News from Exit 11 in 2008

Mar 31, 2008: Some folks say that they are seeing fewer songbirds these days. Maybe this will help explain: Did Your Shopping List Kill a Songbird?

Our male bluebirds are courting the females. No nest building yet.

A few customer have seen Pileated Woodpeckers already!

Mar 25, 2008: It appears that we now have a ring-necked pheasant! He clucks outside our window every morning. I hope my neighbors don't see him! I'm feeding him millet and cracked corn. He beats the lowest branches of my evergreens with his foot in order to knock down the seed I've thrown into them for my song birds.

Mar 3, 2008: The bluebirds are back in zip code 08804! What a sweet song they have! It is enchanting. They sit on the fence out by the roadside then zoom down for the few bugs that are barely able to move in the cold mornings.

Mar 2: Flocks of Robins skipping through our un-mowed lawn.

Feb 12: Saw a small flock of Cedar Waxwings in our treetops. They rested there for about 30 minutes.

Jan 31: Our four Woodpecker logs need refilling every  three days! We've been getting Red Bellies, Downies and Hairies. We use suet mix (with calcium) plugs, and we put peanut butter in other holes, sometimes mixing in a little corn meal. Besides woodies we sometimes see sparrows , chickadees, titmice and nutties on them!

Jan 28: Saw our two Flickers, and, some Cedar Waxwings stopped by!

Apr 13: A Magnolia Warbler rested in the front field. He's headed to Sussex County!  He was quite bold. He stood his ground as I approached. His yellow belly plus black & white markings were unmistakable.