Reading the Signs

- A bit below normal temperatures on the mountain. Crisp and a bit windy.

- The Common Crow....the aviary equivalent to the Coyote. If adaptation is the key to survival in the natural world, it is no wonder these two species have thrived and expanded their range in many parts of the eastern USA. They will eat anything and they seem to flourish in a variety of environments. This morning around daybreak, for the birds and chipmunks, I threw a stale piece of cheese and a few stale crackers off the back deck into the woods. Literally within minutes a flock of Crows came to call...sailed through the trees and devoured my offerings. Had they been watching me? I wonder.

- Had a beautiful Pileated Woodpecker spend considerable time in a decaying Oak behind the cabin this morning.

- I stepped off the front porch of the cabin a couple of nights ago, around 8 PM, and heard a familiar noise high above. As I listened, the guttural chortle of the Sandhill Crane again came, and again. Though I could not see them, I could envision the seemingly effortless flight of these magnificent birds. Usually within a loose 'V', they often seem to float aimlessly high in the sky, often near a body of water. At the Hiwassee Refuge on the Tennessee River, one of the staging areas along the north/south migration of this species, thousands often congregate. The best time to view them is November and February.

-The last 2-3 weeks I have noticed the annual flocking together of the many Robins in our area. This gregarious behavior is typical just before they head South.

- Attached is a recent photo taken in Mother's Park, the newest and largest (12+ acres) of the 11 nature parks within our properties. If you like to hike and enjoy the serenity of the deep forest, this is great place to hang out!

- Also attached are two photos showing evidence of deer passing near my cabin. Though it is never certain that the sex of a deer can be determined solely from the track, one can often judge, by probabilities, their identity. The top photo is most likely the tracks left by a walking doe. Note that the grooves left by the parts of the front hooves are adjacent, while the grooves from the back foot are a bit separated. Also, no dew claws are evident, though the soil was soft. This is usually evidence of a deer that does not have a lot of weight, relatively speaking. Could be a very young buck, but more likely a doe. The bottom track is obviously different. The hooves are splayed and the dew claws are evident. Could have been a very large doe, but more than likely this is spoor left by a buck. Generally speaking, the relatively small 'heart-shaped' pattern with the parts of the hooves close together, is probably that of a yearling or a doe. Tracks over 3" (not including dew claws) that are splayed, with the dew claws showing, are almost always a male.