Pillywiggin Postscripts

A Blog for Art, Garden & Nature Enthusiasts
  • Welcome
  • Garden
  • Artwork
    • Warm Glass
    • Cool Gourds
  • Events
  • Gourds
    • Gourd History
    • Crafting with Gourds
    • Drying Gourds
    • Cleaning Gourds
  • Pilly...what?!
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Welcome
  • Garden
  • Artwork
    • Warm Glass
    • Cool Gourds
  • Events
  • Gourds
    • Gourd History
    • Crafting with Gourds
    • Drying Gourds
    • Cleaning Gourds
  • Pilly...what?!
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog

Winter Wildlife

1/8/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Our little acre sits in the middle of a big open field just a few miles inland from Lake Michigan. There is always a nice breeze in the summer, our sunsets are spectacular but the winter winds are fierce! When Jason bought this place he began planting windbreaks between the old maple trees. He planted a mix of pine & cedars because they grow quickly to help stop the drifting snow.

​​The side yard between the house & drive is the most protected area. It's a perfect spot to hang feeders. We offer two types of suet (song bird & woodpecker) and Jason fills 3 feeders with black oil sunflower seeds every day. We watch the birds from our dining room window and keep our bird identification book near by. We have a mix of finch, chickadees, doves, a cardinal pair and 5 varieties of woodpecker coming in including these awesome pileated woodpeckers.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Free sunflower seeds & suet at Pillywiggins Garden
​All You Can Eat!
We've had these two coming in for a few years now but this is the first time we have seen them at the feeder together. So, I decided to do a little research and learned they are likely a nesting pair. One is smaller than the other but they are both colored the same. ​

Pileated woodpeckers are the 2nd largest woodpecker in the U.S. They can be found in the eastern U.S., Great Lakes region, the snow forests of Canada and in some parts of the Pacific Northwest. They prefer large tracks of old growth forest. Pairs defend their turf aggressively but it was noted that they cut trespassers some slack during the winter months. We do notice the other birds keep their distance when the pileated come in.

Pileated woodpeckers have a loud "jungle bird" call and create large square shaped holes in the trees in search of food. They eat insects, fruits, nuts and berries including carpenter ants and poison ivy berries. They are not typically feeder birds except in areas with harsh winters.

What I found most interesting...
​The oldest known living pair of pileated woodpeckers lived to be almost 13 years old! 12 years and 11 months to be exact. If we're lucky we'll be watching this pair for many more years to come.
Picture
Picture
Fox Squirrel
​Apparently word has gotten out to the squirrels. Look at this little piggy! He is a fox squirrel. We see him every day and finally caught him in the act of robbing our feeder. He's quite the daredevil hanging upside down by his back feet. He grabs the feeder with his front paws and pours the seeds into his cheeks! I'd like to find his stash and recoup some of our seed but it looks like he has been eating most of it. What a chunk!
​The fox squirrel has now taught the red squirrel the trick to raiding our feeder. It's comical to watch the little red squirrel. It's quite a stretch for him to reach but somehow he manages. I hope to catch him in the act but so far he has been faster than our camera. He's made his home in one of our old maples. I hope he stays there. Red squirrels can be destructive little buggers! I don't want him in my attic or garage!
Picture
Red Squirrel
Picture
Picture
For now I'll enjoy his company and keep my fingers crossed he doesn't do any damage. But we already know how that story goes. A few years ago we spent the winter watching a cute little bunny hop around our side yard. Spring came and our little buddy found another home. At first I was bummed that he'd left us but that only lasted until the snow melted and I found our Japanese maple chewed to shreds! I guess that's the price you pay for living the wildlife.  :)
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Artwork
    DIY
    Events
    Gardening
    Nature
    Pillywiggin Adventures
    Project Pics
    Services
    Welcome

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

Copyright 2012 Pillywiggins Garden, LLC | All Rights Reserved
  Pillywiggins Garden, LLC
  • Welcome
  • Garden
  • Artwork
    • Warm Glass
    • Cool Gourds
  • Events
  • Gourds
    • Gourd History
    • Crafting with Gourds
    • Drying Gourds
    • Cleaning Gourds
  • Pilly...what?!
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Welcome
  • Garden
  • Artwork
    • Warm Glass
    • Cool Gourds
  • Events
  • Gourds
    • Gourd History
    • Crafting with Gourds
    • Drying Gourds
    • Cleaning Gourds
  • Pilly...what?!
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
Welcome to Pillywiggins Garden.
​Please visit often to see what's in bloom.