Weeks 36, 37, 38, 39
Rain, finally go some rain. In fact, over a two week period, received more than 10 inches. It was a perfect rain in that all of it soaked in as evidenced by no runoff whatsoever.
Cut way back on deer supplemental food and water.
No sign of the bucks recently.
The bird population has shifted. It will be interesting to make see how the October census looks compared to the one in the spring.
We have cut way back on mowing, mainly because of the drought, but some new thoughts are emerging on mowing at all. But we still need to get at the prickly pear which seems to be spreading. Maybe when it gets to be cooler weather we can do some experiments on selective eradication. Selective as some of the wildlife need the prickly pear for hiding and for the fruit.
The rain rescued the mustang grape crop, and puffed up the grapes to the point where now the animals might find them as food.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Thursday, September 13, 2018
August 2018 Activity
Weeks 31, 32, 33, 34, 35
Drought continues.
Two buck deer often show up in the south field. Good racks on both of them. Every once in a while they spar with their horns.
Grass still not showing any seeds. This is important as we try to collect and redistribute native grasses seed every year, but so far have found nothing.
Watering and feeding deer. We have not seen any more axis deer. Rancher about two miles to the west said he has seen them on numerous occasions over the last two years. I think most ranchers are probably harvesting them as they find them. That's good.
Bought 20 pound sack of black oil sunflower seed.
Using milled cottonseed as a food, but so far it seems to be too difficult for animals to eat without making it into a mush.
Watering the oak (for acorn production in the future) trees planted in recent years to get them started successfully.
Drought continues.
Two buck deer often show up in the south field. Good racks on both of them. Every once in a while they spar with their horns.
Grass still not showing any seeds. This is important as we try to collect and redistribute native grasses seed every year, but so far have found nothing.
Watering and feeding deer. We have not seen any more axis deer. Rancher about two miles to the west said he has seen them on numerous occasions over the last two years. I think most ranchers are probably harvesting them as they find them. That's good.
Bought 20 pound sack of black oil sunflower seed.
Using milled cottonseed as a food, but so far it seems to be too difficult for animals to eat without making it into a mush.
Watering the oak (for acorn production in the future) trees planted in recent years to get them started successfully.
Thursday, August 30, 2018
July 2018 Activity
Weeks 27, 28, 29, 30
The ground is getting very dry and the grass, especially has shown no tendency to make seed.
The deer are watered daily and they seem to be getting more desperate as they come to the front of the house and drink from the birdbath. The two birdbaths need refilling on a daily basis.
Hauled two loads to the brushpile. In spite of building this brushpile, it slumps a lot in between dumpings. That's normal, I guess, but the whole idea of the brushpile was to keep it open underneath for small animals. Perhaps I need to start putting some bigger diameter stuff in it to support the top better.
No sightings of much this month, all seems rather quiet.
Yes, have been putting out kitchen vegetable trimmings for the deer.
The ground is getting very dry and the grass, especially has shown no tendency to make seed.
The deer are watered daily and they seem to be getting more desperate as they come to the front of the house and drink from the birdbath. The two birdbaths need refilling on a daily basis.
Hauled two loads to the brushpile. In spite of building this brushpile, it slumps a lot in between dumpings. That's normal, I guess, but the whole idea of the brushpile was to keep it open underneath for small animals. Perhaps I need to start putting some bigger diameter stuff in it to support the top better.
No sightings of much this month, all seems rather quiet.
Yes, have been putting out kitchen vegetable trimmings for the deer.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
June 2018 Activity
Weeks 23, 24, 25, 26
Special note: First ever axis deer spotted this month. Hope these critters are not moving in to the area.
Mid Year inventory of birds observed here:
Special note: First ever axis deer spotted this month. Hope these critters are not moving in to the area.
Mid Year inventory of birds observed here:
- chickadee
- titmouse
- lesser goldfinch
- mocking bird
- phoebe
- towhee
- purple finch
- bluebird
- caracara
- turkey vulture
- cardinal
- painted bunting
- summer tanager
- Carolina wren
- bewicks wren
- house sparrow
- humming bird
- barn owl
- bobwhite quail
- Poor will
- rio grande turkey
- raven
- crow
- roadrunner
- cuckoo
- white wing dove
- inca dove
- mourning dove
- scissor tailed flycatcher
- barn swallow
- purple martin
- red tailed hawk
- kildeer
Monday, June 18, 2018
May 2018 Activity
Weeks 18,19,20, 21, 22
Bluebirds are raising a batch of birds. Important now to see that they have water, because the rain has been really short so far.
Water in the feeder tanks disappears each night, so we are getting a lot of visitors at night at the troughs.
See only 2 to 3 deer on occasions. No fawns observed yet. (early part of May).
Painted buntings have arrived. One pair has always nested in the area for the past 8 years.
There must be a fawn nesting somewhere close by as a doe keeps moseying around the area to the north in the middle of the day.
No mowing, in fact if we don't get some rain, there may be any mowing soon.
Watering new oak trees on regular occasions as we need the acorn production in future years.
Bluebirds are raising a batch of birds. Important now to see that they have water, because the rain has been really short so far.
Water in the feeder tanks disappears each night, so we are getting a lot of visitors at night at the troughs.
See only 2 to 3 deer on occasions. No fawns observed yet. (early part of May).
Painted buntings have arrived. One pair has always nested in the area for the past 8 years.
There must be a fawn nesting somewhere close by as a doe keeps moseying around the area to the north in the middle of the day.
No mowing, in fact if we don't get some rain, there may be any mowing soon.
Watering new oak trees on regular occasions as we need the acorn production in future years.
April 2018 Activity
Weeks 14,15,16,17 of 2018
Holding off from mowing the greater portion of the grassland. The winter grass is doing well, but I need to see some progress of the warmer season grasses before I mow. We always need the seed and so it has to develop and mature.
Two more loads of brush to the pile nearer the road. This is a small pile located in the brushy area and may not offer good refuge as the larger pile to the west. Will have to evaluate it to see if it is worth continuing to build it.
Since the 2 inches of rain in March, we have had no other rain to amount to any good. Soil is looking dry and the grass is not developing.
Quail have arrived.
Bluebirds are staying, purple martins never show up. Barn swallows make many passes in the area, but the phoebes drive them off. Next to the mocking bird, these small birds are quite domineering.
Not much show from the 4 footed creatures such as skunk, raccoon and possum.
Holding off from mowing the greater portion of the grassland. The winter grass is doing well, but I need to see some progress of the warmer season grasses before I mow. We always need the seed and so it has to develop and mature.
Two more loads of brush to the pile nearer the road. This is a small pile located in the brushy area and may not offer good refuge as the larger pile to the west. Will have to evaluate it to see if it is worth continuing to build it.
Since the 2 inches of rain in March, we have had no other rain to amount to any good. Soil is looking dry and the grass is not developing.
Quail have arrived.
Bluebirds are staying, purple martins never show up. Barn swallows make many passes in the area, but the phoebes drive them off. Next to the mocking bird, these small birds are quite domineering.
Not much show from the 4 footed creatures such as skunk, raccoon and possum.
March 2018 Activity
I have modified the format so that there is posting of activity for the whole month, as it has seemed that there was not enough activity to make it worthwhile for a weekly posting.
Weeks 10,11,12,13 in March 2018
Seven large cactus plants pulled out and stacked on the brush pile. All these were taken out of the area to the west of the gully where the grass has more trouble than it does to the east side of the gully.
This area was really "beat up" when we first excluded the cattle from the area. The grass was so poor that the first Ag appraiser thought maybe that there was only rock on this hillside, that is, the soil was so thin that it would not support grass. Now, 5 years later, the grass is making a good comeback and looks pretty good. That's the reason for a bit more care to remove some of the cactus.
It is important to not remove all the cactus however, because these established stands of cactus provide good cover, especially for birds in the winter.
No quail sounds yet
All the kitchen vegetable scraps are going to the deer for feed, cutting back on the sweet feed.
Looks as if the bluebirds will nest in the box. THIS IS A FIRST FOR THIS SITE. It would be interesting to know why they nested here, in this new box, and never nested in any of the boxes in the past 7 years.
Nothing in the purple martin house yet. It would appear that purple martins do not find enough bugs in the area to make this there home.
Lots of bees on the rosemary bushes.
Had two inches of rain---needed it.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
February 2018 Activity
Weeks 6,7,8,9
Purchased a 40 lb bag of sunflower seed and a 50 lb bag of sweet feed. I am using sweet feed instead of corn since the hunters fill the deer up with corn, which is attractive to deer but not very nourishing.
Finished cleaning out the vegetable garden, moving all the compostable material to the compost pile. Whenever I add material to the compost pile, the animals (whoever they may be) pull it apart looking for anything good to eat.
The rufous sided towhee was back again. It appears that the name rufous sided towhee is out of date with the bird folks. Its now the eastern towhee or the spotted towhee. If the bird shows up again, we will try to make a specific species identification.
Cleaned out the purple martin house. Not sure why I keep attending to this because we have not seen a purple martin here in years.
Cold and dreary weather.
Bluebirds are investigating the nest box.
No quail sounds yet, seems as if they are late.
Rain is in short supply. The area has had rain, but spotty, so it misses us here.
Two front end loader stacks of brush to the brush pile.
Purchased a 40 lb bag of sunflower seed and a 50 lb bag of sweet feed. I am using sweet feed instead of corn since the hunters fill the deer up with corn, which is attractive to deer but not very nourishing.
Finished cleaning out the vegetable garden, moving all the compostable material to the compost pile. Whenever I add material to the compost pile, the animals (whoever they may be) pull it apart looking for anything good to eat.
The rufous sided towhee was back again. It appears that the name rufous sided towhee is out of date with the bird folks. Its now the eastern towhee or the spotted towhee. If the bird shows up again, we will try to make a specific species identification.
Cleaned out the purple martin house. Not sure why I keep attending to this because we have not seen a purple martin here in years.
Cold and dreary weather.
Bluebirds are investigating the nest box.
No quail sounds yet, seems as if they are late.
Rain is in short supply. The area has had rain, but spotty, so it misses us here.
Two front end loader stacks of brush to the brush pile.
January 2018 Activity
Week 1
Cold and dreary weather, seems to be keeping wildlife quiet
Spotted the band of turkeys that are known to rove the area.
Songbirds for the winter time seem to be the usual ones. Cardinals, an occasional wren, phoebe, titmouse, chickadee, some sparrows.
Vegetable scraps are eaten everytime and completely whenever we put them out. This is a dilemma for us, as we would prefer provide supplemental food for only those conditions when natural food is scarce. On the other hand, we need to keep kitchen waste out of the landfill. If we compost the vegetable scraps, the animals raid the compost pile so the end result is the same: the animals get the scraps.
Week 2
Deer season is coming to a close. Has not had any effect on the doe population, but we don't see the two bucks anymore. With the range of deer, if these bucks were killed on the neighboring ranch or on this one, its hard to tell, without conducting a query. Cold and damp, but ground still dry. Deer seem to need the food as they are grazing on the green grass next to the house.
Week 3
Hogs, raccoons, and skunks seem to be a minimal visitor in the last six months.. In fact the hogs have not made any appearance in the past six months.
Saw a rufous sided towhee scratching around in the grass. Both a male and a female were observed.
Heard the redtailed hawk again.
Week 4
Three loads of brush to the main brushpile. Considering building a new brushpile in another location.
Keeping the main water trough filled with water as the next nearest water is about half mile distant.
The cat spotted a small gray fox creeping through the high grass. She is a good observer. Glad to see a gray fox even though they seem to be hated by some and treasured by others.
Spotted 5 turkeys crossing the roadway. Their flocks seem to be smaller in size than usual, maybe they are getting to the mating season when they are loners.
Week 5
No activity this week.
Cold and dreary weather, seems to be keeping wildlife quiet
Spotted the band of turkeys that are known to rove the area.
Songbirds for the winter time seem to be the usual ones. Cardinals, an occasional wren, phoebe, titmouse, chickadee, some sparrows.
Vegetable scraps are eaten everytime and completely whenever we put them out. This is a dilemma for us, as we would prefer provide supplemental food for only those conditions when natural food is scarce. On the other hand, we need to keep kitchen waste out of the landfill. If we compost the vegetable scraps, the animals raid the compost pile so the end result is the same: the animals get the scraps.
Week 2
Deer season is coming to a close. Has not had any effect on the doe population, but we don't see the two bucks anymore. With the range of deer, if these bucks were killed on the neighboring ranch or on this one, its hard to tell, without conducting a query. Cold and damp, but ground still dry. Deer seem to need the food as they are grazing on the green grass next to the house.
Week 3
Hogs, raccoons, and skunks seem to be a minimal visitor in the last six months.. In fact the hogs have not made any appearance in the past six months.
Saw a rufous sided towhee scratching around in the grass. Both a male and a female were observed.
Heard the redtailed hawk again.
Week 4
Three loads of brush to the main brushpile. Considering building a new brushpile in another location.
Keeping the main water trough filled with water as the next nearest water is about half mile distant.
The cat spotted a small gray fox creeping through the high grass. She is a good observer. Glad to see a gray fox even though they seem to be hated by some and treasured by others.
Spotted 5 turkeys crossing the roadway. Their flocks seem to be smaller in size than usual, maybe they are getting to the mating season when they are loners.
Week 5
No activity this week.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
December 2017 Activity
Week 49
Hauled two loads of brush to the brushpile, keeping it low and full of voids for a good habitat for small animals.
Still putting out kitchen vegetable scraps for whomever comes to the dinner table. Not sure if more than the deer show up, but good feed for rabbits as well.
Water maintained in the big tub to the west. Keeps the deer from watering at the bird feeder in front.
Week 50
Still spotting the 4 or 5 does, but the bucks we had seen earlier are not evident.
Adding sweet feed to the kitchen scraps as animal feed.
Keeping the bird feeder full of sunflower seeds.
Spotty rain but the soil is dry.
We have chosen to hold off mowing until spring gets closer as the wildlife, all kinds, seem to make use of the deep old grass.
Week 51
Observed a small group of turkeys this week. No owls, no mice. We always seem to have one rabbit, but never two, wonder what keeps them going when there must be a number of predators for small animals like rabbits.
It has been more than a year since we have had hog damage. I know the neighboring ranch conducts night hunts for hogs, so maybe this has had an effect on our experience.
Bought 50 lbs of sunflower seeds.
Week 52
There is some evidence that there is a redtailed hawk in the area, from the sound of its call.
Kinda quiet week so far.
Hauled two loads of brush to the brushpile, keeping it low and full of voids for a good habitat for small animals.
Still putting out kitchen vegetable scraps for whomever comes to the dinner table. Not sure if more than the deer show up, but good feed for rabbits as well.
Water maintained in the big tub to the west. Keeps the deer from watering at the bird feeder in front.
Week 50
Still spotting the 4 or 5 does, but the bucks we had seen earlier are not evident.
Adding sweet feed to the kitchen scraps as animal feed.
Keeping the bird feeder full of sunflower seeds.
Spotty rain but the soil is dry.
We have chosen to hold off mowing until spring gets closer as the wildlife, all kinds, seem to make use of the deep old grass.
Week 51
Observed a small group of turkeys this week. No owls, no mice. We always seem to have one rabbit, but never two, wonder what keeps them going when there must be a number of predators for small animals like rabbits.
It has been more than a year since we have had hog damage. I know the neighboring ranch conducts night hunts for hogs, so maybe this has had an effect on our experience.
Bought 50 lbs of sunflower seeds.
Week 52
There is some evidence that there is a redtailed hawk in the area, from the sound of its call.
Kinda quiet week so far.
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
November 2017 Activity
Week 45, 46,47,48
It appears I lost the November 2017 log made earlier, so this will have to be a gap in the log.
But, I do recall this. This is now getting on to hunting season and it appears that there is less hunting activity planned in these 1600 acres than in the past years. Several of the more avid hunters have left and non hunters seems to have replaced them. None the less, there are two big bucks that show up on occasions.
It appears I lost the November 2017 log made earlier, so this will have to be a gap in the log.
But, I do recall this. This is now getting on to hunting season and it appears that there is less hunting activity planned in these 1600 acres than in the past years. Several of the more avid hunters have left and non hunters seems to have replaced them. None the less, there are two big bucks that show up on occasions.
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