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...
