Days of the Racoon Wars

This is night 2 of the Raccoon Wars and once again I am
awake around midnight trying to fight off the racoons from
raiding food and destroying bird feeders.  Last night after
being thwarted from bird feeders on front porch and on deck,
one came back and pulled down a pretty glass hummer
feeder, but it got caught under the railing, so it was saved.

Don't get me wrong.  I am scared of raccoons.  They carry
rabies--and I dont need to know anymore than that.  And
I'm not supposed to go out on the porch at all--especially
since I fell, but I had an aluminum ball bat that made a really
loud noise when I hit it over the wooden deck.  So they
thought I was big and brave--not so, just bluffing and trying
to protect my food, I mean the bird's food.

It has rained all day here.  Projects halted while the weather
has its way with us.

All for now

Kate

Chicks Outside!

My partner took the chicks outside yesterday for the first time!
He hovered over them like a Mama Hen.  It was so cute and
sweet.  Amazingly, they listen to him.

They were out today also--only this time he dropped some worms
in with them.  At first they didn't recognize them as food, but soon
they were fighting over them!

He also got the rest of the retaining wall down.  So now starts
the spending of major money--ACCKK!!  And the retaining
was is one of the cheaper items on our long list!

Kate Thorn

Two out of Place Hummers!

The black chinned hummer I wrote of previously was still here as of today. 
A local birder came to take a picture of us--except it was a different bird.

My little Tux (short for Tuxedo) truly appeared to be a jet black hummer
with a tiny band of white (like a skinny tie) around his neck.  His purple
gorget only appearred purple in sunlight, and he seldom stayed in one place
for very long.  The bird of today was more of gray-green, with a fuschia
gorget in a scalloped pattern--nothinhg like yesterday's bird. 

Early afternoon he was here, skinny and black;  there was no sunlight, so his
gorget appeared black also.

A birder came to photograph Bird One (Tux)--he asked me if I was sure
if he was skinny because the bird he was looking was quite plump and
looked ready to continue his migration.  I thought there was only one bird
here.  There were two--both males, but different kinds of birds.  I think Tux
visisted once--before he got his camera set up, but then the other bird started
zooming in. We both got confused.

He may come back tomorrow to try to get a better photo.  I hope Tux is more
cooperative--if he is still here.

Kate Thorn

Black Chinned Hummer Seen Today!

4/21/2013--The first hummer seen this year!  And not one from this area.  Tiny little
thing.  It's been at the feeder several times.  Maybe it was blown off track, but it
landed at a good place--all kinds of trees are in bloom plus the feeder is out.  So
far we have only seen the one.  Definitely a male--they arrive weeks earlier than
the females.

A week ago my partner left to run an unknown errand--and came back with
8 new born chicks--New Jersey Reds, I think.  I was not thrilled.  Had just
reclaimed the guest bathroom--now there are chickens in it--in a large plastic
clothes container.  But still . . . would you want 8 chicks in your bathroom?

Didn't think so.  Had he built a house first . . . oh well!  And in regards to
that, the cat Daisy is jealous and has been driving both of us nuts seeking
attention--but only his.  Suddenly she doesn't want me to pet her, but she she
still follows me around and sleeps with me.  I think she doesn't share well.
Every vet we've ever had  has told us not to have other pets.  And were they
ever correct in their assessment of Daisy!

I haven't got the pics up yet.  There are quite a few of them.  I will try to
get them us.  There are going to be so many changes.  A lot of trees are
coming down.  Our apple trees have "Mealy Worms"--must be treated--
and that was my diagnosis!  The master gardener concurred.  So all this
reading and studying is paying off.  They are in full bloom--and beautiful!

The grapevine and dogwood destroyed by by over fertilization by previous
owners are slowly making a come back.   The dogwood will be moved
to the front yard next year.  This year it just gets to rest and continue to recover.

All for now.

Kate Thorn

Spring Cleaning, or rather Clearing

Last Spring and Summer I loved the HUGE mountain laurels and the 10 foot
camellia bush--however,  there was also a huge juniper--about 8ft wide with
a monstrous  root structure.  And below all this growth was a retaining way
composed of wood--rotten wood--neatly painted rotten wood.  

So now, most everything green and growing is gone.  We left the camellia
bush for a while--it's in full bloom.  The azaleas can stay, but that is all.
The wisteria and even the wrought iron fence will have to come down.
And then will begin the correct construction of the retaining wall.  Oh
joy! 

Pictures of such and of all the green growing things will follow in next post!

Kate Thorn

Chapter Two of the Life of the Pileated Woodpecker

If you recall correctly, you'll remember that I said (info from a book) that
if the female didn't like the house, the male pileated was back to square
one.

Well, a female came and I was so excited about having a family of these
gorgeous birds so close by.  She stayed for about a week.  Then they
both disappeared.  They didn't (or maybe just he) didn't go far.  Just across
the street, 2 trees up.  Of course I can't see him as well there.  And the
female not at all--if she is even there.  But the first house was definitely
rejected.

If I could speak in his behalf, I would!  The first house was a fine one--
with food nearby and he worked on it during the spring that felt like
winter--taking only 2-3 breaks a day for food and water.  He was a
most dedicated bird.  I think the female was just too picky!

Kate Thorn

Spring Rains at the Bird House