April 2014 Activity

Week 14.  Cutting back on supplemental feed, as there seems to be enough forb material for deer.  Deer showed up but they found nothing, good time to wean them from assistance.
Week 15.  Killed rather large rattlesnake by the front door.  The attraction for snakes at the front door must be the proximity of the bird feeder and mice.  I recall three years ago, there was a small rattlesnake that was observed coiled up in a tight coil at the base of the feeder, waiting, I presume, for mice.
This must be the week for snakes to make their grand entrance after being holed up all winter.  Two large bull snakes hang out in the back yard by the stone wall.  We see them every day, and hope they clean out the mice.
Week 16.  One half inch of rain this week.  Beginning to really need more.  Bluebonnets are doing well with this rain.  Deer are not visiting regularly to the feed lot, but seem to drinking from the trough by the big water tank on a nightly basis.
Bought tank sprayer for attacking the fire ants. $20.00 Lowes.
Week 17.  Very little activity this week.   Birds we normally see are back, especially the painted bunting and the bobwhite quail. Quail should have another good year from the sound of all the calling.
Looks like another bum year for purple martins.  On one occasion, saw some martins that flew by the pm house, but did not stay.  Same story on bluebirds.   Wondering whether the prolonged drought has anything to do with poor martin and bluebird nesting in the area.