Bearly Tollerable

I was working on my fireplace the other day, and just happen to look out the window and saw these two bears in the front yard heading straight for my bird feeder.  After sticking my head out the door to warn them to "...stop where you are!" the cub quickly turned around and started to walk away.  The mother, however, stopped and looked up at me, waiting to see what was going to happen next.  The cub, realizing that Mom wasn't following, then returned to its mother. The cub was more nervous than its mother, who seemed fairly nonchalant about my presence.   She looked at me in a stare-off, presumably to test my resolve in keeping the bird feeder off limits.  There was little else I could do should she decide to take the feeder down, and I wasn't about to test HER resolve any further than raising my voice.  Mother bears will defend their cubs aggressively, and considering her size, I wasn't about to get into a contest over rights to the feeder.  I was willing to sacrifice it and and sunflower seeds, if necessary.  Normally black bears want nothing to do with people.  This sow, however, has obviously become habituated to people--but after a few steps more, I shouted at the top of my lungs, and the pair ran off. 

Bird Bath Bash

All our birds are back from their snowbird locations, and many enjoy the bird bath out on the front lawn.  Here are some shots of the bath, and just a few shots of just some of our local critter
residents.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

I crafted a little wire "throne" for a dominant hummer to rule from, and one immediately ascended. It was perfectly placed to allow a good view of the nearby feeder. This dominant male lets only his preferred females feed there, aggressively defending it against any would-be usurpers.   Males will mate with many females in the course of a breeding season, and any females who wish to feed there must curry favor, or else be banned from approaching.

Ruby-Throat Hummingbird

I have several types of feeders which attract different birds.  This Red Headed Woodpecker is a trophy.  Sightings this far north are rare, though their range seems to be creeping further north.

Red Headed Woodpecker

American Goldfinches (yellow), Purple Finch, (red) and a female Rose Breasted Grosbeak all getting along nicely on a tray loaded with black-oil sunflower seeds.

Red-Winged Blackbird

White Tail Deer

American Coopers Hawk

This gaggle of deer are more than happy to avail themselves of a cool drink!

Whitetail are matriarchal, and multiple generations of does will remain together.  Yearling bucks are driven away by their mother within a year or two, though I have seen even older bucks still traveling with their mother and younger siblings, as is evident below:

DEER IN THE MOONLIGHT

Just tinkering with the exposure on my camera, I took this shot of deer during a full moon.  It's a little fuzzy, but they are there, nibbling on some leftover corn from sunset.

THINKING BACK TO LATE OCTOBER...

This whitetail doe is enjoying a chunk of pumpkin!

Deer and Turkey Graze Together

Whitetail deer and American Turkeys mingle peacefully, each drawing confidence
from the other's natural watchfulness.

 

January Sunrise

Happy New Year!

 

Another visit of the Pileated Woodpecker

Wisconsin's largest woodpecker, the Pileated.

 

Hoar Frost on the Trees

 

Winter's Denizens

A mourning dove watches the watcher.

The frozen bird bath doubles as a dandy deer feeder.

A red squirrel enjoying the free handout of sunflower seeds.

Evidence of other residents--such as mouse tracks in the snow--are always there for the finding.

 

Snowy Sunrise

 

TURKEYS