Evening Raccoons

The spring thrill of nesting bluebirds was followed by visits by a pair of raccoons each evening during July.
Frequent readers of the Colvin Run Habitat know that I have posted two other photos of raccoon visitors. But, in early July, we had a raccoon visitor each evening between 7:30 and 8:30 PM. The two were never seen together.

Of course, the main attraction was the sunflower seeds that the crows scatter from the feeder to the ground every day. Every once in a while, a raccoon would dig in last fall's leave mulch.

After 10 days or so, it was clear that I was dealing with two different raccoons. In addition to slight differences in the color of their coat, two very distinct behaviors were observed. One (later determined to be a female) allowed me to approach to within 10 yards of her and to even use the flash for photos. The other would run into the brush as soon as I left the back door.

So how did I know one was a female? One evening, she rose up on here back feet to inspect the feeder (the only time either showed interest in the feeder versus the seed on the ground). Of course, when she rose up, the fact that she was nursing was clear. I never observed any of the young. I suppose that the other could have been a young raccoon, but seemed to be full size for that early in the season.

Bluebird Chicks at Three Weeks

Friends of the Colvin Run Habitat - Since early July, duties at the office have prevented me from spending time writing. But, I have photos to share about an exciting summer at the Colvin Run Habitat. Over the next few weeks, you'll see the wonders of raccoons, hummingbirds (who are now gone for the season), the Cooper's Hawk (who arrived for the winter as the hummers left), a gator (seen in the wild on a 4-day vacation), and our resident deer (now nearly a herd) and other birds.

The true joy and thrill of the spring was two broods Eastern Bluebirds. When we last published the second set of chicks had been in the nest about a week (picture above). A week after that photo, the chicks and their parents had left the nest and were then seldom seen. The photo below is one of the chicks about 4 weeks out of the nest. The photo is poor quality as it was taken at sundown with a flash. None of the bluebirds have been seen since late-August.

Bluebird Chicks at One Week

Last week, I posted this photo of Eastern Bluebird chicks at about 24 hours after hatching. Here are two photos taken at seven days after hatching.
From skin and fuzz are growing feathers - well at least the very beginning of feathers.
There are four healthy chicks. All are about the same size. Photographed at 5 pm when all were sleeping and I guess well feed. Mom and dad were nowhere in sight. No sign of an unhatched fifth egg.

Fawn Twins Arrive

These white-tailed deer fawns appeared June 15 in the Colvin Run Habitat. A full three weeks later that the first fawn seen this spring, these two stayed close to mom and dad.
Like the fawn twins from last year, there is a noticeable size difference between these two.
In the third photo, one of the fawns is seeking to nurse. However, this deer is a male - as seen from the growing antlers. I assume this male is the father and not a brother born last year.

New Eastern Bluebird Chicks Arrive

The Eastern Bluebird chicks from this spring's first brood left the nest about 4 weeks ago. As the parents will not reuse a nest, I cleaned out the nest from the nesting box. The parents quickly built a new nest, then laid and incubated the second brood. And, here they are.
These bluebird chicks are no less than 12 and no more than 36 hours old. The two photos show four hatched chicks; all are alive as each has moved position from one photo to the next. There is one remaining and apparently unhatched egg. These new bluebirds will leave the nest in about 2 1/2 weeks.
These photos and the ones of the first brood this year were taken with the nest removed from the nesting box. I check the box, but do not remove the nest, about every two days. Any parent in the box will fly out when I am about 5 feet from the box. The male will incubate the eggs during the day. When I remove the nest, I use a large spatula to support the bottom of the nest. Camera at the ready, it is a two person exercise. I return the nest within 30 seconds. The nest of grass returns easily to the box. I remove the nest for photos no more that twice per brood. The parents quickly return to feed and care for the chicks.

Many thanks to Maegan and Ashley from the Walden Glen Road Habitat (home of Sneaky the Raccoon) in Madison County, Alabama, for their help in the photographing of these new born chicks.
Madison, AL

Rascal Update

Back in September, I introduced you to Rascal - a male lab-boxer mix - adopted from the rescue center. Today, someone asked how he made out. So here is Rascal in September...
...and here is Rascal 4 months later...
...and here he is just another 2 months later.
As you might imagine, Rascal needs - or is that demands - lots of exercise each day. His favorite place is Fort Woof - a Ft Worth, Texas, dog park.

Rascal's owners are getting married this weekend, but he did not make the trip to Northern Virginia. His cousin and famous squirrel chaser, LuLu, however, did make the trip back home. Lu is still chasing squirrels.

First Fawn Sighting of 2008

Three weekend ago, one of the does brought a new fawn for its first visit to the Colvin Run Habitat. This is about three weeks earlier than the 2007 first fawn sighting.
Mom kept a close eye on me; I gave ample space. The fawn stayed literally within a touch of mom.
Neither have been observed since. Previous fawn postings are here.