April 25, 2008
Hunterdon County is now bear country and they say we should get used to it.Backyard tip of the week: Take a few moments this weekend to survey your property and bird feeder area to see if you're prepared for a bear visit to your yard. Although bears are generally shy and will usually avoid humans, their need for food and fondness for sunflower seeds and suet often draw them to residential areas. Bird feeders are the number one reason for human-bear conflict in many states. The general rule is to make feeders inaccessible to bears or take them down.
Here's a bit of "Bear" advise for us to follow - Never Feed the Bears! Not Ever! A fed bear is a dead bear. Remember to close accessible windows or doors. Screens are not bear-proof. If necessary, leave lights and a radio on when not at home. Personally, I'd recommend tuning your radio to WDVR. Remember to bring any pet food or dishes indoors at night. Place any meat or sweet-smelling food scraps in the trash rather than your compost pile. Keep barbecue grills clean and store in a garage or shed when possible. Don't leave any garbage near the house. Don't use DeCon, it attracts bears. Don't talk nicely to bears who come near your house. Be dominant, not submissive, if a bear comes onto your property. A bear-free backyard is one that you're sure to love!
Backyard sightings for last week: Including northern cardinals, dark-eyed juncos, American robins and a northern flicker. Chipping sparrows, white-throated sparrows, eastern goldfinches and house finches. Red-bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, white and red-breasted nuthatches. The tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, blue-jays, American crows, a couple of grey squirrels, a mostly white skunk, some bunnies and a big black bear. Also, European starlings, common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, bronze-headed cowbirds and mourning doves.
Cool sighting of the week: Last night at dusk a northern flicker was seen drinking at the pond. 13 inches long with brown and black-barred back and wings, a whitish or buffy breast with black spots and a wide black necklace. This "yellow-shafted morph" variety of the northern flicker also wore a red patch on the nape of its neck, a grey crown, yellow under-tail and underwings. I hit the video recorder and watched as he drank vigorously from the pond for a full minute, then flew away into the backyard. "Woikawoikawoika" - It was very cool!
© 2008 BackyardTV.com