Critters and wildlife in your area - post your pics
- Thread starter Oh Little Oji
- Start date
Our Sedum plants are in bloom and they always attract all kinds of insects. Butterflies, bees, wasps, you name it. Any time I go near them it is a flurry of activity. Here is just a few.
This bee is so cute.
And I don't know what these are except maybe some kind of wasp? But I think I have an idea of what they're doing!
This bee is so cute.
And I don't know what these are except maybe some kind of wasp? But I think I have an idea of what they're doing!
I don't have a picture this time. But my little Hunter was at it again last night. When I went out to the barn she stayed in my husband's barn as I went through the door into my barn. I figured, okay you want to smell where that mouse was. Go ahead. 
Then I heard her barking. I told my husband she must have gotten something again. I go to investigate and find her looking and barking at an area that had some of my husband's wire and miscellaneous stuff. I moved a few things and she jumped in there. And I saw her jump back like something scared her. I moved a few more things out of the way and there was. A baby snake! I ran to my barn to get my little snake grabber and came back to get him. He was so small I could barely get him with the grabber. I thought I can just grab his tail but he was kind of striking at me so I didn't feel comfortable with my bare hands LOL I finally pick him up with the grabber and rescued him. Took him for a little walk outside and set him free.
Then I heard her barking. I told my husband she must have gotten something again. I go to investigate and find her looking and barking at an area that had some of my husband's wire and miscellaneous stuff. I moved a few things and she jumped in there. And I saw her jump back like something scared her. I moved a few more things out of the way and there was. A baby snake! I ran to my barn to get my little snake grabber and came back to get him. He was so small I could barely get him with the grabber. I thought I can just grab his tail but he was kind of striking at me so I didn't feel comfortable with my bare hands LOL I finally pick him up with the grabber and rescued him. Took him for a little walk outside and set him free.
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Since I've added more feeders, we've been seeing our hummers a lot more!
I'm so sorry you went through that. I have tears just reading it. It's really difficult when it comes to Wildlife. There have been so many times here that I'll find something, mainly a bird and I can't do anything about it. Breaks my heart too. I have to just walk away. When we were getting nests in my horse barn from a starling, we closed up where we thought they were coming in. Of course they found another spot and it was right over the overhead door. One day I opened the door and found they were coming out of the nest and falling onto the open overhead door. Then when I closed it for the night, they fell to the ground outside. Most of the time they were already dead when I opened the door the next day. But one day I came along and they were still dying. It was awful! Just awful. There were about 4 of them. Dead and dying. They had hit the concrete floor and there was nothing I can do. I did take a couple of the ones that were still alive and put them under an evergreen tree in the woods hoping for the best. But I knew they didn't have much of a chance. 
Then I've got the barn swallows who make their nests in my horses run-in out in the Corral. So where do they drop? In my Corral! Kali got one of them. When I realized what was happening I made sure I watched her. But to see these birds, that can barely fly, walking in my Corral, dear God. I just had to close my eyes and hope for the best.
My neighbor told me the same thing. She had barn swallows in her small barn right by my property. You probably see it in my pictures. It used to be a chicken coop with the old neighbors. Well, the new neighbors use it as a shed for their horses to go inside. And she has the same problem. Birds drop out of the nest. Horses trample them.
She said it's horrible, but what are you going to do? I always feel like it's best to leave them to their own defenses but still.... heartbreaking.
I can still remember in our last house getting fooled by a killdeer. If you don't know anything about them, they lay their eggs in Stones. Like a gravel driveway or Gravel Road. It's to camouflage them. The eggs look just like the stones! When the babies are born and they're walking around with their mother and you approach, the mother will take off in the opposite direction dragging a wing, looking like she's hurt. Luring you away from her babies. After being fooled by her, we ended up finding a little tiny baby. We scooped it up and took it to a Ranger's place like you called. They told us the whole story! LOL that we should have just left it alone! But because the chick was dehydrated they took it in to give it some hydration. But they told us to just leave them be. So I always did after that. They probably make it much more often than we think. And the ones that don't, I guess that's nature. Sad as it is. You did your best. Hopefully it flew away or found a nice hiding place.
Then I've got the barn swallows who make their nests in my horses run-in out in the Corral. So where do they drop? In my Corral! Kali got one of them.
When I realized what was happening I made sure I watched her. But to see these birds, that can barely fly, walking in my Corral, dear God. I just had to close my eyes and hope for the best. My neighbor told me the same thing. She had barn swallows in her small barn right by my property. You probably see it in my pictures. It used to be a chicken coop with the old neighbors. Well, the new neighbors use it as a shed for their horses to go inside. And she has the same problem. Birds drop out of the nest. Horses trample them.
She said it's horrible, but what are you going to do? I always feel like it's best to leave them to their own defenses but still.... heartbreaking.I can still remember in our last house getting fooled by a killdeer. If you don't know anything about them, they lay their eggs in Stones. Like a gravel driveway or Gravel Road. It's to camouflage them. The eggs look just like the stones! When the babies are born and they're walking around with their mother and you approach, the mother will take off in the opposite direction dragging a wing, looking like she's hurt. Luring you away from her babies. After being fooled by her, we ended up finding a little tiny baby. We scooped it up and took it to a Ranger's place like you called. They told us the whole story! LOL that we should have just left it alone! But because the chick was dehydrated they took it in to give it some hydration. But they told us to just leave them be. So I always did after that. They probably make it much more often than we think. And the ones that don't, I guess that's nature.
Sad as it is. You did your best. Hopefully it flew away or found a nice hiding place.
And yet another bird story. LOL. I have a Wren House here that I put up every year. I love those little birds! They're adorable and their song is so pretty. And I know I love that house. The opening is just small enough for them . They immediately go in there soon as I hang it. They must have several broods because I think they just finally left for the season. I was thinking one day how I've never seen a baby leave the nest. These Wrens are so tiny, their babies must be even smaller. I have lots of bushes around the house and I know they can hide in them .
Well one day I was out there and one flew out of the bush and I can tell it was a baby because it couldn't fly very high. And he went right up to the house to the garage window and hit it! Ouch. I felt so bad. I knew he couldn't fly well but at least when he hit the window he landed on the ledge. But then he was jumping up and down flying at the window like he was trying to go somewhere. I was so tempted to go over there and try and grab him and put him back into the bushes. But I knew all I would do is chase him further and scare the hell out of him. Once again I just had to walk away.
Well one day I was out there and one flew out of the bush and I can tell it was a baby because it couldn't fly very high. And he went right up to the house to the garage window and hit it! Ouch. I felt so bad. I knew he couldn't fly well but at least when he hit the window he landed on the ledge. But then he was jumping up and down flying at the window like he was trying to go somewhere. I was so tempted to go over there and try and grab him and put him back into the bushes. But I knew all I would do is chase him further and scare the hell out of him. Once again I just had to walk away.
I feel the same way about the birds outside! I'm not fond of having one as a pet but I love my birds outside! I always have 3 suet feeders out there and enjoy watching them all come to them. My husband and I sit on our back deck and I'll never forget the day he commented, We have a ton of birds here! LOL As we were sitting there, birds were constantly flying across the sky! It was amazing. One group, then another and the barn swallows! My goodness sometimes there is 30 of them at a time! And there is always a couple that follow us when we mow the grass. I love listening to them. When winter is finally waning, you can tell. I wake up early in the morning and I hear the chatter of birds and I know spring is close. 
I miss it in the winter. It's really a happy sound.
The other day my husband and I were at the kitchen sink when we heard an unusually loud thud. We both looked up, looking out the window wondering, what it was when suddenly a red tail hawk flew across our field of vision! He had hit the garage window just to our left. I actually went out to see if the window was broken because it seems so loud and I knew it was a big bird. Everything was fine and I assumed he was too because he flew away! I would have really been upset if he was injured or dead. I'm always in awe of the large birds of prey!
I love listening to them. When winter is finally waning, you can tell. I wake up early in the morning and I hear the chatter of birds and I know spring is close. I miss it in the winter. It's really a happy sound. The other day my husband and I were at the kitchen sink when we heard an unusually loud thud. We both looked up, looking out the window wondering, what it was when suddenly a red tail hawk flew across our field of vision! He had hit the garage window just to our left. I actually went out to see if the window was broken because it seems so loud and I knew it was a big bird. Everything was fine and I assumed he was too because he flew away! I would have really been upset if he was injured or dead. I'm always in awe of the large birds of prey!
Very true.
I don't know but such a shame.
New Mexico Mystery: Why Are So Many Birds Dropping Dead?
Just found this devastating article. Posting it here if someone finds news of the cause. It will take time before they find out.
Just found this devastating article. Posting it here if someone finds news of the cause. It will take time before they find out.
Oh, how sad! I suppose all that smoke could be the problem for their tiny lungs. It's going to be bad for all the animals and people.
Some autopsies show they were severely malnourished, literally starved to death while flying then just dropped to the ground.
Do they have to worry about alligators?
Really! How can they starve to death? I can't believe there's not enough food for these birds. Running out to put some more suet out for mine!
I'm just half guessing/concluding from the little I found about it, some migrate from Canada to Mexico(?) or farther, they need to refuel often or within specific time frames, fires, smoke, lack of insects or who knows what forced them to re-route...?Really! How can they starve to death? I can't believe there's not enough food for these birds. Running out to put some more suet out for mine!
There will probably be other theories/explanations.
Wildlife!!
My pal in Colorado sends me pics of his wildlife, I share pics of ours.
Ours are Antifa agitators, hobos and homeless drug addicts passed out on the sidewalk.
His are....
Well. He said he felt like he was being watched at the job site earlier today, and he was.
My pal in Colorado sends me pics of his wildlife, I share pics of ours.
Ours are Antifa agitators, hobos and homeless drug addicts passed out on the sidewalk.
His are....
Well. He said he felt like he was being watched at the job site earlier today, and he was.
That’s too bad.@MyBuddy we don't have alligators in the UKhaha
Here in the southern states when two guys get in an arguement at the bar (pub) they take it out back to the swamp behind the building. It’s like Thunderdome. 2 men enters, one man leaves.
Alligators clean up the evidenc....err, rest
