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Hard Winter

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MackerelSky
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Hard Winter

Post by MackerelSky »

We all know how winter affects we people as a species, if you happen to live in a climate like I do, but a harsh winter like we are having here in the NE United States also has a huge affect on the wildlife.

We've had a few days above freezing this season and what happens on those days is the top of our snow pack melts a little, dribbles down through the snow but does not absorb into the earth as it forms a layer of Ice on the frozen surface. After 10 to 12 weeks of this the ice layer becomes to thick for wildlife to 'dig down' and find some food, either grubs or vegetation to get them through.

The last two weeks, we've had a flock of wild turkeys coming through our backyard and a few would venture up to the ground around our bird feeders, picking anything up they could digest. Over this last weekend we started throwing about a litre of sunflower seeds out every morning, a little farther from the house to make a nice little 'dining area' for them and they didn't have to cross my driveway to get to it.

Anyways, my lady happened to be walking by the window, noticed the birds and grabbed her camera

For reference, the bench that is in the photo is 4' long, a tad over a meter. No two of those birds would fit on the bench.

Image

Even though we have seen a good sized flock here lately, 11 at one time, we have never seen the 'male'. They have a habit of staying hidden, even during the summer and just watching over his flock. Well, that's him on the right, the one with what is called a 'beard' hanging from his chest.

Image

This time of year they don't have the bright colors that sets them off in the spring and summer, and they don't have their plumes covering their heads either.
Image

I estimate him to be about 20 to 25 pounds as is and the females 14 to 18 pounds. That male is easily as long as the bench, head to tail and when he flies(yeah, they can fly) his wingspan approaches 5 foot
Image

Was to darn cold to go to work today so I thought I'd share...

Brad

*edit* wrong image link on one
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PaulMy
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by PaulMy »

Very nice of you to feed them.

fatten them up, and maybe next Thanksgiving you'll get rewarded!

Paul
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MackerelSky
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by MackerelSky »

We've had the wild bird once since we moved to this location in 1989 Paul and it was traded for stuff that we grow in our garden. Same with venison and other wild game that folks hunt around here, as we don't.

These birds only have a 4 to 5 year lifespan the way it is, so anything we can do to help them thru a cold one like this year, we will.

Brad
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hills
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by hills »

Great photos!!

I'm not sure if it was due to the heat we were experiencing down under, but we had this visitor recently. We didn't feed him but he growled at me when i patted him. :?

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MackerelSky
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by MackerelSky »

Great snapshot...

How old do you figure that fella is Phil?
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by hills »

Sorry, no idea, but he's not as big as some that I've seen around here and he is in quite good condition so I'd guess he's quite young.
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JennyLeez
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by JennyLeez »

@ Brad, I am another that feeds birds. Each morning the day befores bread is thrown around the lawn.
The cats watch the birds but can not do much about it as the dogs watch the cats...lol

@Phil, I thought those critters were nasty wee things but I guess if you patted it, they are not.
Those claws would scare me though.

Cool photos :)
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hills
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by hills »

JennyLeez wrote:
@Phil, I thought those critters were nasty wee things but I guess if you patted it, they are not.
Those claws would scare me though.

Cool photos :)
No, you're correct, they can be very nasty they're just not that quick. ;) I just gave him a quick pat from behind. If I was there any longer I sure he would have bitten me. :(
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JennyLeez
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by JennyLeez »

hills wrote: they're just not that quick. ;)
and a native of Aussie, I bite my tongue ;)

But seriously, we grow up down here thinking they are cute and cuddly.
Holiday makers always return with a koala stuff toy (if they can not afford the tee shirt).

It is not until you get older and do some reading that you realise they have a real mean streak.
Bit like our possums I guess. They can make great pets ( although illegal) but boy if they turn on you they can make a dreadful mess with their long sharp claws much like the Koala has.

Cheers
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hills
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by hills »

JennyLeez wrote:
hills wrote: they're just not that quick. ;)
and a native of Aussie, I bite my tongue ;)
Cheers
HEY!! I resemble that remark!! :lol:

Didn't the possums come from Aus in the first place? We know how you feel though, we have an infestation of Kiwis in Bondi! ;)
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JennyLeez
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by JennyLeez »

Yes correct, they did. One of our more stupid ideas. Bought over early 1800s for fur trading and now they are one of the most damaging pests we have creating havoc in our native forests.
Arent they protected over there as a native species?

Well Bondi is extremely lucky, we are hard working and great company :)
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hills
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Re: Hard Winter

Post by hills »

Haha, very true! :)

Yes possums are protected over here. If we want to get rid of one we can trap it but then we're not supposed to relocate it more than 50m from where you trapped it, so they just come straight back. Luckily they only live in the trees around our property and not in the roof space so they're not a problem to us.
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