Nature Journal
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| Sunday, March 30, 2003 | |
| I've
been listening to the crows over
the past several weeks and observing their behavior. A small flock
of crows has been flying around in the vicinity of the house every
day for quite a while now. They've been very vocal - much more so than during the winter. I don't hear them all day, but mostly in the mornings - and then for briefer periods later during the day. Over the past few days, their vocalizations have not been as loud or as frequent. I'm not sure why crows become more vocal at certain times of the year, but I've read that they become very quiet during the nesting period. So, I'll be listening for that quiet time. |
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| Saturday, March 29, 2003 | |
 There've
been reports that the black bears are
coming out of hibernation now.The male bears usually emerge from their dens first. The females and their cubs leave their dens a little later. The bears are pretty hungry this time of year and they're on the move - looking for food. |
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| Friday, March 28, 2003 | |
| The
wild turkeys came by for their first
visit since last fall! They were wandering around scratching in the
leaves - which is typical foraging behavior. There was at least one
male and about six or seven females. The male turkey's beard was quite long - which is supposed to be an indication of its age. Although mating season hasn't begun yet, the male's head and neck were conspicuously red. The beginning of turkey breeding season never goes by unnoticed. The sound of the male turkey's gobbling will fill the woods - especially at night. |
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| Thursday, March 27, 2003 | |
 Saw
a good-sized flock of juncos when
I was out walking today. Haven't seen much of them at all this winter.I just learned from The Birder's Handbook (by Ehrlich, Dobkin, & |
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 Wheye)
that, for many species, thecolor of a bird's eye changes with age. For the junco, the eye color changes from gray (or gray-brown) to red-brown. So if you see a reddish-brown twinkle in eye of a junco, you'll know it's not a young bird. |
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| Wednesday, March 26, 2003 | |
| Since
the bluebirds are beginning to arrive in New England, you might want
to check out the website for the North
American Bluebird Society. It includes nest box plans, bluebird facts, and information about bluebird trails. A mailing list for those interested in bluebirds is also available. |
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2003 | |
 Saw
the tracks of the red fox today. This
mammal is mainly nocturnal - hunting during the night and sleeping
during the day. However, it's not unusual to see one during the daylight hours - especially |
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| in
the spring when the pups are old enough to leave the den. Red foxes only use dens during the breeding season. Otherwise, they bed down out in the open - even in the winter. If the weather is bad, they may seek a more sheltered spot for sleeping. |
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| Monday, March 24, 2003 | |
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About
10 pm last night, I heard some Canada
geese migrating northward. While
I was listening to the geese, I heard two barred
owls calling back and forth to each other - not far from the
house. And another flock of geese flew by this evening. |
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