Blue Jay - October 24, 2013 Last evening Lily was on the move and we wondered where she was headed. She sent one last GPS signal at 7:26 PM when she crossed a road. In view of recent events, neither of us slept very well. At 9:56 AM, her GPS locations resumed—at the deep rock den she shared with Faith in the winter of 2011/2012! No wonder her signals couldn’t reach a satellite. They apparently stayed out (sending signals) from 9:56 AM to 11:17 AM and again from 1:15 PM to 2:47 PM. We feel relieved to have this precious family safely settled at a den after this summer of horrors.
Folks donned costumes and had fun at the Bear Center last night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLknlzRoV88&feature=youtu.be.
Hairy Woodpecker
October 24, 2013Lily Fans from southeastern states mentioned that Chickadees and other birds there don’t sit on their hands like birds here do. Birds there have a whole different kind of evolution than the non-migratory birds of the north. Birds in rich southeastern habitats have to worry more about predators than about getting through winters, so they’re less willing to take a chance for food. Same for the Blue Jays here in the north. Blue jays are more southern birds and have southern attitudes that don’t include sitting on a hand like Black-capped Chickadees or Gray Jays do. Gray jays are more northern birds with northern attitudes. When visitors come, we test them to see if animals sense they are safe enough to sit on the people’s hands. Everyone passes, of course—especially if “tame” northern species like Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Siskins, Red-Polls, or Gray Jays are around.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.