We have a Blue Jay family of about 12 that include the Florida Backyard in their territory. I gave them a trial run this morning and they are ready to go for the Winter! We - meaning me and you out there watching the YT videos need to come up with something challenging for them to do. I'm thinking various skill and intelligence tests as part of their generous free breakfasts and snacks. Oh they'll show up, but what can we think of that is fun, friendly and challenging for them to do - mostly centered around peanuts. If you come with any good ideas put them in the comments section. Here is to an interesting winter season.
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Mommy Squirrel nearly gets blown over and Painted Buntings start arriving on a very windy but sunny day as Tropical Storm Phillipe moves away and a cold front moves into Florida. A resident Blue Jay gives the Bunting a proper welcoming pass and mother squirrel has her baby kittens in a nearby Palmetto tree after Hurricane Irma shook up the oak trees too much. They will be out and about soon.
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Let's get vertical - 20 feet above the forest floor in a Black Cherry Tree - Nuthatches, Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, Junco's, Red Squirrels and Chipmunks feast on a smear of suet covered with Black Oil Sunflowers. See what its like to be one of these little forest creatures who spend most of their life on vertical surfaces!
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Sunrise and setting Full Moon over the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Mount Whitney - the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Taken near Lone Pine, CA - a magnificent sight to behold.
Mount Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Nevada, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m).[5] It is on the boundary between California's Inyo and Tulare counties, 84.6 miles (136.2 km)[8] west-northwest of the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level.[9] The west slope of the mountain is in Sequoia National Park and the summit is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail which runs 211.9 mi (341.0 km) from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley.[10] The east slope is in the Inyo National Forest in Inyo County.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_W...
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Chipmunk expertly clean an ear of dried corn and squirrel it away for winter. An October tradition in the Backyard! Always fun to watch these workaholics - they know exactly what to do when they see a corn cob - Winter is coming.
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Crows love corn and are one of the smartest birds on Earth, but when you snooze you lose! Chipmunks know corn and when they find it they don't wait. What Chipmunks lack in intelligence or brain power they make up for by hard work much to the frustration of Mr. Crow!
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Appalachian Cottontail Rabbits, a rare variety of New England Cottontails become more social in the early Fall and can be found feeding together in the morning. This is what happens when you keep a wild yard, not only is it low on maintenance it is more inviting to wildlife. More on this later. A little background on this rabbit from WIKI:
The Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) is a species of cottontail rabbit in the family Leporidae. It is a rare species found in the upland areas of the eastern United States. The species was only recognized as separate from the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) in 1992.
The Appalachian cottontail, Sylvilagus obscurus, is a small rabbit inhabiting mostly mountainous regions in the eastern U.S. ranging from Pennsylvania to South Carolina and being most prominent in the Appalachians.[2] S. obscurus is better adapted to colder climates than its distant relative, S. floridanus, the eastern cottontail. S. obscurus is light-yellow brown, mixed with black on the dorsal side, having a brown and red patch mixed on the neck. The ventral side is mostly white.[3] The Appalachian cottontail and S. transitionalis, the New England cottontail, are not easily distinguished in the field, and are most easily identified geographically. Cottontails found south or west of the Hudson River are considered Appalachian cottontails, those found north and east are considered New England cottontails. The species can otherwise be identified by chromosome number and skull measurements.[5] Female Appalachian cottontails are typically larger than males with reproductive needs being the most likely cause. The weight of the Appalachian Cottontail can range from as little as 756 grams (1.667 lb) up to as much as 1,153 grams (2.542 lb). The average length is 408 mm (16.1 in). The lifespan of S. obscurus is rather short, less than a year in some cases.
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Robins, Grosbeaks, Cardinals, Juncos and various other songbirds partake of an early autumn feast of ripe Walking Stick berries!
Aralia spinosa, commonly known as devil's walkingstick, is a woody species of plants in the genus Aralia, family Araliaceae, native to eastern North America. The various names refer to the viciously sharp, spiny stems, petioles, and even leaf midribs. It has also been known as Angelica-tree.[1]
This species is sometimes called Hercules' club, prickly ash, or prickly elder, common names it shares with the unrelated Zanthoxylum clava-herculis. For this reason, Aralia spinosa is sometimes confused with that species and mistakenly called the Toothache Tree,[2] but it does not have the medicinal properties of Zanthoxylum clava-herculis.
Aralia spinosa is occasionally cultivated for its exotic, tropical appearance, having large lacy compound leaves. It is closely related to the Asian species Aralia elata, a more commonly cultivated species with which it is easily confused.
Aralia spinosa is widespread in the eastern United States, ranging from New York to Florida along the Atlantic coast, and westward to Ohio, Illinois, and Texas. It prefers a deep moist soil.[1] The plants typically grow in the forest Understory or at the edges of forests, often forming clonal thickets by sprouting from the roots.
This tree was admired by the Iroquois because of its usefulness, and for its rarity. The Iroquois would take the saplings of the tree and plant them near their villages and on islands, so that animals wouldn't eat the valuable fruit. The fruit was used in many of the natives' foods. The women would take the flowers and put them in their hair because of the lemony smell. The flowers could also be traded for money.
Abandoned cabin from the early part of the 20th century found on an off-trail expedition on the North Carolina Mountain to Seas Trail in the Plott Balsams. At an elevation of 5,500 feet this was likely a loggers cabin that probably became a hunting cabin. Judging by the age of the non-pop top beer cans and lack of any newer evidence this cabin was likely last used sometime in the late 50's or 60's. A nice little spring was nearby and the only sign of life was a cute little White Spotted Slimy Salamander under some debris that we carefully left alone.
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Mother Squirrel is missing and her two precious baby kittens have climbed to the nest box entrance and were calling desperately for their Mom. I was watching them in person and on a nest box camera so now it was time to rescue the little ones and take them to a wildlife rehab center I had coordinated with in advance. This is their story.
Mother Squirrels are some of the most dedicated in the animal kingdom and squirrels have very strong family bonds, you can sense the bigger older brother concern for and care of his smaller younger sibling. You can see momma squirrel in happier times with her two kittens in the nest box at: https://youtu.be/iYFc7gX1JXw
This story is a remix of these two videos into one so the whole story is told - many people were bummed out by watching the first part and missed the second part.
Baby Squirrels Calling Missing Mom:https://youtu.be/c94dkCwlUUI Orphaned Baby Squirrels Rescued:https://youtu.be/7VFPhhMObTc New HD videos uploaded frequently. Subscribe at: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
Do not ever touch these beetles! Bizarre bugs indeed! I happened upon about a dozen of these beauties in a fall mating frenzy centered around two very large females full of eggs. Fortunately I did not step on them in the middle of the trail. They are called Blister Beetles because they emit an oil that will burn the skin if you pick them up. The poison they contain is among the strongest known. Cantharidin is an odorless, colorless fatty substance of the terpenoid class, which is secreted by many species of blister beetles. It is a burn agent or a poison in large doses, but preparations containing it were historically used as aphrodisiacs. In its natural form, cantharidin is secreted by the male blister beetle and given to the female as a copulatory gift during mating. Afterwards, the female beetle covers her eggs with it as a defense against predators.
Poisoning from cantharidin is a significant veterinary concern, especially in horses, but it can also be poisonous to humans if taken internally (where the source is usually experimental self-exposure). Externally, cantharidin is a potent vesicant (blistering agent), exposure to which can cause severe chemical burns. Properly dosed and applied, the same properties have also been used therapeutically, for instance for treatment of skin conditions such as molluscum contagiosum infection of the skin.
Cantharidin is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States, and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities. This excerpt is from a great Blog post on these beetles at: https://thesmallermajority.com/2012/1...
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Chipmunk takes on a cup of sunflower seeds on a perfect Fall morning. While we admire the changing leaves he is thinking ahead to winter!
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Meet the HummingBear - a 200 pound bear that delicately licks the nectar from a fragile hummingbird feeder so it is not damaged and can be filled again and then quietly moves on. Because the bear can't flap its arms fast enough to fly it has to sit on the deck railing and stretch out its rather huge tongue to drink nectar. New HD videos uploaded frequently. Subscribe at: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
The arrival of the Llama Train at the Mt Leconte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is quite an experience. Hiked up to the top of Mt Leconte at 6,593 feet in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just in time to see the arrival of the Llama Train which because there are no roads brings supplies up and down the mountain to the Mt Leconte Lodge at the top. Llamas are a blast to watch. I'll post a video on the hike up soon.
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Audio is just as important as video in filming Nature or VLOG production. A review of the COMICA Micro Compact Directional Condenser Shotgun Video Microphone (CVM-VM10II) for Smartphones and DSLR camera's reveals a significant improvement over the stock internal microphones. Small, lightweight but strong, requiring no extra batteries, excellent foam and wind covers, easy to use and carry all day on the camera this microphone will improve the quality of my videos at a very affordable price.
A link to this microphone on Amazon is: http://amzn.to/2g5Je4N
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Comica CVM-VM10II Full Metal Compact On Camera Cardioid Directional Mini Shotgun Video Microphone for Smartphone iPhone,HuaWei,DJI Osmo,SonyA9/A7RII/A7RSII,GH4/ GH5, and DSLR Camera
This Red Squirrel warning call is amazing! A tiny Red Squirrel kitten is sitting right in the middle of the trail to Mt Leconte in the Great Smoky Mountains. Way too young to be out and about by itself and mother squirrel is extremely upset and concerned giving the most emphatic warning call I've ever heard - and I've heard alot. Just about any other four legged creature or bird could have this little one for breakfast. Squirrel kittens are so trusting and accepting of strangers - remember just because you find one alone does not mean mother is not around or coming back. Of course in the wild like a National Park you never handle an animal, but in your backyard or a local park wait an hour or two before you remove a seemingly abandoned baby squirrel to a shelter. Mom may be hiding and waiting for you to leave.
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Working Lamas eating and drinking water from a bucket - I could watch that all day. This is the last Lama in the Lama Train after arriving at the Mt LeConte Lodge at 6593 feet in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just lucky to have this precious Lama right beside me. The Lama Train takes supplies and waste up and down the steep 10 mile trail to the summit. More on the Lama Train later.
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I Was delighted to find the Florida Backyard squirrels alive and well after Hurricane Irma rolled through - we threw a little peanut party. I didn't get back until September 16th and they were waiting. A little wet and ragged, but OK. Their trees were pretty much de-leafed by winds gusting to 80 mph or so, but it looked like the two mothers with kittens must have moved them out of the high oak tree nests before or early during the storm and they are probably OK. Animals have a natural survival instinct and squirrels will move their kits down into the the Palmetto Tree crowns if need be. Big Palmetto trees do a lot better in the high wind. I will be putting up squirrel nest boxes in the trees later this fall. More on that later.
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What can I say - not one for Backyard bathroom humor in general, but this little guy seems to be impressed with himself. Maybe this is an editorial comment because I never leave food out for them at night anymore and as they don't poop where they eat and since there is nothing to eat here - well.......
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Clear Acrylic Window Bird Feeders are a lot of fun. A review and test of the MOOKZZ Clear Acrylic Window Bird Feeder gets me up close and personal to my favorite small mountain songbirds. The link to this bird feeder on Amazon is http://amzn.to/2x6bGut where it is the cheapest of this type of bird feeder available and of high quality. If you order it through this link a tiny portion of the sale goes toward supporting the Backyard creatures.
A second full test will be completed in Florida next month and hopefully some Painted Buntings will take to it just like the Chickadees and Titmice. It is easy to install and depending on what window you use it is totally squirrel proof as in my installation here as there is no way for the squirrels to get to it - they haven't figured out to climb siding yet. You can also install and refill the feeder by just opening a window if you have it high off the ground like this one. All in all a barrel of fun for bird-lovers and of course the birds. I have mine on the window over my computer desk so I'm watching Chickadees and Titmice come and go and hammer away at sunflower seeds all day long just inches from my computer screen, very relaxing and you learn even more about these industrious little birds.
Thanks for Watching.
