It doesn’t snow very often here in central North Carolina. When it does snow, it usually doesn’t last long, melting within a day or two, sometimes disappearing the same day. I try to get out as early as possible when there’s a covering of snow to have a look around and see what creatures have [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for January, 2009
Is it Time?
January 31st, 2009A Woodchuck was reported near the entrance to Catch the Wind next to the Ornithopter. Apparently, the weather warmed enough on at least one day of this period for this large rodent to briefly wake from its slumber and have a look around. One entrance to its burrow is just across the path from the [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
There’s Always the Birds…
January 31st, 2009With the low temperatures of the 15th-18th of this month, the Wetlands iced over enough to force the Hooded Mergansers to take flight and seek bigger water where they could swim and dive for fish. One merganser returned on January 24 and four were in attendance on the 29th of the month. Canada Geese remained [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
Brave Souls
January 31st, 2009Frogs persist in the Wetlands. Besides the BullFrogs being harvested by the Red-shouldered Hawk in the small swamp adjacent to the Wetlands Overlook, a Pickerel Frog was seen busily hopping along the grass near the restrooms in Explore the Wild on the relatively warm day of 24 January. Where it was going, and the reason [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
Creeper Pods
January 31st, 2009Seed pods of Trumpet Creeper can be seen hanging from the now brown, leafless vines throughout the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop, most noticeably on either side of the path next to the Wetlands Overlook and behind the Sailboat Pond. These 4”-8” long pods (image at left) contain small winged seeds. I’m not sure [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
Birdapalooza
January 15th, 2009January 10th was a fun day. It was Birdapalooza at the Museum. I see a lot of people during my day out on the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop, and by all accounts, Birdapalooza was a rousing success! Besides there being many special programs in the main building and other areas on the Museum [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
Busy Beavers
January 15th, 2009In the Wetlands, the Beaver (or is it Beavers) has (or have) been very busy lately. Besides damming the culvert where the water exits the Wetlands (underneath you as you descend into the Wetlands on the boardwalk) as soon as it’s cleared of the many twigs, branches, leaves, and mud that keeps the water from [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
Excavations Underway, Visitors from the North
January 15th, 2009For the past month or more, a male Red-bellied Woodpecker has been excavating a hole near the end of a broken branch of a Loblolly Pine. The pine is just outside the entrance to the Lemur House. The bird will, presumably, use the hole to roost in during the cold winter nights, and perhaps to [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
Winter frogs, and a Strange Turtle Encounter
January 15th, 2009Frogs persist in the swamp across from the Wetlands Overlook. On warm days, especially when the sun warms the shallow water of the swamp in late morning to early afternoon, frogs begin to move about in the water. I’ve not actually seen one of these frogs, that is, before one of the resident Red-shouldered Hawks, [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
Two Fruits
January 15th, 2009If, on your stroll around the Wetlands, you happen to notice small red, berry-like fruit on thorny, bare twigs along the water’s edge, you’re looking at Rose Hips. The small, red fruit of the various wild roses are eaten by many birds and animals on the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop. Also, Sycamore “balls,” [...] Read the rest of this entry »
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.
There are no comments on this journal entry. Start the conversation.