22 December 2024
Good Morning Everyone,
We hope the weekend has been good for you and everyone you love.
Saturday was a wonderful day on the Canadian Prairies. It was warmer, -7 C , but a little windy. No snow!
The birds and squirrels enjoyed the contents of the basket, just without the basket! Both Crows came to feed along with more than fifty Starlings, more Sparrows than I could count, a Little Woodpecker (Mrs Downy), and ALL of the squirrels, including dear Dyson. There was, sadly, only one Blue Jay. I have not gotten close enough to tell if Mr or Mrs Junior is missing. It just saddens me. Brock had his meal. So, for the most part, all is good with the world in the garden.
The deer were across from the park near me when we left them a large bag of apples, sweet potatoes, and carrots Saturday afternoon. The conservation officers disapprove. Four of us feed them because there is no food except the shrubs and Brandon Cedars planted in people’s front gardens for them since their forest area was cleared.
There were deer at another park. It is such a pleasure to see them. It is a large area with lots of bush. They appeared healthy and people driving through were very cautious of their presence. What a change from those near to where I live that drive way too fast.
It was a lovely day. Good food, many laughs, and time outside.
I did little checking on the birds. Let’s see what is happening with a few of them.
SK Hideaways gives us Hartley and Monty with a brand new brilliant camera at San Jose. Gosh, aren’t they adorable?! I love peregrine falcons except for the anxiety and challenges they face living in an urban environment like these two. https://youtu.be/cKE8Habt8BU?
At Port Lincoln yesterday. No fish have been delivered yet on Sunday.
Mum brought in a massive fish on Sunday at 1122, and it looks like Wilko claimed it.
The cuteness factor is in the nest of M15 and F23. No other place! Well, not yet.
They eat and eat and SK Hideaways caught in on video: https://youtu.be/4q-WM3nfazg?
‘J’ writes: “I think both of the E’s are going to be mighty survivors, both feisty as can be! F23 must also be a buddha reincarnation. She takes M15’s shenanigans in stride and now completely ignores her kids pulling her feathers.” We all agree!
A good video showing E25 making a prey steal! https://youtu.be/QCCEPfR4ZBY?
The rebuilding at Johnson City ETSU has begun. Jolene and Boone will make quick work of all that is required.
‘I did not catch Jackie or Shadow at the nest in Big Bear Valley.
There has been some concern for what is happening at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau. Some chatters are worried that something is the matter. Gabby is giving Beau much more incubation time than she did last year. Last year, Beau wasn’t ready. this year it appears he is and he is happily looking after those eggs. Gabby appears to be fine but leaving the eggs which seems odd. Send good energy please just in case.
Ban one and keep another. Killing any bees is not good for the planet.
UK to ban bee-killing pesticides but highly toxic type could still be allowedhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/21/uk-ban-bee-killing-pesticides-highly-toxic-neonicotinoid-could-be-allowed?CMP=share_btn_url
Sadly, bird flu is causing many deaths as migrating birds carrying the virus move south. Thanks, Sunnie Day.
Bird flu has spiked in parts of the U.S. In Iowa, migrating birds play a role
The recent outbreaks at several poultry operations in northwest Iowa are connected to a virus circulating in wild birds. A different strain infected 13 dairies and 3 poultry operations in late May and June.
Looking to help. Donate produce to your local wildlife rehab clinic! Leave food for squirrels, not just birds!
Recent research shows that 40% of the food in North America is wasted. Calico’s Tip for the Day: Buy Less, Use it All, Never throw anything away!
My son is visiting Curacao for a wee holiday. He posted a beautiful photo of a Common Ground Dove on her nest. Isn’t she gorgeous? This is the tinest dove living in the Caribbean. It grows only to a length of 16 cm or a fraction over 6 inches.
I am used to seeing the Zenaida or Eared Dove. I could tell this one by the yellow on its beak. The Audubon Field Guide describes its habitat thus: “Farms, orchards, wood edges, roadsides. Mostly in semi-open habitats with low brush and grass. In the southeast, found mostly in brushy fields, understory of open pine woods, forest edges. In southwest, occurs in similar habitats including orchards, ranch yards, mesquite thickets along streams.”
All About Birds describes its feeding habits, “Common Ground Doves make their living by gleaning small seeds from wild grasses and weeds. They are also common visitors to bird feeders. They may specialize on certain seeds during the summer, when food is abundant, but eat a variety of seeds during winter. Ground doves also feed on small berries and insects. In spring and summer they may eat snail shells, possibly to replenish the calcium devoted to eggs and crop-milk during nesting.”
Their challenges are habitat loss, including areas where they can nest, cat predation or accidentally by people, and car collisions. They are currently of low concern in terms of conservation.
Hugo Yugo wishes everyone sweet dreams.
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. It is very busy everywhere, and people are not watching or taking care on the roads. Most of all, breathe. Take time to enjoy the very simple pleasures. Take a walk. Listen to the birds. Watch them. Take any loads off your shoulders. Be kind. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write this post today: ‘A, CM, J’, SK Hideaways, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Lady Hawk, ETSU-Johnson City, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, The Guardian, National Geographic, Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue and Rehab, Iowa Public Radio, Audubon Field Guide, Cornell Bird Lab All About Birds
Interesting bit: Analyzing growth rings-the tree pictured looked like it didn’t have 41,000-42,000 rings, what exactly did they do? Could it have been carbon-dated?
I Googled this and found an article from 2021:
https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-kauri-trees-capture-last-collapse-earth-s-magnetic-field
…and another from 2019, does talk about Carbon-dating it:
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-tree-discovered-earths-magnetic-field-1447570
Go well. ~~Reets
I wonder, too. I am not sure I can find out but carbon dating sounds possible.
There’s animated snow falling on this page, really cute—thank you for the personal touch. I’m thinking it is a reflection of the snow in the Canadian prairie ❄️
Apparently I can have the snow until the 4th of January. I am so glad you like it!
Gabby’s behaviour at NEFL is worrying. Gabby is usually very diligent about incubating but over the past day or so has left the eggs unattended for lengthy periods, relying on Beau to incubate right through the night last night and again tonight it seems. Even when she was in the nest, she was at one stage simply standing over the eggs for 90 minutes, leaving them without warmth. She also appears to be slightly unbalanced when getting up off the eggs or moving around. Something is definitely ‘not quite right’ with Gabby, and I cannot help but wonder whether there will be eaglets at NEFL at all this season.
Meanwhile, the Es are eating up a storm at SWFL. The little family is adorable, with M15 even going so far as to feed F23 some dinner on the nest around 18:00 last night. TOO adorable. The bobbleheads are both feisty but largely get along well. Any aggression is very short-lived and without real malice behind it. And how cute is E25’s head-feather decoration?