Visitors to our Yard
Look out of the window, into the yard, and who do we see and hear: blue jays, catbirds, squirrels. Depending on your neighborhood, there might also be deer, or sparrows. While indeed there’s signs of animal life out there, it is vastly different from that of six months ago.
Now, and for another couple of months, there is still plenty to eat for yard visitors. No need to look for those islands of assistance that come from people and bird feeders. It is our island that I’m remembering now, so filled with visitors that varied depending on the time of day, that makes me think of this time of year as, well, a little quiet.
Bird feeding is a big business, and a big deal to many. Our house is no exception. When the time is right, out come multiple feeders to various spots in the back and side yards (with good viewing angles from the inside windows, of course). Bags of seed become regular shopping purchases – simple mixed blend stuff for everyone, and black oil sunflower for birds and squirrels (leaving small piles of the latter on the deck keep the squirrels away from the feeders). As it gets colder, suet cakes come out too.
In years past we’ve had raccoons come up on the deck and steal the suet. Last year, none of that, but instead a fox added our house to his routine, likely attracted by the squirrels! Caught one coming up on the deck to chase them, practically 7am every day for the last few weeks of feeding season! Normally we might have fed everyone for a bit longer, but didn’t feel the need to keep the fox around. Plus living in suburban Ewing, car-animal strikes are a possibility.
These visitors can all be identified visually or audibly. A good bird identification guide will help for the many feathered visitors. Head into the nonfiction section of your branch and see the many titles on the shelf in the 598s. But some yard visitors leave only tracks, or droppings (also known as “scat”). Solving those mysteries is also easier with books from the Library! Look in 591.97 for various helpful guides. Something from the “personal finance” section (332.024) might be needed once you see how much you’re spending on seed each month, too...
A few titles to start with:
You may also contact the Mercer County Wildlife Center (http://www.mercercountyparks.org/#!/facilities/wildlife-center) with questions concerning local wildlife.
Now, and for another couple of months, there is still plenty to eat for yard visitors. No need to look for those islands of assistance that come from people and bird feeders. It is our island that I’m remembering now, so filled with visitors that varied depending on the time of day, that makes me think of this time of year as, well, a little quiet.
Bird feeding is a big business, and a big deal to many. Our house is no exception. When the time is right, out come multiple feeders to various spots in the back and side yards (with good viewing angles from the inside windows, of course). Bags of seed become regular shopping purchases – simple mixed blend stuff for everyone, and black oil sunflower for birds and squirrels (leaving small piles of the latter on the deck keep the squirrels away from the feeders). As it gets colder, suet cakes come out too.
In years past we’ve had raccoons come up on the deck and steal the suet. Last year, none of that, but instead a fox added our house to his routine, likely attracted by the squirrels! Caught one coming up on the deck to chase them, practically 7am every day for the last few weeks of feeding season! Normally we might have fed everyone for a bit longer, but didn’t feel the need to keep the fox around. Plus living in suburban Ewing, car-animal strikes are a possibility.
These visitors can all be identified visually or audibly. A good bird identification guide will help for the many feathered visitors. Head into the nonfiction section of your branch and see the many titles on the shelf in the 598s. But some yard visitors leave only tracks, or droppings (also known as “scat”). Solving those mysteries is also easier with books from the Library! Look in 591.97 for various helpful guides. Something from the “personal finance” section (332.024) might be needed once you see how much you’re spending on seed each month, too...
A few titles to start with:
 |
| Field Guide to Birds of New Jersey by Rick Wright |
 |
| Sibley Birds East by David Sibley |
 |
| Mammal Tracks and Sign by Mark Elbroch |
You may also contact the Mercer County Wildlife Center (http://www.mercercountyparks.org/#!/facilities/wildlife-center) with questions concerning local wildlife.
- Dennis B., West Windsor Branch
Comments
Post a Comment