Outdoor Adventures with Gary Lee - Vol. 304
The last week of March was a roller coaster both temperature and weather wise: a little snow, lots of rain and wind. Some got the snow and ice storm to end the month to the north and east of us, but we were just in a bubble to the south of it. It did freeze at the beginning but toward morning it warmed up and all that went away. People down south went through some more tornadoes and lots of rain in places.
This week there are more storms coming through south of us again bringing much rain and tornadoes to some areas that don’t need more rain. Other areas have been experiencing forest fires, and they are in much need of some rain to put out existing fires and stop the threat of more fires. There is a ban on burning in New York until May 14.
Myanmar between China and India had a 7.7 magnitude earthquake killing 2,800 people and burying many more in the ruble. China, Russia, and India came to their aid with (15.7 million) with shelters, food and first aid supplies, plus instruments to search for buried in the ruble. The US sent two million and said it would send a three-member assessment team, but their arrival was delayed by problems obtaining visas from the military regime.
Locally our snowpack went nearly to zero except on the north slopes and shady areas. Many of my daffodils are mostly up and seem to be in a holding pattern just waiting for a couple warmer days. The birds on the other hand are on the move as I see different birds at my feeder daily. I’ve had a Bald Eagle on my dam a few times and a couple Turkey Vultures also showed up. I believe the Bald Eagle is nesting around Fourth Lake somewhere. I’m sure someone will find a nest there this year. The Loons have also appeared in some of the open waters of Otter Lake and Old Forge Pond. The north shore of Seventh Lake is also open leaving them plenty of space to land and eat. Limekiln Lake was also breaking up and there are places where they could get in and out of there.
I had two more reports about Northern Shrikes, one in Old Forge and one on Big Moose Lake, good to hear of those after not seeing them for a few years. I’ve had several Fox Sparrows and Song Sparrows feeding under the feeders. The Pine Siskins have outnumbered the American Goldfinch during the last week, and they like both the sunflower and Nyjer seeds. They control the seed socks when they are around. The one day with some new snow and colder temperatures I had over one hundred and fifty birds on the ground and on feeders out back. I only had a couple window hits when the Sharp-shinned Hawk made a pass through. It didn’t get any birds but posed for pictures. I was able to revive one of the windows that hit a Goldfinch but lost the Pine Siskin. With all those birds I’m surprised I didn’t get more.
A young buck has been through the yard and his antlers are starting to grow so he must have some energy after the hard winter. Some of the does that were around at the beginning of winter haven’t been seen, so the coyotes may have gotten them when the snow was so deep. A couple dead deer were found in Third Lake Swamp by rabbit hunters and that could have been the does.
The bears are out and about in Old Forge, but that’s another story. See ya.
Photo above: Bald Eagle
