There's a commotion outside the back door. Through the screen I hear the fussing of chickadees and blue-gray gnat catchers, at a tempo I cannot ignore. Stepping just into the woods, I can see the problem clearly.
Fred has left his neighborhood hangout again.
Six feet of Black Rat snake coursing along the vines and trees of our back woods never goes unnoticed. This time, though, he seems content to return home to our attic space, unfed.
Perhaps he's eating in tonight?
Come along in Red Canoe as she explores the quiet backwater of Ohio's State Parks and the scenic streams and rivers of the Midwest. Discover the beauty hidden beyond the water's edge, quietly waiting, past access points, often only inches deep!
Come browse my photography site, Nature Remains: nothing but a photograph, for full-page slide shows of my favorite images and opportunities to purchase them.
In Spring of 2008, I began the study of 2 vernal pools on my property as part of the Ohio Vernal Pool Partnership monitoring program.
My 2008 journal includes the first photos and findings, as I studied this fascinating wetland area just a few steps beyond my backdoor...
2009 photos and findings,
2010,... again!
Now, 4 years later, another season is just days away!
Travel beyond the Midwest has taken me to some beautiful places. Usually off the beaten track, these places are WILD!
Acadia National Park
New River Nature Festival
Olympic National Park
Pictured Rocks and the UP
Voyageurs National Park
(click on the text above each photo for a quick get-away)
A regularly appearing feature, "Have you seen..." takes a closer, more patient look at things usually not seen in a flattering light.
Take a look!
Each spring, as winter lessens its grip and days warm with the first fragrant breezes of a new season, we collect sap from our Sugar Maples and produce just enough syrup for ourselves for the coming year.
The progress of this year's backyard endeavor is illustrated here.
Summer 2008, the tiny jewel of the avian world, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, nested just feet from my front door. Pictures of her nest and the changing lives within are collected in this journal.
From life the size of a pea....
Cats that come to stay
(click on the text above each photo for stories in these collections)
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6 comments:
So THAT'S where our black snake went after he devoured every baby blue birs in the nest! He is BIG, and I haven't seen him for a couple of years:-D
Does Fred actually live in the attic? Or does he simply use it as a good hunting place? Has he ever decided to check out the rest of the house?
Nice shots. He is gorgeous. When I first "found" your blog, I spent an evening reading your archives. (Yes, your blog is that good.) The post about Fred escaping was great. I'm sure he was delighted that you invited him to stay.
Fred resides in the space between the roof and the walls of our house. We hear him move, even in cooler weather. On warm days, his head hangs out from beneath the soffit near the downspout--then he reaches to the nearest branch and cruises the woods.
Yes, we found evidence of his roaming through the house, only once--a shed skin!
Nice photo..my sister lost her bluebirds to a black snake.Everything has to eat I guess.
You know, I have mixed feelings about Fred. On one hand, it is pretty cool that he lives with you, and I'm sure he excels in mouse control (Maybe I need a snake - my cats are falling down on the job) but on the other hand, I think I would find it hard to sleep, knowing there was a 6 foot snake over my head.
And then, there is the thing about bluebirds ... If even one feather on my babies' heads were touched, Fred and I would be having a real serious discussion.
~Kathi, impressed, as always, by Nina's snake handling skills
Oh, I know!
Most people have an automatic preference when given the choice between bluebirds (or any cute helpless baby animal) and snakes. And I've relocated several who cruise too close to a nest I'm watching.
But, for all the mice he disposes of in our outbuildings and attic spaces, he's worth his weight in gold! Can you imagine the piles of rodents we'd have?
Snakes are great partners in country living.
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