One of the most intriguing finds of my years in the woods was a cache of two dead porcupines in the ice below a large beaver dam in Franklin County, Vermont. I watched them for several months after following a series of fisher tracks to the site, as the quills dragging along and partially covering the fisher tracks luring me in. The porcupines were buried in mushy ice, belly up, and the smell of fisher was intense. The site was left alone with occassional scent replenishment and tracks. In late winter i found the site littered with tracks and the skin, head and quills still frozen in but the bones, meat and entrails all gone, clean as a whistle. Does any one have observations or stories of fisher caches of this nature?
While I understand the appeal of ‘Forestry/Foresters for Maine Birds’ and enjoy seeing & hearing my feathered trail buddies, may I pose a thought experiment and ask how one might conceive of ‘Forestry/Foresters for Maine Reptiles & Amphibians’, among other potential topics (e.g.‘s, fungi, lichens, moss, etc.) Herptiles appear to be among the many essential but threatened organisms in healthy ecosystems that may not receive adequate attention as we interact with our diverse environments in the unfolding climate crisis.
I have assumed I should clear an old nest at the end of summer, whether my pair of phoebes has raised one or two broods .... but last summer I failed to get rid of it. They have decided the top of the light fixture by the front door is a good place and I enjoy watching the activity so much from my kitchen. Should I clean it off now or wait for them to come and possibly reuse the nest from last year?
Great article. I enjoy reading about birds, there is so much to learn. While some see the grackle as an annoyance, I see them as beautiful and enjoyable to watch as well.
I have two very large ant colonies one is at least 4’ or more diameter. They are on the edges of our wild blue berry field. I would love to know more about them. Are they good for the environment? We are in Twin Mountain NH.
I have been observing Great Blue Herons at a nearby beaver-made pond over these last few years, nesting in a tree with ten-eleven platforms; I think it has been an established rookery for many years. I’ve been wondering if adults watch over/protect clutches of their tree-mates while they hunt in turn..? The comments from the person above makes me wonder, though, if some of the nine birds I thought were adults were actually juveniles. Approximately when would a first clutch of a pair of Great Blue Herons have hatched in W.MA? Thanks for your thoughts!
Such a uplifting article! The rich descriptions are complimented by the beautiful photographs. Reading this feels like taking a deep breath of a spring forest; satisfying, rich and familiar.
Thank you!
From "Cache as Cats Can" »