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January 24, 2006

Watch out for Beavers!

We actually didn't *see* a beaver today, but Eddie and I saw the damage from one in the North Woods today. It has completely taken out 4 small trees (<1" diameter) by the creek and has chewed all the way around a hackberry tree (~10" diameter). So, watch out for beavers at LREC!

Posted by Malinda Slagle at 02:58 PM | Comments (1)

A Good Birding Day at the Glass House

Today, was a very good day for birding at LREC. First I saw a pileated woodpecker by the Glass House as I was walking down from the parking lot. Then, Lil Collins came into the Glass House talking about all the bluebirds she had seen outside. So, we decided to do a little bird watching. We saw many bluebirds, including one perched on the house by the South Prairie. We also saw many other birds such as goldfinches and chickadees. Lil noticed what we later discovered to be a yellow-bellied sapsucker on the yews by the Glass House. He has a red spot on his head and under his beak and has a yellowish belly but is otherwise colored like a downy or hairy woodpecker with a black and white streaked back. We also discovered this damage, characteristic of sapsuckers, on the yews by the Glass House.

Posted by Malinda Slagle at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)

January 06, 2006

Coyote Sighting

I saw a coyote a little after 3 pm today running into the brush behind the chaff prairie by Bob's house. Maybe they are starting to look for mates for breeding season (February/March) or maybe it was just out looking for rodents or scavenging in the burned Pasture Prairie.

Posted by Malinda Slagle at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)