Seasonal Invasion
Mar. 28th, 2007 12:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trystinnI've been keeping an eye on the wild critters and varmints in our area. Now, for those not familiar with The Tryst Inn dictionary: Critter - a creature we like & Varmint - a creature we don't like. That said, there's some disagreement at the Inn as to how to identify said wildlife. Me, I adore spiders, had a tarantula as a pet in my teens. Hubby hates them. However, since Josh won't get off his tush and make his own blog, we'll use my terms. *WEG* February saw a lot of spider hatchlings, all around the trees and eaves of the house, those who made webs on our porches have been gently relocated to places where we won't disturb them.
The Owl is still with us and still shy, hiding in the shadows so I haven't been able to identify her. Given the population, chances are its most likely a Burrowing or Great Horned and as the pellets are a few inches long, my bet is on the GH. She barks a sort *tut*tut* when we're outside after dark and scaring away its prey. Needless to say, we've seen very few prey birds, though I've heard them in the morning.
There's roughly six bald eagles sharing this community, including a gorgeous female, which isn't surprising with all the fields around our home. There's a huge, active nest a few blocks away to the southeast and we'll be told when hatchlings are sighted. There's also a hawk of some sort that we haven't been able to identify though I have to admit I'd have a hard time telling a female bald eagle from the many gorgeous hawks in the PNW. This one lives to the northeast of us, among the taller trees and seems to be using the cattle field as its hunting grounds.
We were invaded by ants this week. Ugh. While I appreciate the mass civilization of ants, I don't want them in my kitchen. The pantry has been cleaned out and ant traps put where the dogs can't get to them, so hopefully the ants will forage elsewhere in the future. I haven't seen one today, cross your fingers for us.
What I haven't seen, and what is concerning me the most, are cottontails. Usually our home is absolutely surrounded by them. Last year we had four living full time on our property - Cassanova, Don Juan, Romeo and Lucky. I've only seen one cottontail this season around 2am out in the spiral walk eating weeds. And while its a bit early for them to be out and about during the heat of the day, I would normally see quite a few around dusk and dawn - and I'm not. This worries me. I'm certainly not an expert, but it would seem that the predatory to prey ratio is unbalanced here.
Speaking of predators: The neighborhood coyote has survived the winter, we've been hearing him howl in the dark hours before dawn. I'm of the thought that he's made a den in the drain field, given its isolation and size (several acres of undisturbed land). No one walks their dogs or kids near the drain, and if that is indeed where he's made his den, that's for the best.
The Owl is still with us and still shy, hiding in the shadows so I haven't been able to identify her. Given the population, chances are its most likely a Burrowing or Great Horned and as the pellets are a few inches long, my bet is on the GH. She barks a sort *tut*tut* when we're outside after dark and scaring away its prey. Needless to say, we've seen very few prey birds, though I've heard them in the morning.
There's roughly six bald eagles sharing this community, including a gorgeous female, which isn't surprising with all the fields around our home. There's a huge, active nest a few blocks away to the southeast and we'll be told when hatchlings are sighted. There's also a hawk of some sort that we haven't been able to identify though I have to admit I'd have a hard time telling a female bald eagle from the many gorgeous hawks in the PNW. This one lives to the northeast of us, among the taller trees and seems to be using the cattle field as its hunting grounds.
We were invaded by ants this week. Ugh. While I appreciate the mass civilization of ants, I don't want them in my kitchen. The pantry has been cleaned out and ant traps put where the dogs can't get to them, so hopefully the ants will forage elsewhere in the future. I haven't seen one today, cross your fingers for us.
What I haven't seen, and what is concerning me the most, are cottontails. Usually our home is absolutely surrounded by them. Last year we had four living full time on our property - Cassanova, Don Juan, Romeo and Lucky. I've only seen one cottontail this season around 2am out in the spiral walk eating weeds. And while its a bit early for them to be out and about during the heat of the day, I would normally see quite a few around dusk and dawn - and I'm not. This worries me. I'm certainly not an expert, but it would seem that the predatory to prey ratio is unbalanced here.
Speaking of predators: The neighborhood coyote has survived the winter, we've been hearing him howl in the dark hours before dawn. I'm of the thought that he's made a den in the drain field, given its isolation and size (several acres of undisturbed land). No one walks their dogs or kids near the drain, and if that is indeed where he's made his den, that's for the best.
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Date: 2007-03-28 08:33 pm (UTC)They are both black with white head.
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Date: 2007-03-28 09:46 pm (UTC)Geesh. I've got some learning to do.
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Date: 2007-03-28 09:54 pm (UTC)The fledglings are dark headed until all their adult plumage comes in at about two years of age.
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Date: 2007-03-28 10:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-28 09:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-28 10:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-28 08:37 pm (UTC)Sorry to hear some of the wild buns became dinner, but is the nature of the critter. Probably the coyote had them, and a drainage ditch is a great place for rats, which are coyote snackage. rodents make up about 90% of a coyote nutrition.
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Date: 2007-03-28 09:49 pm (UTC)I understand and appreciate the role rabbits play in the cycle of life, with the caveat that I don't want said predators eating off my domestic rabbits! Which is why I'm a bit concerned, my domestics don't really blend into the surrounding environment.
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Date: 2007-03-28 09:58 pm (UTC)They are not dependent on rabbits. They might take one if it is easy take, but 90% of an eagle's diet is fish.
If you have eagles somewhere close by there is a river or a lake.
Also eagles hunt over large distances, they like to nest in the same place every year. They add to the last year's nest makign it larger and larger every year.
And sometimes the last fledglings of a mated pair will inherit the nest when the last parent dies.
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Date: 2007-03-28 10:12 pm (UTC)We've a few lakes here, but they are more than 20 miles south and are probably more correctly labeled marshes.
Interesting.
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Date: 2007-03-28 08:46 pm (UTC)Hope the cottons are ok!
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Date: 2007-03-28 09:50 pm (UTC)Sometimes this is easy, sometimes its not. I suspect most rural places are like that.
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Date: 2007-03-29 12:46 am (UTC)I haven't seen an owl in ages.. I miss them and the red-tailed hawks.
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Date: 2007-03-29 02:04 am (UTC)I haven't gotten a chance to see our owl, yet. I have a pretty good idea which trees are her favorites, but dang she blends well - She's a wiley one!
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Date: 2007-03-29 02:27 am (UTC)Yeah, the first time I saw an owl it was when I was around 10 or so visiting my mom's mother's side of the family (funeral). We stayed with my mother's aunt on a farm.. It was an experience! They had a barn owl and it was HUGE! I went chasing one of the feral kittens trying to catch it and it ran into the barn (it was dark and they were calling me) I heard a loud hoot and saw this HUGE bird! I've loved Owls ever since!
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Date: 2007-03-29 02:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-29 02:49 am (UTC)Its dusk now here, and I'm watching to see who shows up. :)