Showing posts with label roost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roost. Show all posts

11/24/2015

roosting hawk


Dusk, yesterday.  A hawk glided in over the bird feeders and landed on a branch of the big elm tree. A perfect place to peer down into the wild wild woods, scanning for mice.  Then the big bird turned around, looking down on the several seed feeders and suet cakes.  But it was nearly dark -- even the late-feeding Northern Cardinals were finished.  The hawk scanned a bit this way and that, then fluffed feathers and settled down to cover feet with feathers.  Turning its head a few more times, it tucked its beak into a shoulder to roost for the night.

I looked out a few times through the evening.  The hawk stayed on the roost.  Moonlight made its breast glow among the tangle of twigs.  Wondered, as I fell asleep, how long the hawk would stay.

At dawn, I peeked out.  The hawk was still cozy, not moving.  Two gray squirrels scampered up and down on branches near the hawk.  Chattering together, they scolded the hawk for being in their tree.  The hawk squawked and revealed its claws.  The argument went on for seven minutes.  The hawk flew away to find breakfast in a neighborhood NOT guarded by squirrels who protect the songbirds that share seed, suet, and peanuts with them.

9/18/2015

snag tree

"Snag" refers to a still-standing dead tree,
or one dying from damage, often missing its top or most of the smaller branches. This old snag has been here in the wild wild woods at least ten years.  It still has bark up one side and several growing branches lean out in that direction every year.  The exposed wood gets softer as time goes by, so it nurtures mushrooms and insects.
 
 The southeast side is bald, revealing its value to the wildlife that live in the woods. In cold weather, birds shelter overnight in the old woodpecker holes.  In nesting season, it becomes home to at least one new clutch of avian eggs.  The woodpeckers and nuthatches find nutritious insects hiding among the crevices. Today, it harbors a nut storehouse and a cozy grass-lined den for some critter.

A pile of peelings from Bitternut Hickory nuts.
Peeled nuts stashed in a hole of the snag.




4/20/2013

woody trees



















Walking in the wild woods today, I checked on the woodpeckers' favorite trees.  Some of the excavations look fresh.  Woodpeckers in Minnesota do get started in late winter to build their nests.

11/09/2012

roost hole

Walking in the woods today, I noticed this hole in an old elm tree. It faces away from the usual windy direction, so probably a good roosting spot for some critter in the winter.