Red squirrelThis was a day of Northwoods Ecology Hall and Hope Learning Center desk work. Out the window, red squirrels and blue jays were beautiful in the sun as they busied themselves with sunflower seed hearts on the railing.
I was surprised to see gray jays. Although they remain mated in their territories year-round, we seldom see them until they begin storing food for winter, starting in late August. But these were the first I’ve seen for months, and I was surprised they were eating sunflower seeds. They may have settled for those because the recent snow 
Gray jaysprobably covered other foods. Seeing them reminded me to put out the suet I bought a couple days ago. That’s what they wanted. Within seconds, they were frantically tugging at the suet and carrying pieces off to eat or to glue to branches for later. The glue is a secretion from their special salivary glands.
We are still glowing about the help you gave for the Northwoods Ecology Hall, Hope Learning Center, etc., a couple days ago. No further news on final numbers yet.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.