LilyLily is in advanced estrus and still with Eli and Ellie. Any day, a male may track her down and trigger family breakup. Bow is still with her two yearlings, too. A resident recognized Fern without her collar and called us, but Fern moved on before we could get there. We’ll keep trying.
Lily looks backLily’s eyes radiate intelligence. Sitting with her, waiting for Eli and Ellie to appear, Lily was calm, understanding, and made no objection to an examination that included her right front leg which she was favoring as she approached. It’s been over 6 months since she heard Lynn’s “It’s me, bear,” but she hadn’t forgotten. Calm as she seemed sitting there, no sound escaped her. She ignored Lynn’s sounds but responded to tiny, unidentified sound in the woods. When one of her yearlings rustled off in the woods, Lily was immediately up and heading in that direction, grunting her care. Then she went off grunting in another direction, showing that her other yearling was there, too. Then she was gone, but we had learned what we needed to know.
Palm WarblerElsewhere in the woods, Palm Warblers suddenly are everywhere—headed to the boreal forest just to the north. These ground-feeders are one of the most easily recognized warblers by their constant habit of wagging their tails up and down. Seeing that, a person then looks for the rusty cap, yellow throat, yellow eye line, and yellow under that tail.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2013We saw our first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, which we regard as the most colorful woodpecker around here. We didn’t get a picture but had one taken in the same exact spot taken last year.
Mourning DoveA couple days ago, we heard a Pileated Woodpecker doing renovations inside the nest cavity they had used 8 years ago and have been checking out lately. It looks like they are going to use it again. It is great to have them back. We also saw a pair of loons checking out a spot in our bay where they nested a few years back. We hope they nest there again.
Shoveler DuckRuby-throated Hummingbirds began their visits to the feeders yesterday.
Hooded MerganserMourning Doves are common in open areas but not here in the woods, so we were surprised today to see one. We also seldom see Shoveler Ducks, named for their oversized bills but one put in an appearance today. Hooded Mergansers are still in mating mode, carrying their white crests fully erect.
Great Blue HeronA Great Blue Heron at first appeared to be hunting for food but was actually selecting woody nesting material from an old beaver lodge. The nearest heron rookery is over 2.5 miles away.
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.