Fox Haven Journal

Beau May 24th, 2008

We have a few thirsty hummingbirds that visit the feeders each day.  The only resident species here in Missouri is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  The female in this picture seems to take turns with the male at the feeder many times during the day.  In a few weeks there will be young hummingbirds flying all around, and then it’s like a festival at the feeders with little birds zooming everywhere.   

It’s hard to believe these little birds migrate all the way to Mexico and Central America.  It doesn’t seem possible for an animal that weights 1/8 of an ounce, but their tiny hearts beat faster than 4 times each second while resting and more than 20 times per second while flying and feeding.

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Beau May 17th, 2008

 I was walking along minding my own business when I was dive-bombed by a Bluebird.  They had been  rearing young in the nest boxes, and as I looked down I found this little guy sitting in the grass.  Another fledgling was in the garden a few feet away.  Very strange because they couldn’t even fly yet.  I left them alone and when about my business. 

Later that evening as the sun dipped below the horizon, I found another one near the door of the barn, all alone.  Not a Bluebird adult in sight and that one looked even more pitiful.  I usually leave wildlife alone knowing that nature knows much better about how to take care of itself than I do, but we were due for cold and heavy rain that night and I had a feeling the little guy wouldn’t make it.  So I plunked him back in the nest box near the garden.  He (she?) hopped right in and looked at me hungrily.  I said goodnight, and the next day checked the box again.  The bird was gone.  Maybe it’ll grow up around here with the others. 

There are quite a few Bluebirds flying about the grass now, eating crane flies and other morsels, with the little ones hopping and flying about.  I love how they eat so many bugs.  Of course I wasn’t too thrilled with the Phoebe’s the other day- they were perched above the beehives snacking on my new workers!

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Beau May 2nd, 2008

Sometimes I think I should call this blog The Pond Watcher based on how often I find myself looking wistfully at the water.   Mostly I simply enjoy watching all the critters that live in, on or around it.  Many animals just visit briefly, which keeps it interesting.  But lately we’ve had a family of Canada Geese visiting with their youngsters. 

So I guess I’m gandering at the gander, the goose and the goslings :)  There are a few ponds in the area, and the geese actually walk for hundreds of yards through the fields to different ponds with the goslings in tow.  They have also nested here in the past, but I discourage that due to all the, well… you know what.  We live right here at the pond, and with too much of the ah, you know what laying around, it becomes quite messy.   But the geese have prevailed this year, and I’ll enjoy watching them swim around the pond.

Of course the little goslings are very cute to watch, but the harsh realities of nature takes its toll as there were seven little guys following the parents around last week, and now there are only four left.  We have a lot of hawks, coyotes, foxes, fish and turtles around…  But maybe these four will make it to adulthood?  There is no shortage of Canada Geese in the midwest, but it’s neat to watch them grow and learn to fly.

• Birds , Wildlife, Insects and Pets
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Beau April 22nd, 2008

Its been a busy few days and the pace of spring just amazes me.  We finally had time to get most of the garden planted, even earlier than last year.  Hooray! Not being satisfied with last year’s cucumbers, I planted four different kinds this year.  Now if I can only remember which ones I planted where… doh!

We’ve been planting many small trees around the property, and transplanting a few others.  Isn’t it wonderful to dig in the earth once in a while?  My hands are sore but somehow after packing a tree in it’s new home in the ground it actually feels like you’re doing something.  This year we need to put up some deer fencing, or the trees won’t make it to next spring. 

Ah, but I just remembered it’s Earth Day today!  I hope everyone has a chance to get outside and enjoy the wonders of spring. 

The American Toads (Bufo americanus) have been trilling in and out of the pond, and their chorus is amazing at the height of mating season.  We had a picnic down by the pond and watched them calling and laying gelatinous masses of eggs.   

The toads can be found all around the ridgelines and around the house during the year, so it’s interesting to see them in the water during breeding season.  My picture of Toad Love last year was about 20 feet from the water’s edge. The males grab tightly to the back of the females and they find a weedy place near the shoreline to lay the eggs.   It was funny watching them swim tandem under the water for 4-5 feet at a time, and then come popping up!

We must have seen about 30 toads along 50 feet of the pond shoreline.  Here’s a lone male trying to lure a female to the sound of his voice.   From what we saw, most of the female toads were already spoken for.  Keep tryin’ fella! 

 They didn’t seem to mind our presence… they had a job to do.  These masses of eggs will become thousands of tadpoles in a few weeks.

We appreciate the toads because they eat a lot of insects as well.  In mid-summer, they can be found near the house under the porch lights having bugs for dinner.

For those not inclined to appreciate the merits of toads, here’s a bloom of Wood Sorrel.  But it’s funny, my toad post from last year also had a picture of Wood Sorrel. 

My new late-April spring saying:  The Toads are in love when the Wood Sorrel blooms. 

And the Baltimore Orioles have returned, although they only stay for a few weeks it seems.  This one’s plumage is a little dull compared to those I saw last year, but it’s also about two weeks early.  Maybe a female? Or will the coloration become brighter orange with time?  I may try to set out some orange slices and a feeder to see what happens.

And I did see the first Hummingbird today already.  I put up the feeders yesterday in case, but didn’t know they were really back yet.  Our Barn Swallows are busy working on their nest, and it seems we’ll have two mating pairs this year.  So lots of Barn Swallows to take care of the bugs too.  I was hoping for some Purple Martins, and one actually landed on the Martin house this week- but was promptly chased away by a House Sparrow of all things.  I’ve got to remove that sparrow’s nest…  For now it’s back to planting trees.   Enjoy the day!

• Birds , Wildlife, Insects and Pets , Science
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Beau April 12th, 2008

Our friend the Great Blue Heron has returned.  It doesn’t nest here, but makes the rounds in the morning to try and find a meal or two.  I was walking back toward the pond the other day and saw it flying away with a very large bulge in its neck.  “That better not be our koi!” I shouted.  Last year we found a huge bluegill laying on the bank with big scissor marks down both sides of its body.  The heron had grabbed and tried to eat it, but couldn’t.

All things being equal (which they’re not), I would rather the heron feed somewhere else.  I’ve heard that some koi owners lose all the fish in their ponds to herons.  Can’t blame them for finding food where it’s most convenient. They are beautiful birds, but we like managing our own fish population!

As I walked closer to the heron it flew away over the pond with a raucous “Aawwwk!”.

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Beau April 7th, 2008

Somehow we are reassured with constancy, or at least routine.  Not that I prefer routine mind you, but I appreciate predictability.  It helps frame our experience, or maybe serves as a foundation for other aspects of our lives.  But then again, I’ve always thrived with chaos and change.

The Barn Swallows represent a constant in my life, and predictability as well as strength.  They returned last night.  Funny… at dinner I was musing about when the Barn Swallow’s would return because last year it was on the 7th of April… today.  Or at least that’s when I noticed them last year.

But then after dinner I went out to clean up a few things and as I sat gazing at the sky, our feathered friend swooshed overhead!  I thought I was seeing things, but then the other swallow of the pair flew by and I smiled, yelling “Welcome back!” to these fleet birds intent on their mission.  I marveled at their speed and hurried pace.  The day had been warm and insects were emerging everywhere.  So the swallows were having their supper.

How do they fly to South America in late summer and back here 6-7 months later to arrive on about the same day?   This morning I took the young boy to meet the bus, and we watched the swallows flying low over the fields.  Returning to the house, I saw one perched above the roof, preening and enjoying the morning sun after a long journey.  It looked at me briefly and then away.

I wondered what was different along the journey that the barn swallow may have encountered, and what might be different here.  We are different perhaps, and then we are also the same.

I love the chaos and change that seasons represent, and yet too their predictability.  We’ve had our share of dynamic weather, and yet the seasons, the birds, the morning sunshine -  all are new, and all flows as one.

• Reflections , Birds , Seasons
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Beau March 23rd, 2008

A welcome day as the flood waters are receeding in towns across the region, and for Easter of course. This is the earliest time of year that I can ever remember celebrating Easter. The young one awoke with excitement in his eyes to find out what the Easter Bunny may have brought. Finding (and now hiding) Easter eggs is something I remember fondly too. My father used to enjoy hiding eggs around the house, and many family members may have found an egg or two in the old piano. This is now the young boy’s favorite hiding place as well. Another early memory of mine is when our mother baked little Easter cakes for all the boys. I must have been 10 or 11 years old. It was exciting to find your own special cake on Easter!

We colored our eggs yesterday, and the boy was very proud of this one- it turned out blue from mixing other dyes together. Now why the Easter Bunny takes our colored eggs out of the refrigerator and hides them is a question we just haven’t answered yet.. :)

We awoke to light snow this morning, but it quickly melted. You can just see a little on the top of the stump which was under water a few days ago. This is the normal “full” level for the pond, until summer sets in with less rainfall. A couple of male Wood Ducks are enjoying time to forage in the shallows nearby.

• Birds , Seasons , Family and School
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Beau March 21st, 2008

Spring is finally here as we eagerly await the warmer days.  Yet so much rain has fallen in the region this week that many areas are still expecting flooding today and tomorrow.  By next week all is forecast to return to normal, but it’s always amazing how fast nature can change our lives.  The animals and birds just “are” and each day is one of gathering, building… living.   We are not so different.

Today this Tufted Titmouse has been working at the last of the suet I put out for the woodpeckers.

A Rufous-sided Towhee stopped by for a visit the other morning.  They must head south in the fall because this is the first one I’ve seen or heard in quite a while.

We enjoyed the first sunset of spring yesterday.  I never tire of watching the sun fade behind the trees, or over the horizon at sea.

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Beau March 19th, 2008

We’ve had so much rain the past few days that many areas have flooded already.  I started wondering where Noah was building the ark yesterday…  Some of the smaller towns have evacuated people temporarily, and the larger rivers may not crest yet for a few days. Let’s hope the water doesn’t rise too fast. We received over 3-4 inches of rain this week at Fox Haven, so everything is very soggy and muddy. At least the water table will be strong going into the summer this year.

We do sit up fairly high, although a large watershed drains into the pond.  We’ve never seen water crest the dam, and I hope I never do.  But it was within a foot or two yesterday, and the water rushed out the spillway to the side of the dam and down through the woods.  Today it’s all colored brown and muddy.

Here’s a picture of our “rain gauge stump” under the water for half the day yesterday.  Today it’s finally back a few inches above again as the water drains.

Compare the picture above to this one of the same stump!  This is our “Old Man in the Stump” and in August last year he was quite dry. Hopefully we’ll have a little more rain through the summer this year.

But not everyone minds the rain and high water.  These wood ducks enjoyed playing all around the shoreline, but kept a wary eye out too!

• Rural Living , Birds
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Beau March 11th, 2008

The season is changing fast… and what’s a “harbinger” anyway?! All I know is that we went from freezing at night to a beautiful warm afternoon today, and it just feels like spring is coming. I think the plants and critters are feeling it too.

We planted this dwarf apple tree about 18 months ago- it’s about 3-4 years old. Last year’s blossoms were snapped by the late spring freeze, but maybe we’ll see an apple this year? The tree is still young, but we’ll see! The apple trees we planted last year have all been chewed by deer at night. I need to put up some kind of fence because they just chew the buds, leaves and shoots as fast as they grow.

The Red-winged Blackbird is a very common bird, but we only see a couple of them in the area. This one is looking for a handout near the feeders.

While working outside I heard what sounded like the high nasal whistling sounds of White-fronted Geese and finally saw them very high up. Last year I watched a small flock fly in over the treetops and land on the pond- I had never seen them up close before with their yellow legs! These could also be Snow Geese which have become too abundant across many regions of North America.

The Pussy Willow tree is blooming early with it’s fuzzy “catkins”.

And here’s one of the Pileated Woodpecker holes in a large Oak tree. There were many other smaller holes near the base of the tree, but the depth of this one is amazing. Hard to appreciate the size of the hole- I need to use something for reference next time, but this one’s about the size of a half-dollar. I’m curious about what insects are in the tree that the woodpecker is after.

I can say that there were a ton of paper wasps around this tree last year, near a woodpile I was stacking. When I got too close to the area with the tractor the wasps would buzz all around. Ever try to run away from a wasp on a tractor? Just not going to happen if they’re really angry. But I never knew where they were coming from, so maybe it’s inside this tree? I woudn’t have noticed the holes/cavities near the base if the woodpecker had not been tearing it up this year. Hmmm… It’s kind of close to the barn so I’m tempted to seal it up with expanding foam.

About an hour before sunset we were amazed to see a hot air balloon cruising across the treetops! The young boy ran around waving and yelling “Hi!” Not sure they heard us, but it was fun to watch! Made me wonder what people in rural America must have thought when airplanes began flying around the countryside in the days of the barnstormers. I would have really loved that…

• Birds , Seasons , Wildlife, Insects and Pets
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