Up on the Rooftop

Click, click, click. 

After years of listening to that song during the holidays, it finally makes sense to me.  Being one who has not spent much (or in fact any) time around reindeer I was not aware that they make a clicking noise when they walk. 

They have a tendon in the rear leg that slides over the bone when they move and makes that clicking sound.  No one is sure why this is.  It is believed it helps them stay together in whiteout conditions.  If they can't see or smell their herd mates at least they can follow their clicks.  Apparently a large herd can make quite a racket! 

You can hear the clicking in this video once you get past the snowmobiles.

Another fact about reindeer that I found interesting is that only females and castrated males keep their antlers throughout the winter.  I'm not sure what that says about Rudolph!
 

Lets Talk Turkey

Since we moved to our current home, seven years ago, we have been visited by many groups of wild turkeys.  The first year we were here, we had a pair and their 15 chicks visit our field occasionally.  The couple that sold us the house had named the pair Franklin and Eleanor.  When the chicks had grown and moved on we saw Franklin and Eleanor from time to time pecking their way through the field.

In recent years a third had joined them and we called her Anna (Franklin and Eleanor's only daughter).  We had not seen the trio for awhile, then, this spring, Anna showed up with six poults (baby turkeys).

We have watched Anna carefully tend her little flock all summer.  It is quite a feat to be a single mother of six. Every evening I see them parading across the field nibbling seeds and eating bugs.  I watched them make some of their first flights and have seen them improving everyday.  Most nights they roost in one of the trees in the field or by the house and I watch them as the settle in for the night.

Today I saw one of the larger poults on its own.  It was happily pecking its around my garden, then, with a running start, flew right past me into a tree and found a place to roost.   I was very proud of it, being on its own, but, I was also very sad to think that my little turkeys are growing up.  Soon they will all go their separate ways and I will miss them!

Awwww!

Our first clutch of Pheobe chicks just about ready to leave the nest.

Mr. Bluebird

I cleaned out my Bluebird boxes today in anticipation of spring nesting.  It is important to do so since Bluebirds, unlike my friends the Phoebes, will not use the same nest as last year. 

Eastern Bluebird

I built two boxes a couple of years ago, but only hung out one the first year.  I didn't finish them until May and by then it was too late in the season for Bluebirds since they start nest building as early as February.  I did, however, get some tenants that first year.

A pair of Carolina Wrens made a pretty little nest of small twigs and raised a brood of three.

Carolina Wren

 Last year I finally got a Bluebird pair to use the box.  They only had one brood and not until late summer, but they made a beautiful nest with soft moss on the bottom and pine needles on top.  I saw a group of five bluebirds early this winter sitting in the trees near the barn.  I thought they were just looking to see what houses were on the market for the spring, but it was probably my Bluebird family.  Apparently, if a pair hatches a brood late in the season they will stay together as a loose knit family unit through the following spring.

If you are interested in attracting Bluebirds to your property there are a mired of nest box plans on the internet.   I used this one  because it involved cutting up just one 1X6.  There are many "rules" about where to mount the boxes so be sure to read up before you start hanging them. 

They're Baack!

 Spring is finally here!  How do I know that?  No, not because March 21st has just past, but, because the Phoebes are back! 






We have lived here almost 7 years and each summer we have a pair of Eastern Phoebes that board with us and raise 2 or 3 clutches of chicks. 

Phoebes are one of the first birds to return in the spring and hearing their "fee-bee" song in mid-March makes me think warmer weather is just around the corner.  They mate for life, are loyal to their nests, and can live up to ten years.  I'm not sure if this is the same pair that returns year after year, but they head straight to the barn like they know where they are going.  They set up house in the rafters above Casey's using moss, mud, and a few horse tail hairs.

Momma sets for two weeks and the chicks are ready to fly two weeks after that.  They grow up so fast!  I love to watch the chicks head pop up out of the nest and see mom and pop relentlessly flying in and out with bugs.  I hope they don't decide to move out now that Owen has moved in!