Posts Tagged ‘owl’

Day Shift/Night Shift

As we walked around looking like complete lunatics at dusk yesterday - watering cans in hand during a break in the rain - we were treated to the sight of a barn owl hunting over the field.  We were dispersing our second application of predatory nematodes to deal with the pesky “e-words” (earwigs), but I’m sure the neighbors thought we had lost it.

After finally diving down into a thick patch of unmowed vegetation, the owl stayed on the ground for a while and then departed to the patch of trees on the southeast boundary of our property, into the same thicket where the red-shouldered hawk (see photos) launches from.

We have been so happy to notice an increase in the number and diversity of wildlife since we settled here just under a year and a half ago.  Previously, all four acres had been continuously grazed by horses, so plant height/structure/diversity were minimal.  We’ve put in some native shrubs and trees (which still need to grow a bit to be useful for wildlife), we’re letting some pasture areas get a little long, there are frogs inhabiting last year’s strawberry patch, and birds are everywhere.  Diversity is good.  More animals to eat the abundant mice, slugs and e-words.  Red-shouldered hawks are very unlikely to predate chickens.  (Lucky it’s not a red-tailed hawk!)

Anyway.  I guess my thought is that while we are working “day and night” to improve this property, so are the wildlife.  Hawks, owls - eat as many rodents as you like.  Sparrows, swallows, bluebirds, etc. - the bug buffet is open.  Hmm, though, the robins sure do eat lots of earthworms…

Like everyone else, we’re drenched.  But was it as crazy sunny for you guys last weekend as it was here?  Suddenly, loads of lettuce and arugula were ready to take to market, which was great.  We nearly sold out, despite the fact that it - yep - rained.