Before today's rain drove the Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus) back into its den behind the nature center at Audubon's Francis Beidler Forest...wait, that didn't happen. Even though yesterday's warm, dry weather gave way to today's cool, wet weather, the snake remained out of its den and exposed on the forest floor. Some things do not have enough sense to get out of the rain.
Yesterday before closing, we watched a pair of Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus) chase each other outside our office window. Hermit Thrushes winter here and breed in the Northeast, across Canada to Alaska, and west of the Rocky Mountains. The disagreeable birds were not protecting breeding territory, but they may well have been defending their wintering territory. Although the last few days have been mild, we recently experienced more than a week of below-freezing weather, which will sap energy from birds. Therefore, winter territory that has ample food opportunities is worth defending. During a rare and brief break in the action, one Hermit Thrush was able to locate and consume a Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens) from the ground-hugging plant. Here's an entry regarding Partridge Berry and other red berries.
Yesterday before closing, we watched a pair of Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus) chase each other outside our office window. Hermit Thrushes winter here and breed in the Northeast, across Canada to Alaska, and west of the Rocky Mountains. The disagreeable birds were not protecting breeding territory, but they may well have been defending their wintering territory. Although the last few days have been mild, we recently experienced more than a week of below-freezing weather, which will sap energy from birds. Therefore, winter territory that has ample food opportunities is worth defending. During a rare and brief break in the action, one Hermit Thrush was able to locate and consume a Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens) from the ground-hugging plant. Here's an entry regarding Partridge Berry and other red berries.
Yesterday was also a noteworthy day for the National Audubon Society. John Flicker, president of Audubon, resigned. The full story can be found here.
Images by Mark Musselman
Images by Mark Musselman
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