It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve posted very many bird photos, so yesterday afternoon I spent some time hunting down my avian friends around the campsite.
Depending on where you live, the appearance of the American robin has different meanings. This truth was pointed out to me today by Doug, the volunteer coordinator. If you live in the north, the robin is the harbinger of spring. If you live in the south, it means it’s winter! Well, we’ve been inundated with robins here in coastal Mississippi, and despite the warmer temperatures it is winter.
A walk with Emma on the Dees Trail found us surrounded by brown-headed nuthatches. They seem to call continuously as they work the pine trees, and their voice sounds like a squeaky toy to me.
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Great bunches of yellow-rumped warblers have also been moving through the forest. There are still plenty of insects for them to glean.
A late afternoon visitor to the trees around my rig was a red-bellied woodpecker. Woodpeckers have special strong muscles surrounding their skulls so they don’t knock themselves silly whacking away at the trees.
This morning we had two different student groups coming to the refuge. I wasn’t needed to help with the college group, but a little later 38 home schooled students and parents descended on us. Home school groups are interesting to work with for a couple of reasons. First of all, they are always a variety of ages. That makes it a bit of a challenge for presentations with such a wide range of abilities. Secondly, most have never attended a public school so they don’t have much experience with group dynamics. It has been my experience that getting them to interact with the speaker or other students can be very difficult.
For a little excitement, the fire alarm went off during the middle of the movie on the refuge. It turned out that there was a small smoky fire in the biology lab, and we had to vacate the building. Since these kids had never attended regular school, they had no idea how to quietly proceed out of the building. As I said, it’s interesting to work with home schooled kids.
After I got back to the rig, I glanced out the window. Oh oh, it looks like I’m going to have to do battle once again with those bushy tailed rodents.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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So...is it winter or spring? ;c)
ReplyDeleteSeems that you're picking up where Al Bossence from The Bayfield Bunch left off last Spring. Good Luck.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time.
Those are some VERY FINE bird pictures. I love seeing them.
ReplyDeletePretty Loonnnngggg stretch for that squirrel. Too funny!!
INCREDIBLE PICS...I think I need a new camera:(
ReplyDeleteYa all take care of our robins, and send them back real soon!!
ReplyDeleteI get made at squirrels all over again just looking at those photos. That's a shame that home schooled kids should show such a noticeable difference. You would never think of such a thing as a fire drill asnot being understood by everyone. I didn't work outside the home until my kids were in school, but I can see a difference in kids today who are in some sort of "school" from infancy. Some of the differences are good and some are not. You give an interesting pespective.
ReplyDeleteI love to hear that tattatattatattatatta of a woodpecker. Except when it is tattatattatattaing on an aluminum downspout in the spring.
ReplyDeleteRoxanne
The Good Luck Duck
love the woodpecker shot
ReplyDeleteLoving all the beautiful bird pictures...and I still enjoy watching the antics of the squirrels and their never ending quest for food. You gotta admit, they are tenacious if nothing else.
ReplyDeleteOh, boy! You had my sympathy on the homeschoolers scene....loved the bird photos, thank you for sharing. I think catching good bird photos is not the easiest thing to do. You do a GREAT job, Judy! Wish I could figure out what the Florida birds like to eat in my park here in WEbster. Have seen lots of finches but they aren't touching the niger seed feeder. I know there are lots of variables on why they might not be eating...like plenty of food elsewhere!?
ReplyDeleteHad a few Hummers here, but they left..did you hijack them???
ReplyDeleteThose inventive squirrels. I think its fun to see what they will do to get at the birdseed.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting blog. Beautiful bird photos, and interesting insight into home schooled kids. I guess there are things you need to be in a classroom with other students to learn about. That makes sense.
ReplyDeleteYour squirrel photo is so funny - he's really stretched out to get to the seeds. :)
I love to see the robins appear in spring but the dang things come too early cause spring in MT is always a long way behind the robins!
ReplyDeleteBeen even longer since I posted any bird photos. We just don't have many feathery little guys around here where we are located:((
ReplyDeleteAs always, you have an interesting tale to tell.
ReplyDelete