Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Steve And Muffin’s Bird Of The Week #2.
Hi everyone! Today’s bird of the week is the “Canada Warbler”. These little birds prefer a mix of coniferous/deciduous forests with lots of shrubs underneath. These birds are the last of our warblers to arrive from the south and they leave just shortly after the young leave the nest, so they are not here for very long. Up to 6 eggs are laid in a nest on the ground, often under the roots of an uprooted tree. Incubation period is 11 to 12 days and the young are in the nest for about 8 days. They spend their winters in northern South America, a trip of about 3,000 miles (about 4800 km). All for a stay up here of less than 2 months. They eat various insects and spiders. The oldest known Canada warbler was a male that was 8 years old, from the time it was banded to when it was caught and released again. So it obviously was older since it was an adult when banded. These are rather uncommon warblers whose numbers have fallen by 62% since 1970. This is largely due to forestry practices of clearing out underbrush from forests. Loss of nests from cowbirds is another, though lesser, reason. They breed here in Canada from northern B.C. through to Nova Scotia, and in the U.S. from northern Minnesota through to Maine and south in the Appalachians to N. Carolina. Have a great day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Tuesday’s Tails #18.
Good morning on this beautiful Tuesday! I know this is amazing, getting my morning post out so early, but yesterday I had to go out early, same with today. So it’s either a very late morning post, which I don’t like, since it might be afternoon instead of morning. Or, get it out early, which is something I prefer. Actually, I might try to do this more often, I like having it out earlier, say perhaps around 8. That’s my time of course, which I realize is evening for some of you. I am also going to start digging a bit and sharing some stories from years ago that I think you will find interesting. These will include animal encounters, hikes and various wilderness ‘adventures’.
Some of those posts might end up being two parts so they don’t get too long. Just depends on the story. Perhaps even some comical stories from times with my dad and I. I have written a lot about our adventures already, but there are still more adventures to share. Okay, I’m a bit off topic for today, I should have said this yesterday and kept yesterday for today, probably would have made more sense. But that’s me. Freddie only showed up once yesterday, and only briefly to pick up a couple of peanuts for his breakfast. Interestingly the chipmunks stayed away until he was gone.
Then these little heads began to show up here and there until there were 6 of them out here at once. They must have had one of them as a lookout and he let them know when Freddie was gone. There wasn’t even any real arguments between them when they were finally able to get their turn. Guess they realized it’s best not to waste time. However, after more time passed, more ‘discussions’ developed between them. One time there were 3 of them in a row chasing each other! While that was happening, 2 others were happily eating.
Then Pocket showed up and chased all of them! Though Skamper stood his ground and kept eating. The others waited for Pocket to leave. More white-throated sparrows have shown up, they are definitely not the same ones as before, those sparrows were much more friendly. These ones don’t even want to come on the deck. Well, 2 did, one to grab a seed and leave, the other just landed and flew off right away. Oh well. It’s nice having my chipmunks anyway. Plus the blue jays and chickadees! I did have a big surprise late last evening too, Sir George stopped by briefly, so I gave him a little food which he took and was gone again. Well, must get going, enjoy your coffee! Have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin. (top pic is Jasper from spring)
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 