⛄ Winter carries on...

I did enjoy bird watching from the front window, again, but the thermometer told me I should get out. I managed to avoid the urge until the afternoon. Cold in the morning, it warmed up. I thought about making a snowman, it was that kind of snow, but I have photos of the old snowpeople!

This morning it is -4 C., and it is hovering there. I have to put the garbage out by 8 a.m., I shall bundle up.

I was curious about Richard Deer's wound. It seems pretty good. I used the zoom and the tripod to get a better photo.

You can see where the antlers used to be attached. I haven't a hope of finding them. I am sure they are not on our property. They shelter deep in the wetland.

Look at the doe on the right (below), those legs are so strong. She is clearing out snow to uncover the small amount of food beneath.

The colour of their coats is so pretty. 

I tried to convince Cinnamon to come walkies, but he was reluctant. No wonder. I began without snowshoes, and fell twice. You sink in the snow, at temperatures above zero. I went back for them. I noticed, after my walk, that the dead leaves, oak and maple – finally flying in the wind. They land in the footsteps from the deer who follow my snowshoe path.

It's fun watching the deer.

 

buck branch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After I took out the garbage, Jan. 30th, they were there to greet me. One was having a rest. I talk to them. 

morning deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Book Review: Camera Trapping Guide

 I follow a Facebook trailcam camera and video group. The author of the book, Janet Pesaturo, is one of the administrators. She posted information about her book, and I bought it for myself for my birthday, Dec. 26th. (That's how we roll here!)

There are a lot of books out about critters. It is often difficult to choose which is best for you. I have general guide books about eastern birds, moths, insects, and mammals. I've interesting books, like my latest on animal scat! Scat Finder I've books specific to deer, owls, and bears. 

Janet explains that when she began setting out camera traps, she would go out with her mammal field guide, a tracking guide, and a summary of the critter's behaviour. She took the initiative to write this book to help us understand how, when, and where to place cameras, and she provides good information on 35 mammals, 5 birds, and alligators. Now, I don't need to know about alligators, but it was fun to read.

Amazon provides a preview, and the table of contents lists the critters. Each chapter is devoted to one animal, and follows a consistent format: physical characteristics, tracks and trails, diet, scat and urine, habitat, breeding, then rounding it off with specific camera trapping tips.

Chapter two
Eastern Cottontail

If I have any constructive criticism, it is that the durn maps end at the Canada/US border. I've been researching woodland voles (meadow voles, as Janet calls them), for example, and learned a lot about them. I still don't know why they are going into the mouse hole in the house, and that remains a mystery. 

It helps to understand a species to know where to place a camera. It pays to track them, and understanding paths that they follow. My frogpond trailcam, for example, is a heavily trodden path between the wetland and the pond. Many critters prefer to stay on dry land whilst making their way through their habitat. What I notice is that in winter, when the frog pond is frozen, they avoid the camera. Little twerps!

Janet wrote a blog called, One Acre Farm, all about homesteading. She has a new blog, Winterberry Wildlife. There is so much information on them. 

I do recommend the book. It is full a lot of excellent information not found elsewhere. 

BTW  I learned how to refine my camera trapping skills from my photographer internet buddy (we've never met!) who has a video from last year with the buck losing its antler on film. He camera traps in a large forest and writes about wildlife photography. 

For me, camera trapping has been hit and miss. I've learned a lot by my mistakes. 

Today, we begin with - 30 C. temperatures. There won't be much on the cameras today. 

The birds, mourning doves and starlings nestle in the evergreen.

From large to small, we film them all!

backyard deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Richard Deer has lost his antlers, he'll regrow them in spring, but he still wears a figurative crown.

bossy Richard deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I've been experimenting on the front porch, where the birds scatter seeds from the feeder.

American Tree Sparrow from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

mice and cats from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

For more critters: Saturday's Critters # 477. 

Fawn's ankle, house fire, Richard deer

 🌨 I have so many stories about my critters. I appreciate those who follow me. It warms my heart on these cold, winter days (-7 C. on Thursday). It is safer staying at home for one's health and the weather. Speaking of weather, more snow.

😷I am watching the COVID/Omicron/Kraken reports. (CRIKEY!) Most of our cases are in congregational settings, which isn't surprising. There has been an uptake. We are masking in busier places, not so much on a quick run into a store. 

I found it interesting to compare COVID cases from last January (red) to this year (blue). I've been tracking the data, such as it is. What else can a retired math and computer teacher do! 

🥀The indoor plants are flourishing. With more snow falling this morning, it is heartwarming. The orchid cactus (far right) now has blooms. The 2nd amaryllis has also bloomed. 

The goldfish plant is covered in little, teeny goldfish blossoms.

Outside, a pop of colour. I've changed up the wreath. This one Isabelle and I made for Valentine's Day.

🔥There was bad new for a family near Perth. This lovely home had a fire Jan. 19th. It is so sad. The garage is a fairly new extension, you can see from the Google Map image. I feel so badly for them, not that I know them. Someone submitted photos of the fire, as it raged at 2:45 in the morning.  

The problem for our volunteer firefighters was getting water. The Perth crew called in crews from DNE, Tay Valley, Lanark Highlands, and South Sherbrooke stations. The homeowners were woken by smoke detectors (check yours!) and escaped safely. It takes several villages...

March, 2023

🐈 I write these stories in my head as I view, curate, edit, and post videos. Sadly, my brain is a bit distracted and my attention span is... Shiny things! Yesterday, I told the story about Cinnamon's latest walkies. I forgot the video showing him following me. He chose not to go with me to the trailcams the next day. I didn't blame him! He knows if it is too cold and he is free to go back to the house. 

Cinnamon walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

He likes to sit on the front deck and watch the action, for the most part. Yesterday morning we watched Labbit out front. She is nibbling lilac shoots. Both cats watched her from the chair on the deck. I filmed this from inside, through the front window. The cats were sitting on the front deck, on the chair, watching.

Labbit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Cats came in, I went out, she stayed there when I went outside.

Labbit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I'll leave you with Richard Deer. It won't be long before he drops his antlers.

2 bucks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The young buck was looking for Labbit, who likes the tree house for safety. For some reason Richard bolted just at the end. There was nothing more on the trailcam. I've seen him roaring around, running after a doe. He is a hoot.

Labbit is on the hop!

First, we have weather warnings. The critters have adjusted to the snow. At first they were quiet, but they are getting hungry and having to go further afield for food. We may get freezing rain, we shall see. 

 

🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇

I think Labbit is an Eastern Cottontail.  She has been popping up all over the place at dusk and in the dark. Since we restrict the cats, and now they don't go out after a brief morning run, I'm not too worried about them getting her. This is from last year.

I have summer images, and they are much easier to photograph when not on the bright, white snow! I nearly ran over this one using the lawn tractor in 2017. I had to bring her to the house and snap a photo!

June, 2012

Caitlin took a photo of its burrow entrance just under the lower deck. Fred Groundhog thoughtfully dug it out for a hidey spot, but moved on. Labbit had to dig out after the snow.

The fawn eats the lilac bush shoots, just like Labbit, who pops out from under the deck to nibble! Both leave their little pellets behind!

 

deer munches lilac stems from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Caitlin gave me a great little book for Christmas, Scat Finder (1981, revised 2022)! It reminds me of the days when I would say to the girls, "Want to go outside and see deer poop?" 

"Sure, Gramma!" and out we'd go! Both critter species poop where ever they are, deer mostly on the deer paths!

It's a great little book (15 cm x 10 cm), which explains what to look for, where to look for it, and how to identify the critter who has passed this way. You can see that the rabbit scat is similar to the deer scat, but rounder! 

The fawn looked more curious than concerned. Richard Deer barely gave her a glance!

 

deer & Labbit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Labbit comes out and around to the front. There were rabbit tracks on the driveway. I ran indoors to look it up on the Crumby Acres camera.

I had her on the Crumbly Acres camera. It took me awhile to realize there was no point in looking for her as she went out to the front yard lilacs. She is difficult to see without the reflection from her eyes! I got her hopping on her way back to the backyard. 

  

bunny from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Happy trails to you and yours. 

Snow, more snow, and rain on the way

 It's been a quiet time here, other than all our snow storms. I finished off the day by shoveling another 10 cm (4") off front and back decks, and using the snowblower on the driveway. (We've rain on the way!) 

 We've had a few Facetime chats with our Ottawa kids. They are enjoying the school break. Jos and Izzy were proud to let us know their current heights! Josephine made it clear that she is 5' 5 ¼ " and the ¼ is important, since Isabelle is now 5' 5"! 

Isabelle and her Papa made a video, explaining a diorama she made for school. She is still coughing, poor kid. This virus is awful.

 

Isabelle's diorama from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

JB fed the deer, and there were 10, including Richard Deer. 

the buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

buck a deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Wednesday began with more snow, as I reported. The snow plows are doing their best. Friends in Muskoka haven't seen a plow in days, since the crews focus on the main arteries. They've had about 5' of snow in four days. 

A friend approached a Hydro worker in Muskoka, to thank them for working so hard. He is from Windsor, working in Muskoka since Dec. 24th. Crews are staying in Orillia, since there is no accommodation closer. They doubt he'll be home for New Year's, as well as missing Christmas. Hydro One updates:

Restoration Update: 

Crews have made significant progress and have restored power to over 442,000 customers since the start of the winter storm. We won’t stop until everyone is restored.

By the time I shoveled the back and front, and used the blower on the driveway, I realized it was snowball snow. I was too tired to build a snowman, though! I recycled this photo, below. 

The wishing well is gone, now. They had to wreck it to replace our broken well pipe one cold February. 

It looks lovely outdoors from indoors. 

The indoor plants are in bloom. The African violet, lower left, and the white orchid are thriving. Towards the back is the orchid cactus, kinda like a Christmas cactus on steroids. The two amaryllis are growing. Still no roots on the taller one, but it is blooming. 

 

Richard Deer, and other tails

 It's been a tough few days for many. We are doing well, though. We miss our usual Christmas with the kids, but we are warm and dry and have power. Jesse tried to do a Facetime with me on my birthday, Dec. 26, but they lost power and his cell phone was crackly. Whoopsie. It's the thought that counts, plus we had a good chat on Christmas day. There is lots of wind in Vancouver, causing power outages. He texted later and said they had power back. Whew! 

☏ I remember trying to phone long distance to my parents in Muskoka on Christmas morning every year. Often the lines would be busy and we couldn't get through. You'd either wait, or hang up and redial that rotary phone! 

♪ Funny story, when we chatted with Caitlin and the girls Christmas Day, they told me the girls set an alarm for 7:30 a.m., and regaled them with a Silent Night duet to wake them up. Isabelle played her clarinet, and Josephine sung it in German! I was impressed. 

🐾 Monday morning I put the garbage out a bit late, having forgot, but someone reminded me. It was cold. I should have used the snow blower on the driveway. There is a layer of ice from our rainfall, but the drifts made it difficult to drag the cans. There is slush at the end of the driveway, as well. 

Can you spot the cat tracks in the snow? It has to be Oregano. Our cats haven't left the deck. He avoided all trailcams!

I was about to put the garbage out, and spotted my friends. I fed the deer after doing my chore.

morning crew from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

🦌 We've buck triplets, and one big buck, as has been the way. We had King Henry visited in January, 2022. Big Jake, in 2018. Big Daddy in 2015. There was Tigger and his brother, back in 2013. 

The coffee was ready when I got back in the house. This was our view out the kitchen window. I've removed the screen, and washed the inside of the window. That helps! I posted the photo on the family stream, and Caitlin named him for me: Richard Gere Deer – a handsome fellow. 

There is much action. Richard simply looks at them and they bolt! Alpha male. The fawns seem to tease him. 

In the afternoon, I got myself dressed, and used the snow blower on the driveway. (Yes, I put the garbage out in jammies!) It was a bit icy underneath, with drifts on one side, but I got it done. 

I spilled some bird seed on the deck. There are lots of little mouse and bird tracks. 

I'd given up putting the trailcams down in the forest. With the load of rain and snow, within 24 hours, I knew they wouldn't show me much. They get ice and snow covered, and fog up. This was fun.

deck birds from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

mice friends from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I put a trailcam on the bird feeder for night action. We have triplet bucks. This is one of them. It is the correct time, but the wrong date! Dec. 26th

young buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

cats on deck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Our Christmas Dinner was a very respectable turkey TV dinner. JB did well getting them for us. He tucked away a frozen lasagna for me for my birthday, also very respectable. I supplemented it with pickled asparagus as hors d'oeuvres.  

More snow is on the way, but not as much. We shall see what the week brings.