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THUNDERSNOW
At the feeder,
cold and hungry,
birds of a different feather
flocked together,
creating a temporary
neighborhood of necessity.
Posts Tagged ‘bird feeders’
Bird watching, an earthquake, and a trip to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
There was a bit of a cool down this week, with several mornings in the twenties after a week in the much higher temperatures. Mother Nature even threw in an inch of snow one morning. Then at the end of the week, it was up in the high seventies again. Then, the skies opened last night [April 23] with a downpouring of rain and that lasted most of today [April 24]. We had well over an inch and a half, just looking at my little creek that goes under the driveway. The culvert on the ski trail was partially plugged and the water was running down along the trail and into my pond until I cleaned out the culvert. The pond was getting enough water from the spring creek that runs into it…and it was up about a foot.
Peeking at backyard wildlife: A flying squirrel and barred owl
The couple inches of snow on Friday night [March 10] got us through the weekend for Snofest. It looks like we might need a snowmobile to get around this week, if all the snow predictions come true. Looking at the weather map, they are getting much more to the south of us just like most of the storms this year…some went south of us, and some went north of us. I did see some skiers enjoying the new snow on the ski trail out back both Saturday and Sunday [March 11 and 12.] I could hear the snowmobiles going up the shoulder of the road out front while here at my computer.
Keeping bird feeders safe and clean
These simple tips can ensure your feeder is a safe source of food for birds all year long.
Feeding birds is one of the great joys for winter birders. While setting up a feeder of your own can be fun, it comes with the responsibility of keeping your feeder birds safe. Follow these tips to make sure your feeder brings your local birds as much joy as it brings you!
A traditional Adirondack Spring with the return of old man winter, lots of bird watching
Old man winter returned today (Sunday, March 27) as it snowed most of the day. I hadn’t checked my little pond behind the house, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there would be some wood frog eggs in it after the warm week we’ve had. Last year I saw eggs in some little pond along Trail 5 when there was snow all the way around them. I don’t know if those made it, but the ones behind the house hatched.
The newts feed on those little polliwogs and so do baby painted turtles. I watched them catch some right by the dock at Francis Lake one day. It was a busy day in the bird world today (March 27) as the snow was on the ground when I got up and it snowed most of the day. Looking down on the dam at the carcass there was a Red-tailed Hawk, six Ravens and two Turkey Vultures working for a snack.
Flock of 100 snow geese fly over Ferd’s Bog, full house at feeders
Winter held on [as of March 14] with a little more snow and cold weather giving the snowmobilers and skiers another weekend to do their thing. The cross-country skiing was the best it has been all winter with enough powder on top of the crust you could just about ski anywhere and still have control. The couple of warmer days before the snowstorm encouraged a few birds to move north.
As I went out to move the new fallen snow on Saturday [March 12], I heard a Robin and had two Grackles at the feeder. A few others that I contacted had Redwing Blackbirds and then on Sunday [March 13] I had a Song Sparrow feeding among over one hundred mixed flock of Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskins and one lonely Common Redpoll.
That same day over at Ferd’s Bog I had a flock of 100 Snow Geese flying west into the wind go low overhead. I picked up another male Red Crossbill on Parkhurst Road [in Inlet] on Sunday [March 13] so I don’t think that pair will have any young with no one to feed the female on the nest. There may be only three cars that travel that road a day, and I’ve picked up five dead Crossbills there in two weeks. I also saw a Raven flying down the road with a Crossbill in its beak, so I don’t find them all.
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Latest News Headlines
- State admits violating ban on motorized vehicles in Adirondack wilderness
- Adirondack climate change forecasts by the numbers
- Akwesasne Travel wants to educate visitors about Mohawk culture
- Adirondack Explorer, NCPR partner on Report for America grant
- Lake Placid authority bids to host 2026 Olympic sliding events - Adirondack Explorer
- Lake Placid authority bids to host 2026 Olympic sliding events
- Bridge that carries U.S. Route 9 over Ausable River reopens | NCPR News
- How literacy volunteers help ESL learners unlock their potential
- Adirondack artist draws attention to challenges facing renters
- Key stretch of Adirondack Rail Trail is complete
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Reminiscing about wreath making with mother and grandmother
The fourteen inches of snow we got last weekend [is] now just a memory. What I see today [Dec. 4] is about two inches of wet slush with a combination of rain and wet snow falling outside, [and a] temperature of 32 degrees. The way my little intermittent brook is flowing today, we must have gotten well over an inch of rainfall yesterday [Dec. 3]. The outlet of my pond is flowing a full tube this afternoon, with mink tracks in the snow around the open water. I pulled all my pine marten traps last Thursday and only got two this season. With the beechnut crop as good as it was, these little critters are hard to attract to any bait when they have nuts to eat. I didn’t see an influx of mice around the garage, even with the big nut crop. I did have some chipmunks and a few gray and black squirrels move through my feeder area, but [it was] not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
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