Chiggers!
Caretaker's note: This is a sign that the fire ants are less numerous than before and under control. Have not seen (or felt) chigger bites for 10 years before.
Continued feeding hummingbirds
Caretaker's note: The large 15 ounce feeders do better in the deep shade. Also experimented with city chlorinated water instead of rain water and the feeding solution seemed to last longer.
Saw:
Caretaker's note: Cowbirds are a predatory species on songbirds previously discussed in a 2005 Journal entry. A few have been seen in the spring during nesting season but efforts to find them and shoot them failed. This 2007 photo shows the young cowbirds being introduced to a water source by their adoptive parents, the cardinals. Cowbirds are so named because they tend to be found near cattle operations. Historically, they adapted their predatory behavior to follow buffalo as they roamed to new grazing areas.
- Fox
- Raccoon
- Rock squirrel
- Squirrel
- Deer
Posted in
2007 Journal, Census, Predator, Food, Water
- Continued to remove Johnson grass
- Transplanted Agave
Posted in
2007 Journal, Habitat
- Bridge was flooded, but passable
- After 6 days, all hummingbird feeders were dry
- Saw young Rock squirrel
Posted in
2007 Journal, Census, Food
Continued feeding hummingbirds. (Feeders need refreshing every 4 days in hot weather, it is especially needed when the color of the sugar mixture appears cloudy instead of clear.)
Emergent Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly seen on post at gate entrance
- Removed Johnson grass throughout yard area
- Transplanted Blackfoot daisy
- Cleared trail to river which was overgrown due to increased rains
- Removed ragweed from river bottom
Posted in
2007 Journal, Census, Habitat, Food
Light scattered rain
Neighbors dog was loose and killed a lizard. It was severely scolded verbally.
Hummingbirds are very active
A chrysalis was found in town on parsley plant. It was removed, transported to watersto_jennystone and put in a net to observe.
Cowbirds:
- Seen at feeders (Brown-headed cowbirds are a parasite in songbirds nests)
- Plan for elimination (shooting if target is in a safe hunting area, also considered building a cowbird trap according to the directions found on TPWD website)
Caretaker's note: Here are some resources from Texas Parks and Wildlife to help landowners deal with cowbirds.
Caution is encouraged in trapping cowbirds, because it is possible to introduce even more cowbirds with a decoy than one might have naturally without the effort.
Posted in
2007 Journal, Census, Predator
