Sea Star Snack
Anyone care for a sea star snack? The gulls have it easy – from landfills to parking lots to shores there always seems to be a lot for them to eat year-round compared to some other starving species. I will say this…that does not look like it would feel good going down. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreTowhee Snack
This male Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) is about to scarf down a centipede snack on a recent early morning. I did not expect it to come up with that in its bill! I saw it working the ground rather hard, scratching away and pulling at the soil before revealing its prey. No, thank you, I will pass on sharing this meal. It’s all yours little guy… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreMock vs. Chuck
This Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) was not taking too kindly to this young Woodchuck, Groundhog, or any other common name you’d like (Marmota monax) as it was only trying to nibble on a few delicious green snacks on a cloudy morning. You can see their relative sizes are not that far off, with this young chuck wondering why mom and dad did not explain the joy of birds before. Mockingbirds can be vicious pests if you are anywhere near they’re nest doing…well, anything, like existing in their space! I can recall being attacked and whacked by them as a small child...
Read MoreChipmunks collecting for winter
Does this happen to you? Even if you have baffles up on well-protected feeders it is the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) collecting season as they prepare for winter by grabbing every kind of seed, acorn, nut and other tasty treat they can find. I love watching them scurry up and down trees and run as fast as they can with a mouth full of food each fall, filling the cache in their burrow. They do hibernate but not fully – I sometimes see them wake up from one of their naps, popping out to enjoy warmer winter days, especially around bird feeders, to get some extra fresh food.
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