This week I have managed to get outside a little more. We got a nice little reprieve from the heat with some sweet and much needed rain, but with the rain continues the humidity. Ahhh.... Georgia summers.
I have decided to get over the heat for my mental well-being. When I don't take the time to walk in the woods and get outside I miss so much that is happening and I slip into disconnect a little too easily. So, I am making myself get out and get over it.
Walking in the woods the other night. Jason noticed a tree where deer may have rutted. We looked for signs of fur, but there weren't any. I, being the naturally curious person that I am, looked it up to see when deer rut and why. (Though I was pretty sure I knew why.)
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| http://www.rgisbc.com/Deer.html |
Deer typically rut in Autumn and it is definitely not autumn in Georgia yet, so these marks were probably from last year and we just noticed them this year. The place where a deer ruts on a tree is called a rub and they rut to leave behind their scent for females. The thing I found most interesting about rutting when reading about it was that male deer are generally pretty weak after rutting. I guess all the noise and energy they use to get the ladies to pay them attention wears them out.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/hard-rain/298253000/ |
Something else I have noticed this week (well, really last week) was the yellow finches have shown up in the yard.
They are so sweet and so tiny.
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| http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id |
They are chowing down on the seed heads from the purple cone flowers and black eyed susans in the yard.
We used to have nanking cherries in the front yard and we would have just tons of them every summer, but the nankin cherries outgrew their home in the front yard and have gone to live in other areas of the yard and other gardens.
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| http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id |
In reading about finches it says they show up in Spring and Early Summer, and I guess mid-July may still be considered early summer, but I'm just now seeing them in the yard and I don't remember them being around in Spring. What about your yards?
They always catch my eye because they are such sweet little birds and I love watching them.
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| http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id |
I've also been hearing more of the mourning doves sad call more in the mornings when I am outside feeding the chickens.
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| http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id |
I have to listen hard since our rooster, Fred, lets me know repeatedly I'm in the chicken pen - as though I don't already know that! Silly bird.
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| http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id |
This morning I actually was able to sit and watch it sing for a few minutes before Fred started. Such a sad mournful song they sing, yet it speaks so deeply to my heart.
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| http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id |
Lastly, I've really noticed - I mean how can you not? - the cicada's song.
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| http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/homoptera/cicada/17yrcicada.html |
They chirp morning, day, and night.
I know to some it is pure heresy to say I love it, so if you are one of those people just remember I am a nature lover and forgive me because I do!
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| http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/profiles/insects/homelg/cicada.htm |
It's so LOUD, but it brings back the feelings I had as a child in summer and the taste of childhood joy.
They have just started singing most of the day. It wasn't that long ago they were just gearing up from time to time when I was out in the woods and now no matter where I go in the yard I can hear them.
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| http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2007/09/29/cicada-exoskeleton/ |
In some cultures, Cicada's are considered a sign of rebirth. I guess this is because they live underground and then emerge. You know, some can live under ground for up to 17 years? I wonder if there are other insects that live that long - in any stage. Guess I will have to go look that up!
Have you noticed anything interesting in nature this week?
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