Week 5 Steady routine of reduced corn and sweet feed, plus vegetable scraps to the deer yard. Those attending range from 3 does to 6 does. Added to the brush pile no. 2 in the back field, placing brush and cactus cleanup such that there is a lot of internal space for habitat.
No reply from TP &W on the question of whether to mow last years dead grass or let it stand for the quail. Disappointed in no response.
Week 6 Cleaned and erected the purple martin house this week. Recall that no purple martins have taken up residence since this house was put up two years ago.
Decided to limit the barn swallows to one nest---if this is possible--due to their aggressive nature regarding the smaller birds, such as the wrens. Moved the wrenhouse away from the barnswallow nest on the house wall.
Usual routine of feed at the deer yard. Point to note, saw two bucks with the antlers still intact. Must be getting close to antlers falling off.
Added more brush to brush pile no.2. We will put a few more cactus on this pile, then move to another site for adding another brush pile.
Week 7 Good news: We encountered a state game warden at the SMCISD STEM fair and asked the question about quail habitat for our land, asking him the question of mowing. He did not know the answer but buttonholed a biology professor from TSU who happened to be nearby. He was knowledgeable and gave us all we need to know about quail on this land. Four key points: (1) Don't mow if there is room for the birds to run along the ground without mowing (yes there is). (2) Provide brush piles with loose structure for nesting (yes there are, and will build more) (3) Don't knock down old, loose structure prickly pear cactus as they provide nesting sites. (good advice as we were about to take many of them down). (4) Don't bother to feed the quail purchased seed or commercial feed as studies have shown no effect on quail nesting success or population growth.
Week 8 Feed to the deer yard pulled in 10 does tonight. Most ever. I guess that is because all the hunters have stopped feeding for the season and this is now the only welfare feeding spot. One buck with antlers.
Getting dry again, need some rain.
Built a level platform for the phoebe to see if that helps them build a nest in their favorite spot by the garage.
Planted a huge number of acorns (half shumardi and other have liveoak) in various protected places. We did this last year with no noticable results, but maybe with the right rainfall, it will be successful this spring.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
January 2015 Activity
Week 1 Seems as if the harvest of deer is quite large this year. None on this tract, but know of at least 10 bucks killed within half mile radius of this location. Wildlife in general is in good shape this year, opposum, raccoon, field mice, (squirrel population is down since I rigged the bird feeder with an electric fence charger), fox (havent seen any, but have heard them bark, coyotes (needed to keep the piglets under control).
Week 2 Corn and vegetable scraps in the feed lot. Need to think about cutting back, getting ready for spring. Plenty of water, as the water troughs hardly have any use at this time.
Winter bird population is at a low point. Hardly see any birds except a few cardinals and lots of mockingbirds (they never used to stay here all year, but now do).
Week 3 Deer spotted were the usual 3-5 does, but did see two bucks which means they escaped the hunting season. No coyotes heard. A few, but not many, red tailed hawks showing up.
Corn and sweet feed to the deer lot on three of the five days.
Feral cat seems to show up about once per week.
Week 4 Person in charge of the community hog trap says he has caught about ten hogs so far this new year. For some reason, we never see any sign of hogs here--but on the alert nevertheless.
Vegetable scraps and corn to the feed lot on two days this week.
Reports of night hunting of hogs on the adjacent ranch to the north. From the gunfire, sounds like they had lots of targets. Planning on setting a day aside for bird count.
Week 2 Corn and vegetable scraps in the feed lot. Need to think about cutting back, getting ready for spring. Plenty of water, as the water troughs hardly have any use at this time.
Winter bird population is at a low point. Hardly see any birds except a few cardinals and lots of mockingbirds (they never used to stay here all year, but now do).
Week 3 Deer spotted were the usual 3-5 does, but did see two bucks which means they escaped the hunting season. No coyotes heard. A few, but not many, red tailed hawks showing up.
Corn and sweet feed to the deer lot on three of the five days.
Feral cat seems to show up about once per week.
Week 4 Person in charge of the community hog trap says he has caught about ten hogs so far this new year. For some reason, we never see any sign of hogs here--but on the alert nevertheless.
Vegetable scraps and corn to the feed lot on two days this week.
Reports of night hunting of hogs on the adjacent ranch to the north. From the gunfire, sounds like they had lots of targets. Planning on setting a day aside for bird count.
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