Holly with the red ballHolly found her big red ball and carried it to her big white pine refuge tree where she earlier stashed a food bowl. That’s her favorite area. Today, she had fun playing with Lucky going round and round the cedar tree by the viewing windows. With her size, she is at a disadvantage in rough play, and going around a tree equalizes things a bit. When there is action, like Ted following Honey today, Holly’s white pine gives a good vantage point to climb and watch. A year ago, we wanted a yearling her size for her to play with, but she is adapting well to Lucky and Ted and getting plenty of mental stimulation.
Hooded Merganser pairAt the WRI, love is in the air. The popular male hooded merganser who had 4 females following him a couple days ago is down to one. The others moved on. Today the pair was preening and sleeping on a log in Woods Lake with the crests relaxed—not erected like when 4 females were vying for one male.
Three other pairs of ducks have arrived on Woods Lake—2 pairs of ring-necked ducks and a pair of mallards.
Blue jays are feeling the love, too. A male brought his mate some sunflower seeds where she sat high in a tree. Then she flew down to the railing where the seeds came from but didn’t eat any. She waited for the male to serve them to her in his beak. The picture was taken from my desk out the window.
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| Lucky and Holly play | Lucky plays with food dish | |
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| Pine Siskin | Male Jay feeds female | Herring Gulls |
The two herring gulls that are comfortable with us returned again like last year are probably a mated pair as close as they remain to each other.
In the last week, least chipmunks have joined the eastern chipmunks here. Least chipmunks are much smaller and more boldly striped, including on the face.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.