Outdoor weekend: Lake effect snow secures events’ success
Rough-legged Hawk
Some winter weather finally came our way and dumped some nice lake affect snow on us two days in a row. This sure helped the snowmobiling and both cross country and downhill skiing.
It was the first powder we’ve had all winter.
The nearly three inches of rain that fell before the snow came is still running off, causing wet spots and water running across some of the trails.
Pine siskins
That much snow on the lakes will probably wet them up, and more wet weather is in the forecast for later this week.
Be cautious out on the lakes and watch for slush spots as they can become a snowmobile trap.
The Pond Hockey players sure had ponds for part of the day last Friday, but they got their games in—many under the lights in a howling snowstorm.
Saturday started out very nice for the players and the spectators but later in the day another storm hit with wind and blowing snow, which didn’t let up.But they got all their games played and drew a lot of people into town.
The Zippy’s Crusade for Kids Crew at the Ole Barn got enough snow to do their snowmobile trips.
I don’t know if the snowmobiles that were zipping by my driveway were part of the event or just visitors traveling to the Moose River Area, but there were hundreds of them going by.
Some good birds were pushed to feeders in the last week and reported.
A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was at Ida Winter’s feeder on Friday but didn’t return to have its picture taken.
Another Red-bellied Woodpecker came to a feeder in the Hollywood Hills Road area. Several Turkeys moved to feeders when a crust on the snow kept them from scratching to bare ground.
Two big toms came to my feeder one day and the next day three more showed up.
They left when the rains came but after the last couple of days with snow I’m sure they will return again as this is where they found some food.
A big Pileated Woodpecker has been working on a tree in my yard. If you saw the chips on the ground below you would think he had been using a chainsaw.
In my travels I’ve seen several other places where Pileated Woodpeckers have been making some big holes in trees.
They make their nest hole this time of the year and live in it the rest of the winter before laying eggs in April.
The Pine Siskins and American Goldfinch have moved into my feeder in big numbers.
Luckily I bought a big bag of Niger seed, which should last until I make it to the city again.
The Goldfinch will eat the black oil sunflower seed also.
With the price of seed I think these birds are eating better than me.
Five Bald Eagles, four adults and one juvenile, have been coming to an area feeder for over a week now along with several Ravens and Crows.
The banded Eagle at my house was a one-day wonder and hasn’t returned.
I had a Sharp-shinned Hawk come through several days picking off a couple Slate-colored Juncos.
When there are no birds at your feeder you can almost be sure that there is a predator bird in the area either a Hawk or Shrike.
The Great Backyard Bird Count for this year will be held February 17 to 20.
You can count only the birds at your feeder or take a hike in the woods and count the birds you see and hear out there.
All the information you will need for the count can be found at: www.birdcount.org. If you decide to participate, keep track of your time as you watch feeders or hike on a trail and record all the birds you see and hear.
Keep track of the mileage and times you traveled by car or by skis or snowshoes while searching for birds.
Many times during the winter you may go for miles and not even see a bird, and then you hear a couple owl calls and the birds seem to fall out of the sky to your location.
There has been a big migration of Snowy Owls from Canada into the states. We probably won’t see any in this area, as they need an open area to hunt for prey.
A couple have been seen around the Syracuse Airport and several have been reported in state of Vermont.
These birds are beautiful and sometimes while they are hunting they will sit on a pole or post and let you get pretty close for a picture. I may have to chase one down while they are around this winter.
The last one I saw was on Amherst Island in Canada a few years back.
Deer eating berries, but that’s another story. See ya.
