Week 9 Time has come to cut way back on supplemental food. All wildlife, especially deer are now able to forage for themselves---any more food just makes them tame. We can not do that.
Seems like there has been a big increase in deer population. Of course it is difficult to make that conclusion because the deer from surrounding areas may just be visiting more often. Next door at Summer Mountain, many residents feed deer all year long. It shows the effect with the tame natureof the deer and the large population there.
Field mice seem to be prevalent this year in the grass out in the fields. Good food for the owls.
Purple martin house is up, but no activity.
Getting short on ground water again, but the forecast for today (8th) is promising.
Inspected the brush pile created by the half cut dead juniper from last year. This is a rather open brush pile and the grass has grown up in it so that it really provides good habitat.
Two more front end loader loads to the brush pile in the front left corner.
We heard a red tailed hawk this week- with its shrill call.
An oriole was at the bird feeder. Put out a half grapefruit to see if that attracts them.
We have seven oak trees (of unknown species) starting from acorns. They too are looking for warmer weather. When warmer weather comes, they will be transplanted inside cages. These acorns came from some trees alongside Hwy 123 in the city. We were attracted to these trees due to their huge production of acorns---good food for wildlife.
Week 10 Rainwater troughs are all full and seem to be used very little by wildlife--except the birds as they always use the nearby supplies of water.
New $20.00 bag of sunflower seeds. Birds at the feeder seem to be mostly cardinals, but some finches as well. Spotty observation of deer.
Observed big two stripe skunk in mid day. It seemed healthy and rambled off to the north.
Week 11 Planted 5 oak trees of the "unknown" species--the ones from acorns from planted trees alongside Hwy 123. Will continue try to identify them. In all places where these small plants were placed, they now have cages over to protect them from deer browse.
Water situation in good shape.
Added two front end loaders full of brush to the front brush pile. Have not yet started the selective prickly pear cleanup.
Still have not heard any quail calls and have not seen any birds since those seen back a month ago.
Week 12 Half grapefruit disappeared, not sure to where. Doe cautiously appears near 6 pm to the north side in a loitering mode--Must have a fawn stashed away somewhere nearby. Supplemental food has been deleted. Deer observations are way down as a result.
The call of the painted bunting was heard (perhaps), but did not observe.
