All About Pocket Knives

Thanks fellas!

Great photos basser the redhead's are rarer around here that the pileated. They seldom visit my feeders. The pileated don't visit the feeders much, but I've got some old box elders in my yard and they come frequently to knock chunks out of the dead limbs.

Some miscellaneous bird pics from our trip to Washington St.

For some reason the photo of the gull looking over the concrete edge struck me as funny. Like he was thinking, "What's going on down there?"
All worthwhile shots. Thanks.

Quick Steel wrote:For some reason the photo of the gull looking over the concrete edge struck me as funny. Like he was thinking, "What's going on down there?"
All worthwhile shots. Thanks.

I thought the same thing!

Quick Steel wrote:For some reason the photo of the gull looking over the concrete edge struck me as funny. Like he was thinking, "What's going on down there?"
All worthwhile shots. Thanks.

He would make a fuss any time another bird got close. He is actually on top of a little light house on Brown's Point. I'll show a couple of more pics of the area.

Very interesting photos. I just happen to enjoy lighthouses very much. Thank you.

Just a small one QS but still interesting. LED beacons on it now. When it was in use it was actually separated from the house and the keeper would have to row out to it. That area has been filled in now. I bet that was a miserable job when it was raining and the wind was blowing. I like lighthouses too. Thanks.

A disturbing bit of bird news. Both Turkey and Black vultures have adapted to taking live prey, specifically calves, lambs, small dogs, and cats.
The method is for them to pluck out the eyes of the victim then quickly peck it and tear it to death. The birds are federally protected; a special 100 dollar license is required to shoot them. Seems to me a farmer ought to be able to shoot them when discovered in the act.

I have seen flocks of Black Vultures on a couple of occasions around here. They are considered the more aggressive of the two. The thought is that because of the increasing Vulture population there is less food leading to the new behavior.

Quick Steel wrote:A disturbing bit of bird news. Both Turkey and Black vultures have adapted to taking live prey, specifically calves, lambs, small dogs, and cats.
The method is for them to pluck out the eyes of the victim then quickly peck it and tear it to death. The birds are federally protected; a special 100 dollar license is required to shoot them. Seems to me a farmer ought to be able to shoot them when discovered in the act.

I have seen flocks of Black Vultures on a couple of occasions around here. They are considered the more aggressive of the two. The thought is that because of the increasing Vulture population there is less food leading to the new behavior.

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Garry I have been hearing reports of this type of behavior by the black vultures but had not heard anything about the turkey vultures attacking any live prey. The black vultures have expanded their territory in the past few years and have proven to be bad news for the local cattle farmers, especially when new calves are being born. I don't think many farmers will let the lack of a permit keep them from protecting their livestock that's under attack, nor do I think they should be expected to.

philco wrote: I don't think many farmers will let the lack of a permit keep them from protecting their livestock that's under attack, nor do I think they should be expected to.

Amen to that Phil.

A couple of weeks ago I posted a picture of the eggs in one of the bluebird houses. Checked up on them today. Looks like 4 healthy little ones.

Ken

I have photographed the elusive and elegant Swallow Tailed Kite this past week.....but not close enough to see.

Now that is progress you can see Ken.
Scott, I'm glad you got to see it even if we don't. Always exciting to see something elusive.

One smart raccoon...
My bird feeder hangs from a chain, about 3 feet long. It is one of those spring loaded feeders, that anything that weighs too much, will cause it to close...thereby keeping squirrels and most other critters out. This last week the feeder started showing up, perched on top of the limb it is attached to. The first time, I thought it was a fluke. I caught him the other morning...a raccoon, down on the ground, finishing up the spill...but its apparent, he eats most of the seed, after he's hoisted the feeder, up on to the limb. Incredible dexterity to hang over the limb and hand-over-hand, pull it up to the top of the limb. I'll be picking up some PVC, soon, to thread over the chain.
Ken...that is a very neat picture of the Bluebirds. Looking forward to more pictures of them, as they grow!

Many years ago, our across the alley neighbor caught a raccoon in his backyard by throwing a blanket over it.

He put it in his 58 Chevy and went into his basement to prepare a cage for it.

He asked me to watch the animal while he did that.

After a few minutes, it stood on the lower curvature of the steering wheel, opened the small vent window, that required pushing a button, turning the handle and pushing the triangular shaped glass outward and out he came.

Mr. Wallace came out of his basement to find the raccoon walking around in the yard. He asked how he had gotten out and I told him.

He secured the vent window again, and threw the blanket over the raccoon and put it back in the car and closed the door.

It took the raccoon only seconds to get out again in the same manner.

They are very smart animals. I have read that raccoons and other members of the bear family are the most likely to survive if something catastrophic occurred on earth.

Charlie Noyes

Opened the Bluebird box yesterday afternoon when I thought the parents were gone.


Ken

Ken...Amazing how much they grow and change, in a week.

Ha!
That looks like one sad little bird.

Yep, in a few more days the nest will be empty. If I’m lucky I’ll be around when they’re learning to fly.

Ken

I have enjoyed your birdbox Ken. Even that one will be on the wing before you know it. Thank you.

doglegg wrote:I have enjoyed your birdbox Ken. Even that one will be on the wing before you know it. Thank you.

Me too, Ken. I have a few Bluejay juveniles who show up at my feeder flopping their wings around in hopes mama will feed them.

Ray

So, outta nowhere there he is again.....I have a tiny digital camera so I can't look thru the viewfinder, I have to
point and snap....

The best one I could get of the Swallow Tailed Kite is in the pine tree at the bottom.....if you look closely, he's there!

I see him Scott. Great job with a small camera. And a great sighting as well!

A very cool bird.