Dynamic Habitats
I got a text the other day from my dad saying, “Hey if you can, bring your boots over so we can investigate the beaver pond.” Behind my parents home is a beautiful wetland system that sits right in the valley, with forested hillsides surrounding. What was once a stream has since been turned into a marsh thanks to the work of some busy beavers. With dams on either end of the marsh, the water has been held back and has created great habitat for many birds, amphibians and reptiles. The marsh is full of snapping and painted turtles, peepers that are so numerous that their peeps...
Read MoreBobcat Signs
Can you spot the mammal here? No? Well…yes, you cannot find it because it is not there, but it has left its mark…literally. What do you see? This is a Bobcat scratching post and resting area, the bark stripped away by sharp claws. You can see the lines that have been carved into the wood. It is conveniently located over a pool of water, making it harder for anything to sneak up on the bobcat when it is at rest. It almost seemed similar to a place one of our pet cats would like to enjoy a snooze on! Nearby we found this pile of scat, also Bobcat. If you have a cat at home that may help you...
Read MoreGreat Backyard Bird Count
Winter Birds Forecast #6 is brought to you by Audubon Connecticut in partnership with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. The Great Backyard Bird Count is here! The count is sponsored by Audubon, Bird Studies Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and occurs annually over President’s Day Weekend. Anyone can participate and in this case the world is your “backyard”. You can submit sightings from anywhere, not just birds you see in your yard. Observers from more than 100 countries are expected to participate in the 18th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February...
Read MoreSnow Birds
Winter Birds Forecast #5 is brought to you by Audubon Connecticut in partnership with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Snow Birds The weather has taken a snowy turn this winter and indications are that the trend could continue. Whether you dread the next storm or look forward to every run of the models to look for the next snow opportunity, snow is a fact of life in New England. Snow has a huge impact on both birds and birding and knowing how birds adapt to the snow can enhance your winter birding experience. One thing that nearly all of us can agree on is that...
Read MoreWinter Bird Wonderland!
Winter Birding Forecast #4 is brought to you by Audubon Connecticut in partnership with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Winter Bird Wonderland A rich variety of birds call Connecticut home in the wintertime. So far 166 different kinds of birds have been recorded in the state in 2015. Overall 435 species have been recorded in the state over the years. These numbers are a testament to the rich array of high quality habitats Connecticut has to offer, offering wonderful opportunities for birds and birding alike! One of the birds creating a buzz in the...
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