Of course I wouldn’t expect to see a bear for well over a month yet, but I can’t help but miss them.
Barred Owl 2002
But an owl with a B name, a Barred Owl showed up a couple days ago for an ID picture that’s not as sharp as I’d like. But it reminded me of an exciting time in July 2002 when a barred owl flew up to a white pine in the dark close enough that I could use a flash for a detailed picture of this mostly nocturnal owl that I hear more than I see.
listen to a Barred Owl (stock audio)
The male fisher came several times lately, showing slightly different hues depending on the light. He is used to seeing me in the window at my desk on his way to the drumsticks or beef fat. He even stopped for a look calmly enough, but he is skittish if I get up.
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Fisher Male in different lighting
The bald eagle made six swooping grab and goes in one day without me being able to get a single picture. Each swoop is startlingly unexpected at high speed with no pause as he grabs and is disappearing through the trees with food in his talons by the time I can grab the camera.
Pine Siskins
Pine siskins continue to grow in number. Maybe it is the increased competition for sunflower seed hearts that makes them desperate enough to land on me, up to 14 at a time on my arms, hand, chest, and head, looking me in the eye at times and then are back to showing me close-up how they chew each seed into crumbs to swallow. If a raven or eagle flies over, they fly off as a flock to either fill the high branches of trees or more likely are off as a twisting and turning cloud of birds.
Crow pair
The first crows I’ve seen this year returned from 100 to 200 miles south—a pair sitting together on a dead branch of a white pine.
Seeing the days getting longer and temperatures coming up, makes me think of spring and new cubs.
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center