Nature & Wildlife Thread

[Tula]

How to Turn Cities Into Pollinator Sanctuaries

Curtailing light pollution, starting a seed library and other ways metro areas are bringing pollinators back.

nextcity.org

Really interesting article. I love the idea of people " connecting " habitats to prevent fragmentation. I know our members sure do their part

 

[Burd]

I saw 2 of the brown/black bristle type and I had to move one to safety, , he was in my hand.
Also, I have a squirrel rehabber friend, she just got theses 2 in. View attachment 124779View attachment 124780

the one is a flying Squirrel, , I’ve never seen one. I didn’t think they were in Michigan.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Really interesting article. I love the idea of people " connecting " habitats to prevent fragmentation. I know our members sure do their part

I often feel like my garden is an extension of two nearby habitats. It doesn't "connect" them together, but it's an additional source of food and shelter near them, ultimately making the area just slightly more beneficial to the wildlife that already lives in the area. If everyone did the same, we could connect so many different habitat fragments together.

I don't know if humanity will ever get there, but I hope so. I don't think most humans are able to comprehend that all of this land around us was once a lush habitat. We need to bring back as much of that as possible, whether in full fledged habitat restorations or in small native gardens. Planting native trees is a big deal, too. Especially in areas that were historically forested.

 

[Tula]

I often feel like my garden is an extension of two nearby habitats. It doesn't "connect" them together, but it's an additional source of food and shelter near them, ultimately making the area just slightly more beneficial to the wildlife that already lives in the area. If everyone did the same, we could connect so many different habitat fragments together.

I don't know if humanity will ever get there, but I hope so. I don't think most humans are able to comprehend that all of this land around us was once a lush habitat. We need to bring back as much of that as possible, whether in full fledged habitat restorations or in small native gardens. Planting native trees is a big deal, too. Especially in areas that were historically forested.

I completely agree! We've been slowly transforming our yard over the last decade and it's wonderful to see so much wild life. I like the idea we can connect our habitats, it's hopeful

 

[Burd]

I was putting a pc of cinnamon bread in the toaster from out of its wrapper, (bag) and I then noticed this spider inside the bag on the bread. I pitched all of it. I should have called the maker. Here you see it was eating a pc of the frosting WT
Trachelas tranquillus
(Broad-faced Sac Spider)

 

[j.w]

How big was it? The photo makes it look huge. He/she has a sweet tooth Spiders are our friends but I would not want to ingest their eggs or droppings

 

[Tula]

Oh my !! That would certainly be a shock and curb one's appetite !

 

[Burd]

I ate like 4-5 PCs the days before.
it was about the size of a penny. Pretty big for being in a loaf of bread.

 

[j.w]

You might turn into a mighty Spiderman in a few days, just in time for Halloween

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Hiked the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail today to get one of the last glimpses of autumn color before it all fades away.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Haven't gotten outdoors much lately, but I took some time today to hike into the woods to check out the small stream. It dries up during summer so I haven't seen it in months. It'll now either be flowing or frozen for the next five or six months.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

A local park has land that includes an 18 acre farm field. I've mentioned in the past that I had been hearing talk that there were plans to turn it into a prairie. That was eventually confirmed. It was announced in the summer of 2018 that it was going to be seeded in late 2018. I visited multiple times late last year, eventually realizing that it wasn't happening. I knew that it meant the process would be pushed at least one year behind.

Earlier this autumn, and noticed there had been some activity. The weedy field was cut down, and I assumed they also spray an herbicide to control the invasives that grew there. I continued to wait for some good news, but as snow started falling and December came, my hopes again started fading away, thinking that it would once again be pushed another year.

This morning, great news! I received an email saying the farm field was seeded with native species yesterday!

Here's a photo shared by Root-Pike WIN.

I can hardly wait to explore the prairie in future years. It'll take a few years or more to truly look like a prairie, but it should be fun to see the process over the next few years.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

A nice walk along the Pike River today.

A newly constructed beaver dam crosses the river.

 

[Burd]

Heading out a Christmasmas afternoon, we saw like 10 turkeys at a neighbors house. Lol

 

[GBBUDD]

Heading out a Christmasmas afternoon, we saw like 10 turkeys at a neighbors house. LolView attachment 125827

Come to Connecticut and go to the State House in the morning you'll see hundreds of turkeys going to work each morning