I had a Yellow-rump and a Black and White Warbler along the L-P Preserve's Beech Hill Brook this morning, and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at my sunflower feeder. Two days ago at dusk a Great Horned Owl perched on a Spruce spire at the bottom of my yard. Four days ago we watched a Chickadee and a House Wren alternately visiting a nest box outside the window. Several boxes by the pond have been lined with green moss. A couple of bats have been flying about the yard lately.
The toad-liver feast for Crows will begin soon. I think it typically happens about a week into May, but with this warm weather, toad song is already picking up. Few toads are actually in the pond yet, but I can hear them gathering from all directions, and I think the big event may be early this year. I'm watching daily for the black rat snakes to emerge from the communal hibernaculum that I suspect lies under a century old barn foundation here. A rude unoccupied cabin sits on top, and big 5' -6' skins hang among the rafters. This year I'd like to actually see the snakes basking and shedding in there. In the near future their hibernaculum may be put at risk, so I'm starting to think about building one to replace it. Any advice would be welcome! -Geo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
