Category Archives: Year 1

Northern Cardinal Feeding Fledgling

Year 1

Just when I think all birds are fledged, with the bug birds well into their migration, I get fooled. Earlier today I met the Cardinal twins. These youngsters obviously fledged just within the past day or two … quite late on August 27th. I have to wonder if this is a second nesting for my local cardinals, or if the first nest failed. Regardless, August 27th is very late.

The other excitement today was a large flock of Cedar Waxwings enjoying my Mountain Ash Tree berries, or at least they will until a Coopers Hawk snagged one. My yard was bird free for a quite a while after that point, and I did see the hawk again about one hour later.

Northern Cardinal

Cardinal Fledgling (begging)

Dad arrives with food!

Excuse me … Your Birdfeeder is Broken!

Year 1

Prophetic words! Back on August 11th I decided I had to buy this t-shirt and anted up the cash to Amazon. Early this morning I decided it would be fun to wear my new shirt to my Cardiac Rehab appointment. The nursing staff at Essentia is fantastic, and many have become friends. Just prior to leaving I discovered today was a very appropriate day for “the shirt.” Five minutes before leaving for my medical appointment, I found out I had once again been “beared.” Here are my trailcam photographs from the past 24 hours …

With the extreme drought in northern Minnesota, which I have to assume is affecting the berry crop, bears will very much in evidence this fall. I had not been beared for over a month.

Mr. Bear (or Madam Bear) approaches

Wildcamera

Mr. Bear tells me what he thinks of my bird feeder protection system

Wildcamera

Yours truly working upon bear repair this morning

Wildcamera
Wildcamera

A close-up of the t-shirt!

Begging Owls at 4 am

Year 1
The first thimbleberries are ripe! My local owls are aware this fact, and they have been hunting my yard each of the last three nights. As other animals and birds eat thimbleberries … wham! Owls eat them! Yesterday morning there was quite a mess of blood and feathers on our walk from a successful owl kill.
The owlets are still not proficient hunters. Last night a youngster sat in the dead tree right next to our bedroom window at 4 am and begged continuously for ten minutes. Not sure Molly appreciated the racket.
At 5:20 am the owls were still in the yard, when the robins woke up and took alarm at their presence. This soon attracted Blue Jays, and ultimately Crows. At 5:45 I went hiking and found the owls hunting next to Amity Creek. I suspect the idea was to catch any smaller animal taking an early morning drink. The crows were still giving the owls grief, and everyone, including me, moved around Lester / Amity Park for 20 minutes. We covered about one mile, and I often stopped to eat thimbleberries!
I believe this is the Mom owl … pic taken just before sunrise.
And one more BBQ Ruby-Throated Hummingbird photograph. The male flew in to feed four times on the Bee Balm but never gave me a clear view. Bummer.

Finally an update on Red-Headed Woodpeckers. Whereas before this year it is believed Duluth has never had a nesting pair, the second nest is now confirmed! What is interesting, but guess it should not be, is the similarities in habitat the birds chose. While the two nest holes are miles apart, both pairs of Red-Headed Woodpeckers chose dead trees within 50 yards of a river. The running water means insects.