It Started Early photos by Larry Jordan
But I Knew It Would Get Better
And these photos don’t even do it justice. This was really the most amazing sunset I have ever witnessed, December 7th, 2008, right here in Oak Run, California. Check out all the Skywatch Friday entries.
Western Gray Squirrel Munching On A Nut photo by Larry Jordan
If you have squirrel problems, a squirrel-proof bird feeder may be your best answer. There are several species of ground squirrels and tree squirrels in North America. The Fox Squirrel and the Eastern and Western Gray Squirrels are the species of tree squirrels most commonly involved with causing problems for home owners and bird watchers.
Squirrel-proof bird feeders come in a variety of sizes and styles. They range from simple weight activated hopper feeders like the Homestead Super Stop-A-Squirrel, shown on the left, to the Droll Yankees’ Yankee Flipper that (harmlessly) propels the squirrels off of the feeder shown on the right. Watch this hilarious video of the Yankee Flipper.
Red-shouldered Hawk Pair photo by M.J. Kammerer
During the late fall, winter and early spring, when the leaves have all left the deciduous trees, you have the best opportunity to spot bird nests just waiting for that special couple to turn them into next seasons’ home. That’s how I spotted this one. I was on my way to town one early spring morning and as I slowed to a stop on a country road, I looked up to see two Red-shouldered Hawks sitting next to each other on an upper branch of an oak tree.
I pulled off the side of the road to watch the pair (as I always do when I spot some interesting avian fauna) and to my surprise, one of the hawks flew over to a nest! The other soon followed. I had discovered my first Red-shouldered Hawk nest.
Here’s a shot of the Red-shouldered Hawk chicks, a couple of months later in the nest, getting ready to fledge. This shot was taken by my friend Frank Kratofil (you can see more of his incredible photos at his Flickr site by clicking on the photo). The chick on the left is jumping into the air and flapping it’s wings.
Western Gray Squirrel photo by Larry Jordan
The Western Gray Squirrel is the largest native tree squirrel in the western coastal United States. They are about 12 inches from head to toe with an additional 12 inch, very bushy tail. They feed mainly on seeds and nuts, particularly pine seeds and acorns. Pine nuts and acorns are considered critical foods because they are very high in oil and moderately high in carbohydrates, increasing the development of the squirrel’s body fat.
Some backyard birders (and non-birders) consider squirrels a nuisance. Others enjoy watching their crazy antics. Stay tuned for my next post on squirrels, love ’em or hate ’em. And catch the other Camera Critters posts.
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