JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
I went hiking this morning and all I got was this bad shot of a crow chasing a hawk.
Nature & Wildlife Thread
- Thread starter JBtheExplorer
- Start date
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Last-minute Earth Day hike this evening. The trail was busy with kids picking up garbage so I didn't see much wildlife, but at least the park is cleaner!
- Joined
- May 24, 2019
- Messages
- 1,600
- Reaction score
- 2,661
- Location
- Tennessee
- Hardiness Zone
- 7a
- Country
j.w
I Love my Goldies
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2010
- Messages
- 33,882
- Reaction score
- 20,870
- Location
- Arlington, Washington
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- USDA 8a
- Country
It's a shame everywhere in this country people just throw their garbage on the road. Only think of themselves and nothing else! Makes me so mad! Good for those kids being shown how to live the right way
j.w
I Love my Goldies
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2010
- Messages
- 33,882
- Reaction score
- 20,870
- Location
- Arlington, Washington
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- USDA 8a
- Country
Wonder when they will nest or if they are or if they won't cuz they are family? Would love to see more of them come around to show off the babies.
- Joined
- May 24, 2019
- Messages
- 1,600
- Reaction score
- 2,661
- Location
- Tennessee
- Hardiness Zone
- 7a
- Country
If I had to guess (which I am), I think she is just too young but should be able and ready by next year. (I don't think incest is a deterrent) They would have hatched by now for this year. Their nesting tree is very close to us. The last two years we've had babies show up and hang out and be warned - they were adorable!
Attachments
JMJ
Marsh Gorilla
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2024
- Messages
- 71
- Reaction score
- 93
- Location
- Coastal Louisiana
- Hardiness Zone
- 9b
- Country
They’re such cool birds, some of the keenest eyes on any in the woods. They along with wild turkeys and crows have been some of the only animals that have made me put in full camo sitting in an archery stand, I think they see your eyes move. Barreds can be downright comical with their head gyrations and calls. Your pics are making me miss the water oak we had cut down that was next to our driveway, I used to see one in it every morning when I loaded the kids and my stuff for the day. Thanks for sharing these!
- Joined
- May 24, 2019
- Messages
- 1,600
- Reaction score
- 2,661
- Location
- Tennessee
- Hardiness Zone
- 7a
- Country
I'm so glad you enjoy them - they just light up my life
Your archery stand story reminds me of one from my son that lives nearby - he was hunting in archery season sitting under a rock overhang and after a while he noticed a Barred Owl sitting on the ground a few feet away! They're sooooo stealthy and I think sometimes they're a little curious about us too. And yes, they're very entertaining.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Went over to a local park this morning. The park is so close to being a "perfect" community park. It's got a lot of things going for it. Playground, splash pad, pickleball, soccer fields, basketball courts, shelters, recreational paths, etc.
The one thing it's missing is good prairie habitat. It has a nice pond that would look good surrounded in prairie. It also has a lot of open, weedy mowed areas that will never see much foot traffic. Perfect for some prairie strips. Hopefully one day. I don't know if they have plans to. The area is so weedy it makes me think they've still got future plans, or else they'd probably have seeded grass by now.
Muskrat
Savannah sparrow
The one thing it's missing is good prairie habitat. It has a nice pond that would look good surrounded in prairie. It also has a lot of open, weedy mowed areas that will never see much foot traffic. Perfect for some prairie strips. Hopefully one day. I don't know if they have plans to. The area is so weedy it makes me think they've still got future plans, or else they'd probably have seeded grass by now.
Muskrat
Savannah sparrow
Last edited:
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
As you all can probably tell, I've been getting in as much hiking as possible this year after really missing out a lot last year. I've probably already hiked as much over the past few weeks as all last year combined. We've also had some really nice weather lately and it's nice getting out before the hot humid summer comes.
Painted turtle crossing a recreational path.
Red-bellied woodpecker
Geese that swam up to yell at me.
Red Admirals continue to be ALL OVER THE PLACE this spring. I've never seen so many before.
Painted turtle crossing a recreational path.
Red-bellied woodpecker
Geese that swam up to yell at me.
Red Admirals continue to be ALL OVER THE PLACE this spring. I've never seen so many before.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Had a fantastic time hiking at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary yesterday. One of my favorite places in southeastern Wisconsin to just take a leisurely stroll through woodlands, wetlands, and prairie. And it's gotten even better ever since it expanded, and now has a nice restored wetland you can walk around.
Trillium
Wild blue phlox
The Pike River
Virginia bluebells
Newly restored wetlands
Scarlet paintbrush, my first time ever seeing in the wild!
sandpiper
They've installed signs since the last time I was there.
And they built this overlook.
Trillium
Wild blue phlox
The Pike River
Virginia bluebells
Newly restored wetlands
Scarlet paintbrush, my first time ever seeing in the wild!
sandpiper
They've installed signs since the last time I was there.
And they built this overlook.
j.w
I Love my Goldies
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2010
- Messages
- 33,882
- Reaction score
- 20,870
- Location
- Arlington, Washington
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- USDA 8a
- Country
Are all these places you visit really close by...............if so you are so lucky!
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Mostly, yes!
And many of them have had some restoration efforts in just the past decade. Many just in the last handful of years. It's been exciting, and I hope it continues! Many of these places were low-quality habitats filled with invasive plants, but now they're really starting to become something much more useful to a lot more wildlife. (Oh, I saw a Wild Turkey yesterday at Hawthorn Hollow, too, but didn't get a photo of it) The main emphasis has been about cleaner waterways as well as general habitat restoration for endangered species. A lot of this has been done with help from Fund for Lake Michigan, Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, and many other organizations.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Another quick hike this morning.
I visited the hidden cascade for the first time in four years! I used to visit it quite a bit. Unfortunately, a lot of invasive plant species are taking over since the last time I was there, primarily buckthorn and garlic mustard.
Great Blue Heron
Savannah Sparrow
I visited the hidden cascade for the first time in four years! I used to visit it quite a bit. Unfortunately, a lot of invasive plant species are taking over since the last time I was there, primarily buckthorn and garlic mustard.
Great Blue Heron
Savannah Sparrow
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Just a quick quarter mile walk today. This Savannah sparrow is ALWAYS on this post.
This is one of the sections of park that I'm hoping they'll convert to prairie. It's just unmowed grass right now. Almost three acres of land around this pond.
The pond was active today. I didn't get any photos, but I saw a couple muskrats, including a baby that swam right past me. Also saw a few frogs and a turtle.
This is one of the sections of park that I'm hoping they'll convert to prairie. It's just unmowed grass right now. Almost three acres of land around this pond.
The pond was active today. I didn't get any photos, but I saw a couple muskrats, including a baby that swam right past me. Also saw a few frogs and a turtle.