We went snowshoeing in the conservation land this morning. Not too many fresh tracks since the snow was still falling and the animals are probably still burrowed up. Usually there are squirrel, rabbit, deer, and coyote tracks. We hear the coyotes at night often, but never saw one until last November. It was 7am, and he walked quietly out of the woods - stood there facing our house, then turned, marked his territory, and trotted down the path. We thought we wouldn't be seeing any deer for a while, but the next week 4 of them appeared in almost the same spot - also in the morning. Here's a photo I took on our walk - a curtain of pine boughs. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! :-). I didn't realize Steve was in the shot.
Cornell University's Great Backyard Bird Count is happening now! They collect data on bird species and their whereabouts from all over the country at this time each year, and you can help. It's easy to participate - just look out your window for 15 minutes each day, today through Monday, and fill out a form on their website noting what species you saw and how many. Here are some notes from their FAQ: How is the information from the GBBC used? Bird populations are constantly changing. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to keep track of the complicated patterns of movement of so many species over an entire continent. The information from GBBC participants becomes even more valuable as scientists try to learn how birds are affected by environmental changes. The information you send in can provide the first sign that individual species may be increasing or declining from year to year. It shows how a species’ range expands or shrinks over time. A big change,...
To wspaniałe mieszkać blisko lasu i móc obserwować zwierzęta nawet zimą. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to live close to the woods and be able to watch the animals, even in winter. Yours.
Sherry, I'm starting to wonder about you! you are up at 7am AND walking in the cold and snow!!??
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly someone who appreciates their surroundings, I can tell!
I am ashamed to say I have a conservation area just a mile from me, but have never gone...
If I DID go, I would not go at 7am! Good for you!
What a way to start the day!
Sis
Hi Sissy, we saw the coyote and deer from the kitchen window at 7am - getting ready for work. If I snowshoe, hike, or cross country ski - it's usually late morning!
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