Intern John Liu spent some of his off-time the other day getting a chickadee to land on his hand. At first it landed on him everywhere but his hand—his head, his foot, etc.—and then his hand. John is a photographer, and he caught a great picture. 
Chickadee on hand by John LiuI wish a lot of chickadees would land on people’s hands there. I would love to have a place there where parents and kids and an intern can experience that. Touch is the universal language. It makes memories that can touch hearts. I would love for kids to remember the Bear Center and chickadees with a special fondness. Who knows how that would affect their attitudes toward nature.
Gray fox
No bears at the WRI lately and no bear news from the Bear Center today.
Out the window, a change in scenery is on its way. Supposed to be snow tonight. That will make a change for the robins and tree sparrows that stopped by to refuel during their migrations. The tree sparrow, identified by its black breast spot, is shelling a black oil sunflower seed. The robin was finding little in the grass.
A few days ago, a gray fox stopped in a spot of sunlight and then paused for a portrait. Five gray foxes visit regularly. Other people are reporting them, too—and a couple red foxes. What draws them here are blocks of date mash. I don’t know where to buy date mash, but we happened to get some as bear food, and foxes, mink, pine martens, fishers, red squirrels, and deer all like it.
 Robin |
 Gray fox |
 Tree sparrow |
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center