Citizen Science

I have been hearing a lot of ‘Citizen Science”. Ordinary people volunteer their time to help collect data on all sorts of subjects and then they submit it to a big database. Scientists and experts use that information to study trends and changes over large areas of the country. Cornell Labs has a citizen science project called Feeder Watch. Mom signed us up for a second year in a row to participate. From November to mid-April, you write down all of the species of birds that come to your feeders over a two day period (once a week). You have to count the highest number of each species that shows up at one time.

You spend a lot of time looking out the window counting birds. It becomes a bit of a game to find the most birds and highest number of species for the season. On the downside, Mom gives the birds several tons of sunflower seeds to “bribe” them to come to the feeders. The thought of giving away so many seeds to the birds is enough to make any chipmunk go insane! Those seeds could be put to much better use in my six commercial underground warehouses. The birds are such messy eaters. They leave shells everywhere. Another good reason to leave us chipmunks in charge of the sunflower seed.

While I was contemplating this travesty of injustice, Mom knocked on the burrow door and asked if I would help with the project. She needed someone to take photos of the birds, and said I was most qualified person for the job. I grabbed my gear and went to work. I even made some new friends.

 I setup my photograph bird blind in the wheel well of the car. It was great advantage point.

 

What the heck?! That bird looks like something from the Jurassic Park movies.[Compared to Chippy, this female turkey is size of T-Rex - Mom] Thank goodness I am in a steel reinforce bird blind.

Northern Cardinal (He just signed a deal with Hallmark greeting cards)

This White Breasted Nuthatch likes "hanging around" 

This Tufted Titmouse enjoys a sunflower snow cone

This Black Capped Chickadee enjoys the many winter sports offered at the Woodpile

Red Belly Woodpeckers seems to have missed the memo that woodpeckers are supposed to eat bugs.

This one really likes the cracked corn.

This Downy Woodpecker demonstrates “proper” woodpecker behavior.  

Mr. Grackle and myself did some after hour bird feeder raiding.

Meet my newest friend.

Indiana Chippy

My favorite films are the “Indiana Jones” series. I like to day dream about “Indiana Chippy.” Mom writes books of stone structures. She takes all these trips to far away archaeological sites in New England. I keep asking to go along but she says it is too dangerous (something about the hotels not allowing pets. I am not a “pet”!). Well, I sort of stowed away in the luggage on Mom’s last trip. I was having a grand adventure exploring the archaeological sites … until Mom caught me red pawed. I finally convinced her that having the world’s smartest and smallest archaeologist on the team was a huge asset. I can crawl into all sorts of tight spots. No hi-tech expensive snake camera needed. Here is my secret for stowing away:

 How do I open this (backpack)? 

 

Is anyone looking?

Double check to coast is clear

Time to stow-away

 

 This is Mom exploring a 1750s American Indian log run dug into the side of a mountain in Connecticut (just before she turned around and caught me following her!) 

Here I am exploring a crevice

I discovered this ancient temple full of gold (Update: It is only about a year old… and no gold)

This is a real American Indian ceremonial stone cairn from the mid 1700s. (Note the blue backpack I stowed away in.)

Honoring Bushy

Every year certain members of the Woodpile are recognized. We heard about a human custom where they “Roast” honorees, it supposed to be very comedic. No one at the Woodpile knew how these ceremonies were performed … so, we improvised just a bit. I was given the task of being the emcee for the event. This year’s honoree was Bushy for his community service to the Woodpile.

  Bushy arrives not knowing what is going on – “What is all the wood for”

 “Whats cooking?”

Please come sit in the Woodpile `Pot of Honor’. You are Woodpile Critter of the Year.

Feel free to “dive-in.”

You need to get all the ways in

[Chippy) “Bushy has been very industrious this year. He has made sure there were no stray seeds on the ground. He has eaten every one of them despite the fact it has caused him to fatten up. He wouldn’t let anyone else help him. For his many hours of public service we made this stew for him.”

(Bushy) “I am honored you made this roast sunflower stew to celebrate my accomplishments. It is very tasty. What is on the menu for the main course?”

(Bushy) “Hey guys, this pot of honor is getting rather warm.”

(Chippy) “All good things must come to end. So it is with Bushy. Time to cook the main course.”

(Bushy) “I have a bad feeling about this …”

 "Hey, this isn’t funny anymore, I’m out of here.”

[audience] burst of uncontrollable laughter.

By now you’re thinking, “oh my God, the Woodpile has gone mad.” I might have forgotten to mention one tiny, small, unimportant detail – this was an April Fools prank.

Easter with Charlie Brown

I received a special invitation from Charlie Brown and the Peanuts crew to join them for Easter. They sent me airline tickets and I flew out to their Hollywood set where they film all of their holiday specials. Apparently, they have been following my blog and wanted me to be a guest star on a new Easter special they are working on. It was warm, sunny and snow free in Hollywood. The grass was even growing. (I am having my doubts we will ever see grass again at the Woodpile because the snow drifts are so deep.)

Who is your favorite Peanuts personality? Well, I have always wanted to meet Snoopy. He is such a cool critter and a World War I flying ace.

I can’t give away the plot of the special but I can share some production photos from the set with you.

Meeting Snoopy 

Are you awake?

Waiting off stage for my cue

 

Posing for a photo opt

How about this pose?

Hey, I didn’t ask for a stunt double!

Hugs and kisses

 

Being an actor is hard work. Nap time.

Headline: “Spring is officially here”

If you are like me, you spent the week listening to the news reporters make a big to-do about the “official” start of Spring on the Spring Equinox (March 20). I think all these reporters are broadcasting from some beach in Bermuda. I stepped out of the burrow on the “first day” of Spring and I could barely see over the snow banks! It looked like the Arctic tundra outside. 

St. Patrick’s Day 2018

In the last two weeks, the Woodpile has seen two major Nor’easter storms. We have weathered deluges of rain, hurricane force winds, heavy wet snow, downed limbs, and power outages with ease. We are a hearty bunch. Not much bothers us.

St. Patrick’s Day has arrived, we went to Blackbird Tavern and to get some beer to celebrate and the sign on the door said “Out of Beer.” WHAT!!!! How can you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without beer? I pounded on the door and demanded an explanation. The bartender told us, the deep snow and toppled trees have prevented the delivery trucks from reaching the Woodpile.

This was a major crisis. The mayor of the Woodpile declared a “state of emergency.” A special session of the Critter Council was convened. While listening to the councilors discuss airlift operations, I was reminiscing about my great-great grandfather who sailed from Ireland to America with only a handful of seeds in his pocket, his Irish pipe in his mouth, and old green leprechaun hat on his head. … wait … that’s it.

I ran back to the burrow and dug out the old steamer trunk that belonged to my great-great grandfather, and there was his hat and pipe.

We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day the old fashion way with a tip of the hat and smoking the old pipe.

 

Bushy

Mr. Nuthatch

Chippy

“Adorable Chippy”

“Tip of the hat”

Migratory Travel Agents

Bird migration is a really complicated business. Like humans who do a lot of traveling, the birds and ducks rely on travel agents, internet travel websites like MigrationAdvisor.com, and long term weather forecasts. They use these services to book five star stopovers and get reservations at the best natural food restaurants. However, you need to check out the reviews and not be taken in by the glossy photos in the brochures.

The weather forecasters (a bunch of groundhogs) seeing the recent warming trend recommend this time as optimum for migration. And then we got hit by two Nor’easter storms and the cold weather is back. A lot of birds and ducks got caught off guard.

The local Duck Motel (a negative 5 star establishment) overbooked the pond this year. On top of that the pond refroze leaving only a small open area. Management stuck the Ringnecks, Hooded Mergansers, and Bufflehead ducks in the same small pool as the Atlantic Mute Swans. Not a good combination. If you have ever met a swan, you know they are the holy terrors of any pond. I have never seen a more uncomfortable social gathering in my life.

Aren’t we all cozy?

 To the pass the time, the swans play a fun game. How many ducks can you corral at once? They split up into two teams. One team only gets four ducks, the other team get a couple of dozen.

This swan is about to give these mallards an unexpected wake-up call

“Finally, we have the pond to ourselves”

 

Ducks feasting at the Woodpiles' Five Star All Natural Restaurant.

This restaurant has its own snow plow. No getting cold feet while dining.