April 23 2010

• Saw sixteen Lesser Goldfinches on Thistle feeder

• Refreshed all Hummingbird feeders, the Hummers watched carefully, jealously guarding their "flowers"
• Wren building a nest upstairs in bird house provided
• Cut small Junipers along road edge
• Shot two female Brown Headed Cowbirds and three males (see Caretakers note dated April11, 2010 for explanation)

Posted in 2010 Journal, Census, Habitat, Predator, Shelter, Food

April 17 2010

•  Refreshed all Hummingbird feeders
• Saw a large Jack Rabbit
• Saw a Wren feeding nestlings in Purple Martin House 
• Heard Wild Turkeys
• Saw ten Deer at feeding area

      Texas Bluebonnets in bloom on rocky ground

Posted in 2010 Journal, Census, Habitat, Shelter, Food

April 12 2010

• Shot Two male Brown Headed Cowbirds
• Saw a flock of five Brown Headed Cowbirds pass through
• Removed pond plants that have overgrown the area

Species sighted:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Northern Cardinal

Carolina Wren

Lesser Goldfinch

Titmouse

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Squirrels

• Refreshed all Hummingbird feeders
• Saw a baby Scorpion in kitchen sink

Posted in 2010 Journal, Census, Habitat, Predator, Food, Water

April 11 2010

• Saw two squirrels at seed ball feeder
• Saw Woodpecker at seed ball feeder
• Saw Wren nesting in Purple Martin House
• Saw bees on Lavender flowers
• Shot 2 male Brown Headed Cowbirds

Caretakers note: The Brown Headed Cowbird is a nest parasite species that lays its eggs in songbirds nests. The Brown Headed Cowbird female sometimes kicks the songbird eggs out of their nest. The Brown Headed Cowbird fledgeling is larger and hatches sooner than the songbird eggs, causing the songbird female to favor feeding that youngster instead of its own. This behavior is adapted from following herds of buffalo many years ago. Now days, the Brown Headed Cowbird is found near cattle ranches.

Posted in 2010 Journal, Census, Predator, Food

April 10 2010

• Saw very many Verbena flowers on slope at feeding area

Caretakers note: This sloped area has improved with the addition of dirt berms to slow down erosion

Posted in 2010 Journal, Habitat, Erosion, Food