Small Vee II

Of course, just a couple days after posting about not seeing many Canadian Geese here in East Tennessee, we’ll whadda yeah know -

Yup, several dozen milling about in this recently harvested wheat field this morning, which runs along a section of the trail I’ve been walking. 

As I pointed out in my previous post, Small Vee, the “goose grease” is the dead give away that these nuisance pests are nearby and sure enough it was present and covering a large portion of the trail today, gross 🤮!

The more I think about it, I’m guessing here in East Tennessee, these honkers will start appearing more and more as corn fields, soybean fields, wheat fields, etc., are harvested leaving behind oodles of grains for the taking.

I don’t blame them, free eats after all is a good thing. Just would be nice If they’d stay off the walkways, roads and parking lots…

Small Vee

I was slow on the drawn with my camera at capturing these Canadian Geese flying by. I heard them approaching but still didn’t react quick enough.

Perhaps, because I’ve been conditioned with SO many of these honkers back home, where they’re actually more of a nuisance, in my opinion anyway, that I was slow on the draw.

You see them ALL over back home! They’re paired up in the spring in areas where they chose their nesting spots. Pretty much wherever there is some sort of water.

Yes, their gosling are adorable but that cuteness wains as they grow and there are scads of these waterfowl taking over. It’s not the animals per se but the “goose grease” they cover everything with, 🤢! This is problematic at ball fields, parks, businesses, golf courses and public spaces.

This group I captured needs to work on their flying formations. They were in two groups with one kinda in a vee but the other not even close -

Seems I recall, back when I was a youte, these critters were seldom seen and when you did see them they were typically flying overhead and in tight vee formation! They were on the brink of extinction at one point in time, however, conservation programs successfully brought them back.

They don’t have many real predators to keep them in check; yes, coyotes and foxes, which is one reason why there numbers have exploded.

They’re still federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which is one reason why there are millions of these bird and why you see them everywhere.

They don’t seem to be as invasive here in East Tennessee, as I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen them since being here. Maybe I’ll appreciate them more by having less encounters with them but they definitely need to work on their flying formations first.

This Squirrel Is Nuts!

I took these pics yesterday of a grey squirrel sitting atop one of my back deck posts eating a nut of some sort -

The odd thing about this is that there are NO trees within 50'-60' feet and the deck just isn't an easy place to access or one that I would have thought a critter would find inviting or safe.

So, this dude had to cross the pool areas chain link fence - guessing by going under, then make it's way to the deck, up 12 stairs or scale the banister and then climb atop the 6' post.

The dude looked content and comfortable up there.  Well, until he spied me taking his picture, then he got camera shy, reversed direction down the post, down the banister and scurried out under the rear gate door and up into the peach tree.

Honestly, I think these critters are just screwing with me on purpose...

Wren Lives Matter!

For some unknown reason the past month or so we've been inundated with your run of the mill, nuisance House Sparrows.

They're just good for nothing scavenger-type birds often seen in the city or McDonalds parking lots begging for morsels.  

Well, they've reappeared here at the ole homestead and have already worn out their welcome.

They're on and in the chicken coop and stealing feed, and pooping on everything.  They're in the garden bare spots dust bathing, which is making a mess and removing soil.  And now they've bullied and forced out a happy and content Wren family!  Yup, the bird house pictured below was occupied by a lovely Wren couple until a pair of sparrows moved in and pushed the baby Wren right out, BOOM!

The second picture below is of two baby wrens hidden in the flowers just beneath the bird house.  They were there for a couple days, with the parents diligently still watching over them and feeding them.   On the third day they were no where to be found.  Hoping they took flight and are fine, versus being tasty little wren mcnuggets for some skunk or fox.

I've not had any luck to date trapping a single sparrow.

I will persist and I will prevail.

The fight is real!

Good For Nuttin

I believe these are adult European Starlings.

"Starlings are boisterous, loud, and they travel in large groups (often with blackbirds and grackles). They race across fields, beak down and probing the grass for food; or they sit high on wires or trees making a constant stream of rattles, whirrs, and whistles."

I've noticed this to be the case too but also add their droppings to this annoyance.  When you have so many amassed together, all eating berries for example, there's gonna a poop mess everywhere too.  These were two of the many, who had their beaks down and probing my lawn, that I took some pictures of.  They blended right in with the brown leaves from the pear tree.  I believe they were foraging for the dropped fruit from our pear trees or whatever scraps was left behind from my mowing and raking.

The Starling falls into the category as the squirrel, the sparrow and pigeon.  Cool markings but noisy, messy, good for nothing birds.

NOT For Rent! Move On!

Interesting picture of this male House Sparrow poking his head out of the birdhouse.  The sparrows can visit so long as it's a short visit and they move on.  There will be NO sparrow family raising occurring in our birdhouses here, that I can assure you of!

Not Interested!

Jehovah's Witness going door to door the other morning.

We've been here for 17 years and I don't recall having them as often as this year.  Times must be tough.

I see this akin to those dreaded dinner time soliciting phone calls, annoying!

Captain's Log, USS Homestead (732)

Captain's log. Stardate 3.12.2016. 

The wife and I caught a glimpse of the largest sciurid in its geographical range.  Our gardens dreaded foe, the woodchuck also known as: Chuck, Wood-shock, Groundpig, Whistler, Thickwood Badger, Canada Marmot, Monax, Moonack, Weenusk, and the Red Monk .  Disturbing he made his first appearance of the season ahead of official Spring.

Captain's log, supplemental.  

We'll immediately implement counter measures.  I must take action on my own judgement.  To capture and detain this creature before more delicious homegrown veggies are destroyed.

Well, "shut the front door!

Peek-A-Boo, GO AWAY!

What a lovely day, blue sky and all.  However, that is NOT what I was taking a picture of.  Take a closer look.  Do you see the little *uckers now?

If not, here's a better shot.  

Another nemesis of mine, the bloom'n House Sparrow!

The female is perched on the roof, while the male is poking his head out.

If you're wondering where these nuisance birds are let me tell you.

They've made there way into the end-cap of one of our eaves on the front side of the family room.  A combination of damaged wood and visiting woodpeckers in the Fall, opened up a hole small enough for these vermin to expand and get inside.

Several years ago a similar thing happened to the neighbors next door.  I watched for weeks on end as the combination of woodpeckers and sparrows did the exact same thing in the exact same location.  Of course, perhaps because I'm a dink at times, I LOVED it and found it very comical.  However, NOT so much now that it's happening to us.  I suspect this would be a good example of karma.

In any event I have some repair patching to do in the coming weeks.  Just wish it wasn't so high up...