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| Fletcher Wildlife Garden | profile | all galleries >> Previous FWG blogs >> 2008 Blogs >> FWG blog: December 2008 | tree view | thumbnails | slideshow |
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I watched four black-capped chickadees busily investigating this big clump of DSV (Dog-strangling vine) for at least 15 minutes. They were very actively checking out the pods, occasionally plucking something off, and when they had finished with this clump, they flew to another nearby and repeated their actions. The next day the same activity was continuing. It appeared that they must have found insect eggs or larvae, but probably eggs, and were feeding on them. Whatever they were, they were minute, far too small for me to see through binoculars. Searching the pods with a hand lens didn't produce any further enlightenment as to what they were finding!
During the brief mild spell of mid-December, some of the snow cover melted away exposing abundant signs of vole activity. Here you can see the entrance to a tunnel, and a big pile of scat. Nearby there were many other such piles. Although we are largely unaware of this, life goes on in the sub-nivean layer, that is, beneath the snow. Voles are quite numerous again this year, and they will attract predators such as raptors (hawks and owls) and foxes.
An extensive network of vole tunnels built beneath the snow.
As I've mentioned before, Manitoba maples are wonderful sources of food for wildlife. The ones at FWG (and the Arboretum) are often a hive of activity (as long as seeds remain on them). One tree at FWG had four squirrels gobbling down the seeds. When I came along, most of the squirrels ran to another nearby tree and waited for me to leave, but this little guy grabbed his bounty and ran into a nearby buckthorn tree to finish his snack.
The snow certainly makes everything look beautiful.
The pond was pretty well frozen this morning, with only a small open patch. The ice was thin, however, and perhaps it will open up a bit if the weather warms up. I could see duck tracks on the snow as if the poor creatures were stomping around wondering where all the water had gone. Last year, if you recall, the pond stayed partly open all winter and hosted upward of 200 ducks.
Sometimes, just for an instant, light conditions can produce these transient but dramatic effects.
While standing and idly looking at the snowy landscape, this fat little grey squirrel came chugging along, but stopped short on seeing me.
After deciding I wasn't a threat, this little guy turned his back and began digging through the snow. As you can see, he came up with nothing but a snowy nose.
When squirrels stand like this, they make me think of Squirrel Nutkin, in Beatrix Potter's stories. Of course, her squirrel was the British red squirrel, not our grey squirrel. Still, there is something touching about this pose. Especially with the snowy nose!
Although this scene looks peaceful, just seconds after this photo was taken, the grey squirrel (black phase) ran at the chipmunk, who in turn ran toward the mourning dove and all three scattered in different directions. Winter is a harsh time for wildlife, however, so they soon returned, joined by juncos and more doves and squirrels. The chipmunk is clearly not heeding the signs to hibernate, perhaps because it is not that cold yet. Not that chipmunks are true hibernators anyway.
When the sunlight struck the seeds of this amur maple tree, it seemed to me as if tiny little Christmas lights had just lit up.
Earlier in the fall, someone set fire to the vegetation under this tree, and scorched the land for some distance. Sadly, the lower branches of this magnificent, big tree were also scorched, and now they are dying and soon will fall. Such vandalism is frustrating.
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