has been rather unusual. Reading up on them, they normally hang out by willows - none of which we have on the property, but just over the ridge in almost any direction is a creek full of them. Perhaps the spring snows has brought him to the feeders. Another source said they often crowd out Juncos from their nesting spots - and we have lots of juncos and places for them to nest. The other day while cleaning up the bird feeder leavings from the ground below the … Read more...
The Myth of Spring
"Man, I wish spring would show up!" I overheard this lament again in a store the other day. But it is spring. The birds are all singing their courtship/territorial songs. Chipmunks are out as soon as it warms even briefly during the day chasing each other around to start the business of building families. The deer have started to shed their winter coats and look a little rough around the edges for it. The aspen are starting to send out their catkins - haven't you been sneezing, too? Spring is all around us! "There shouldn't be snow this time of year!" But the snow that falls now soaks gently and more deeply into the soil. It has a different quality about it, haven't you noticed? And … Read more...
Working…
Working today on my phenology notebook (among many other projects). Lots of work to transfer the digital record over to the analog notebook, and I'm liking how it's coming together. Not long ago I found the old notebook I kept when we had been in this house for only a couple of years. That was back before I stopped recording things for awhile. I entered in all the older data to the list here on the site. Now I'm hand writing it in this notebook, and found a system for adding in photos. Using Becky Higgins' 4x12 pocket pages, I snipped off the top pocket carefully through the middle of the seal line. Then I folded a piece of scratch paper over, slipped the plastic pocketed page in the 3 hole … Read more...
Rosy Finches Return
On Sunday, the 24th, the Gray-crowned Rosy Finches returned in the same numbers as before - around 100-125. The flock had split up, but then group after group descended on us for over an hour, much to the disgust of the other regulars who hung in the trees nearby, watching the crowd. Part of the flock lifted and headed in the direction of another known feeder in the area. Those that stayed shared pretty well with the Evening grosbeaks, chickadees & nuthatches, as well as with the Downy woodpeckers. This continued for the bulk of the time before the rest came back in. In checking up on these guys, it seems they'll be heading north soon to nest in Canada and Alaska, so maybe … Read more...
Giveaway and Sale!
Giveaway Alert! Head on over to Cathy Zielske's blog to enter in the giveaway of a Field Journaling Binder + 125 Sheets of Field Journaling paper. Sale Alert! The paper and binders are all marked down for this week only in the shop. … Read more...
