More New Year’s Day Competition – Songbirds: 2, Hawk: 0

The fox was not the only predator hunting on New Year’s Day. Like the fox, this Cooper’s Hawk was observed twice swooping through and attempting to grab one of the smaller songbirds.

Also, like the fox, the hawk was unsuccessful on each and every attempt. After each attempt, the hawk perched in the dogwood tree for about a minute.

On his second visit, he went from the dogwood and perched on the top of the birdfeeder, as if to declare his dominance of the area. However, the reality of New Year’s Day is that both the fox and the hawk hunted in the Colvin Run Habitat without success.

This afternoon, I saw this hawk fly through the Habitat at about 8 feet off of the ground, through a group of maple trees, and then continue flying at tree top level fro the next 1/4 mile. I suspect that this hawk flies through once or twice a day. Too bad I do not get to see it each time.

New Year’s Day Competition – - Squirrels: 6, Fox: 0

In their own version of the New Year’s Day football bowl games, the fox and squirrels locked in epic competition this day. As he had done in the last few days, the fox arrived in the Habitat shortly after sunrise. Over the next five hours, he had six runs – or attempts – to grab a squirrel. He was unsuccessful each and every time. And each time, he would be back in his starting point in the brush within five minutes of his failed attempt.

Yesterday was a rainy, overcast day, so the appearance of the fox was a bit unusual – he typically is not observed when it rains.

His runs at the squirrels became so routine during the day, that I stopped taking photos. He was still at his position in the brush when we left to take my older son to the train station. On one occasion, he stood at near the birdfeeder and looked around as if to say, “What am I doing wrong?”

The fox showed up again this morning shortly after sunrise. I saw him make no runs. But, I suspect that he was successful this morning as he is no longer at his normal position. I am guessing he grabbed a squirrel and went off to enjoy breakfast.

Fox Licks Chops, But Squirrel Escapes

After the deer strolled through this morning, the ritual of squirrel-turns-back-on-fox, fox-chases-squirrel-up-tree, fox-catches-squirrel or not, unfolded yet again. This morning, the fox did not catch the squirrel. But, I thought that I would show you some photos of the fox nevertheless.
In the first photo, the fox, who has chased the squirrel up the tree and licking his chops, seems to be just a bit too eager for breakfast.

In the second photo, like the mother deer earlier this morning, the fox always keeps a watchful eye one me taking photos.

In the third photo, the fox continues to keep a sharp eye on the squirrel who remains 10 feet above him in the tree.

Peaceful Coexistence: The Deer and the Fox

Sunrise this morning found the fox resting in the brush. For the next hour or so, he rested and slept, and even got up once to clearly get more comfortable.

But, his rest period was disturbed as the mother white-tailed deer brought her two young along their favorite path, which runs directly in front of the fox’s location. Both the fox and the deer knew of each other’s presence prior – the deer continued to walk, the fox just looked.

Interestingly, the two young watched mom for any sight of alarm. In the second photo, mom is clearly watching the fox and the larger of the two young is clearly watching mom (well, at least her white, potentially-alarm-sending tail). The fox, by and large, seemed to understand that he also needed to watch mom.

In this third photo, the smaller of the two young just had to take a close look at the fox before leaving.

As the deer continued to walk through the habitat, mom was far more concerned about me taking pictures from the porch, than the fox in the brush.

The Hawk: Take My Picture Too!

About 2 hours after the excitement of his victory over the squirrel, the fox returned to just look around from his normal seat in the brush. Of course, I took up position in the upstairs window and began taking photos.

When all of a sudden, this hawk lands in the dogwood tree which is located about 10 feet below me.
Perhaps the hawk was jealous of all the morning attention to the fox? Perhaps the hawk wanted to get into the Habitat Christmas photos? Anyway, he stayed about 3 minutes – looking around and changing positions – then flew away.

Seriously, I will have to double check my research to make sure I have this hawk identified correctly. I assume that he is the one that appeared now in three of the last four mornings. He was at least crow-sized, perhaps a bit larger. His back appears, on first look, to be too brown to be the Cooper's Hawk that visited a while back .

Miracles Can Be a Matter of Perspective

I previously posted Christmas Eve Miracle noting that the Habitat’s signature fox had been again observed and not fallen as road kill. As has become tradition, Dot spotted him again, this time in his normal seat in the bush (first photo). Note that in this photo the top of the bird bath is in the direct line of sight from the fox’s position.
After a few photos from the back porch, I took up position in the upstairs window. It was a great morning with cardinals, blue jays, wrens, the downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, and even the dirty, ugly European starlings.

Then, this adventurous squirrel paid a visit and took up a seat at the bird bath for a drink. Within, a matter of seconds, the fox was standing and charging up the small hill; the fox easily captured the somewhat sluggish squirrel and walked briskly back down into the brush. I managed to get these two photos of fox with the prey in his mouth.

I previously posted numerous stories (Squirrel for Breakfast, The Patient Fox, No Squirrel for Breakfast) about the fox chasing the squirrels. While several of us had seen the fox walking with a squirrel in his mouth, none of us had actually seen the complete pursuit, capture, and departure.
I guess that miracles can be a matter of perspective, as well as position in the food chain.

A Colvin Run Christmas Wish

All of us here at the Colvin Run Habitat would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas. A white Christmas is a rare event in the mid-Atlantic area where the Habitat is located; and, we certainly do not have snow here this year. Nevertheless, this snowy scene with the red cardinal graces the front of our Christmas card this year. Our inside greeting to you is: May you know the peace and joy of Christmas throughout the coming year.

We would also like to share the following stories about two Christmas trees. The Real Christmas Tree is the traditional Christmas story – the reason for the season and the source of all Christmas love. The Real Christmas Tree is an original piece of art created a few years ago based on the words found in ninth chapter of Isaiah. Alfie: The Christmas Tree is taken from a recording by John Denver and the Muppets. Our children grew up listening to this Christmas music, so in our house, the Muppets are as traditional as Bing Crosby. John Denver was a personal friend of our son-in-law. The photo shown for Alfie is a spruce that was planted in 1978, the year that our first son was born. When we moved from Maryland to Virginia, this spruce, then less than 2 feet tall, moved with us. It is now well over 25 feet tall. Front and center in the Habitat, this grand spruce has provided shelter for birds nesting and bunnies resting, respite from summer sun and winter winds for squirrels and foxes, and even gave up its needles as food for deer.

Enjoy the two Christmas tree stories. Merry Christmas!

The Real Christmas Tree

The true meaning of Christmas is found in Luke 2: 1-20:.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

This is the traditional Christmas story that most of us remember from our childhood. A mainstay of my childhood was the annual watching of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Poor Charlie Brown, taxed by the over commercialization of Christmas, yells, "Does any body know the real meaning of Christmas?" Linus responds by reciting the above scripture from the second chapter of Luke. Finally, the words from Luke overtake the other Peanut characters, even Snoppy who has won first prize in a doghouse Christmas light display contest. The show ends with all of the children, huddled around a simple Christmas tree, singing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

Remember that God’s present – the real meaning of Christmas – to all of us is the angel’s message, “to you is born this day a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Alfie: The Christmas Tree

Did you ever hear the story of the Christmas Tree who just didn't want to change the show.
He liked living in the woods and playing with squirrels, he liked icicles and snow.

He liked wolves and eagles and grizzly bears and critters and creatures that crawled.
Why bugs were some of his very best friends, spiders and ants and all.

Now that's not to say that he ever looked down on the vision of twinkling lights, or on mirrored bubbles and peppermint canes and a thousand other delights.
And he often had dreams of tiny reindeer and a jolly old man and a sleigh full of toys and presents and wonderful things, and the story of Christmas Day.

Oh, Alfie believed in Christmas all right, he was full of Christmas cheer.
All of each and every day and all throughout the year.

To him it was more than a special time much more than a special day,
It was more than a beautiful story. it was a special kind of way.

You see, some folks have never heard a jingle bell ring,
And they've never heard of Santa Claus.
They've never heard the story of the Son of God. And that made Alfie pause.

Did that mean that they'd never know of peace on earth or the brotherhood of man?
Or know how to love, or know how to give? If they can't, no one can.
You see, life is a very special kind of thing, not just for a chosen few.
But for each and every living breathing thing. Not just me and you.

So in your Christmas prayers this year, Alfie asked me if I'd ask you to say a prayer for the wind, and the water, and the wood, and those who live there, too.

From: John Denver and The Muppets:
A Christmas Together