Nature & Wildlife Thread

[JBtheExplorer]

I hiked through Campus Park today, which is a yet-to-be developed park.

I've always thought this would be a perfect location for a prairie restoration. It's attached to another park that has woodlands, wetlands, and a small prairie restoration, and would've been a huge benefit for wildlife in the area. Instead, the plan is for it to be heavily focused on sports and events. It does appear in that some habitat will be created, which will be really good.

Just to the north is Smolenski park, which is the evergreen woodland you can see in the second and third photos above. Further to the north of that woodland is the small prairie restoration I've shared a few times this year. This is the first year of restoration after being seeded last winter. I didn't notice many native plants this year, so I'm hoping to see changes next year, though it'll take at least a few years and a few burns to really establish.

 

[TheFishGuy]

I hiked through Campus Park today, which is a yet-to-be developed park.

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I've always thought this would be a perfect location for a prairie restoration. It's attached to another park that has woodlands, wetlands, and a small prairie restoration, and would've been a huge benefit for wildlife in the area. Instead, the plan is for it to be heavily focused on sports and events. It does appear in that some habitat will be created, which will be really good.

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Just to the north is Smolenski park, which is the evergreen woodland you can see in the second and third photos above. Further to the north of that woodland is the small prairie restoration I've shared a few times this year. This is the first year of restoration after being seeded last winter. I didn't notice many native plants this year, so I'm hoping to see changes next year, though it'll take at least a few years and a few burns to really establish.



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Cant people leave anywhere undeveloped, just because there is an open plot of land does not mean there has to be buildings on it.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Cant people leave anywhere undeveloped, just because there is an open plot of land does not mean there has to be buildings on it.

The problem - not in this case, but in most - is that developers are the ones who have the money to buy land.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I visited an area I haven't been to in years. Last time I was there, the trails were overgrown and tick infested. The group that owns this property and a few others has a habit of not maintaining the trails. I don't mind imperfect trails, but long grass is the worst.
That wasn't a worry this time of year, but the place could definitely use some TLC. Here are a few decent photos I managed to capture. Everything else was a thicket.

 

[addy1]

I watched two spike bucks do pretend fighting in the field this am. One has a healed but broken front leg. We saw it months ago, figured by now it had passed, but it is still doing ok. It could not fight the other buck at all, but it was more play than fighting.

Good looking bucks even with the healed leg, it healed with a bend in it, the buck limps.

Earlier, still pretty dark, a beautiful 8 pointer ran through the yard, chasing a doe.

 

[corgi]

 

[Burd]

Finally saw a Buck here in my yard.

 

[corgi]

duck ramp

 

[JBtheExplorer]

A hike at Tabor Woods yesterday.

 

[Burd]

White tails

 

[Mike in Vermont]

I was going to clean up this guy for a pic but, got the impression he didn't want to be disturbed.

 

[addy1]

Taking a snooze!

 

[GBBUDD]

that's one old looking turtle

 

[Mike in Vermont]

I went to the lock at Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie canal in south Florida today. There was about 50 of these huge birds. Their Bill was about 12 inches long. I guess they are some sort of Pelican? Their jaw would open, and they filtered the water for food.

 

[BKHpondcritters]

OMG! White pelicans! I would love to see them. I mean, I like the brown ones, but there is something special about the white ones. Lucky you! I'm green with envy!