Bird List

Instead of a story this week, I wanted to let you know all the birds we have seen in the Cloudcroft, High Rolls, Mountain Park and Mayhill area in the year 2011.

Pine Siskin                                                        Pygmy Nuthatch

Stellar Jay                                                         White Breasted Nuthatch

White-Winged Dove                                         Evening Grosbeak

Hairy Woodpecker                                           Common Raven

Downy Woodpecker                                        House Wren                                        

Acorn Woodpecker                                         Cassin’s Finch

Mountain Chickadee                                         Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Band-Tail Pigeon                                              Dark-eyed Junco

Slate-colored Junco                                          Oregon dark-eyed Junco

Red Naped Sapsucker                                     American Robin

Red Wing Blackbird                                         Western Bluebird

Brown Creeper                                               Broad-tail Humming Bird

We at the Bird House are heavily depending on our community and visitors to let us know of the birds they have spotted in our beautiful towns.  Please call 575-682-6902 or come on by and let us know what is happening in your backyard.

Put out the humming bird feeders they have arrived!

Until next week,

Ruth

Store Manager

Visit www.cloudcroftwebcam/beta/ to keep up on all the happenings in Cloudcroft, NM

Visit http://thebirdhousecloudcroft.blogspot.com/   for up to the minute post.

Waterfall?

One summer we were promised a meteor shower by a newscaster in Abq.  A meteor shower in itself is not uncommon to see up here in the mountains.  What made this time different was my daughter's cousin was visiting for the summer.  Living in a big city he had never seen anything other than the moon and a couple of stars in the sky.  I was hoping this could be an experience that he would carry with him long into his adulthood.

We waited until late in the evening then went to the backyard to watch the show, however, living in the Lincoln National Forest has a way of limiting your view of the sky.  So, we took a couple of throw blankets and headed toward the highway to find a better spot.  We found that space at the end of our subdivision.  We parked and rolled down the windows.  Out the windows the kids popped on to the roof and hood.  Apparently, it was a new moon because there was NO moon light anywhere.  To say it was dark, would be an understatement.  On occasion a car would come by and we could get our bearings as to where we were and what was around us.

As we settle down, it got quiet, eerily quiet.  A car passed and we noticed a few flying creatures.  We determined it had to be bats.  We sat there waiting on the show and thinking about the bats.  It was not long before we all three found reasons to sit in the car until we could see the meteors. eeeekk.

Shortly there after, the show began.  It was not the best one I had ever seen but it was awesome for the kids.  I would hear lots of ooohhs and aaaahhs.  In between the showers, it would become quiet again and the thought of the bats would return.  In the dark you could hear the rearranging of bodies.  Our finale viewing spot was the door windows half in half out...you know just in case .

We were sitting there waiting on the next shooting star and I was thinking what a great night it was turning out to be.  Soon I heard daughter's cousin saying he hears a waterfall.  I think WHAT? We have no running water much less a waterfall anywhere around here.  All of us listened with great intent.  My daughter and I are racking our brains to remember where there is water in our neighborhood.   There is no mistaking the sound of running water and we all heard falling water.  We listened for a bit then it hits me.    HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!.  I could not stop laughing long enough to tell them what it was.  Finally a car comes by and I show them what was making the noise.  That waterfall.... was the horse across the highway with bladder issues which went on and on and on. We all started laughing uncontrollably.  Finally someone said lets go home I got to make a waterfall.

If you love bats and want to encourage them to eat the insects in your backyard, come on in to the Bird House.  We carry Bat House kits that are perfect for a day of fun with that youngen in your life.  Bats like to be 80 to 100 degrees in July when they have their young with them.  The bat house should be placed in the sun and around 12 to 15 feet off the ground to prevent predators from getting them. 

Oh and that memory I was hoping to make was not exactly what I was hoping for, but it has been forever etched in all of our minds.  Tee Hee. It was one of the best nights ever.

Until next week
Ruth
www.thebirdhousecloudcroft.blogspot.com

UCC

Back around the beginning of winter 2010, I discovered I had a mystery on my hands.  It seemed every time I would put out the feeders they would be completely emptied by morning.  The suet container would also be completely empty.  This being my first year to feed the birds, I was at a loss at what was going on.    At first, I thought is was a bear.  Then I decided it was some thing much smaller.  My feeders were in disarray not destroyed.   A bear would have taken them out.  Plus the suet feeder looked as if it were gently opened and emptied.  A bear would have taken the whole thing, (dainty, bears are not). I would have to keep an eye opened for this UCC (unidentified crawling critter).

The next night I had built the fire a little too big so I cracked the window.  It was not long before my dogs started raising cane.  I got up, turned on the light and looked on the porch. At first, I did not see anything but  scattered seed from here to there. I kept my seed in a huge 5 gallon bucket with a tricky child proof lid.  I thought it has to be a bear!  It takes all I have to get that top open and I have thumbs!.  Then out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something about the size of a small dog disappear around the corner of the house.

A trap was set up the next night with suet as the bait.  I still did not know for sure what it was but the trap I had would surely do the job.  The next morning the bait was gone but no critter.  The same thing would happen night after night.  WHY? WHY? This has never failed before.  A few nights later my dogs are going at it again.  You would have thought big foot himself was on the porch.  I quickly flipped on the light.  I was totally taken back by the scene that was unfolding right in front of me.  Let me paint a picture for you. 

 RACCOONS all over the place!  Over on the wicker couch was the big Kahuna laid back and relaxed belly full and poking out.  I swear, I could have easily seen a cigar in his mouth and him giving directions in his best godfather voice… that is if I had had a few glasses of wine. Over on the coffee table was another one watching with anticipation rubbing his little hands together fast at first then slowly.  He looked as if he were from the movie Frankenstein.  You know, Igor the doctor's assistant. Add another glass of wine and I could have easily seen him mouthing “yes masters, you can do it”  And on the rail was the largest of them all, the bruiser, the blockhead, the lookout.  His head was darting back and forth so fast you would have thought he was watching a tennis match.  Apparently, he took his job seriously. On top of the cage was a rather hefty raccoon holding up the plate which held the bait in place so not to trip the trap.  Inside was a little toot grabbing the goods.   He was not at all above taste testing the fruits of his labor.  His face and hands were covered in suet.  His hands were so greasy that he couldn't hold the package long enough to get it out. It was one of the strangest sights I have ever seen.

At first, the light caught them so off guard that they did not even think to skedaddle.  Soon my dogs caught wind of the raccoons and tried to fly through the windows at them.  The coons quickly decided to abandon their mission.  Blockhead was scrambling on the rail as if to shout ABORT! ABORT! run you fools.  Igor...GONE without a trace.  Godfather Kahuna, turned to the window and with a grunt got up and walked away with nary a look back. The two at the trap were the funniest of all.  Toot's hands were so greasy that he could not easily turn himself around in the cage to run.  Hefty was still holding the plate.  He could have let go but his buddy Toot would have been trapped.  My dogs were giving him heck.  After what seemed a few minutes, Hefty looked at us and I promise he had the strangest smile on his face.  It was a little apologetic, a little scared, and a lot of please don't kill me.  Moments later, Toot made it out and they had made it off the porch and around the corner.  Blockhead was the last to leave.  He appeared to be guarding the rear.  Then without looking back he jumped off the rail back feet first.  It reminded me of jumping out of a plane and then he was gone.

Now a days, I do not have that problem.  We sell these rail plant holders that are arched.  They hang out so far that the critters can't get to them.  Problem solved.  If you are experiencing a similar problem come on in and I will fix you up with one of these hooks.  They really work.

Until next week,
Ruth Lane
Store Manager

www.thebirdhousecloudcroft.blogspot.com

"How you doin'?

This week I want to tell you about a little Nuthatch. He hangs out with the Pine Siskins most of the time.  He has a few other buddies that follow him around too.  It seems he is a MASTER at finding food and the others must think he is a Grand Wizard for he can find food anywhere.  In reality, he hides seed in the cracks and crevices of the tree bark.  Surprisingly, Nuthatches are able to remember where they have hidden seed for up to 30 days.  Therefore, he has food when the going get tough and so do his buddies.  Waaa laa, instant fame among the birds for the Nuthatch.

Not only are Nuthatches smart, they are one of the friendliest birds around.  They are as bold as chickadees, but without the attitude and often fly right up to a feeder even as it's being loaded with seeds or peanut butter.  I know this from experience.  During the winter we close at 4:00 and I bring in the feeders.  This particular day there were tons of birds everywhere getting that last morsel of seed before I left. I walked out and the birds scattered.  I pulled down all the feeders at once.  (A skill I have perfected over the months, HA)  As I got to the door, I arranged the feeders to be hung inside until the next morning.  When I hung the last one, I came eye to eye with a little Nuthatch still eating his dinner!  Talk about surprised, I was very surprised he seemed to be saying "How you doin'?".   If I made any sudden movements he would leave his perch and be trapped in the store.  I have found that once a bird gets inside the store it can take up to two or three hours to get it out.  I wanted to go home not chase a bird all night long.  So I slowly turned around and walked back out.  As I walked out I looked at the little bird.  It was just too endearing ; his bravery and his ultimate cuteness was off the chart.  We get to the outside porch and he would not leave.  I shook the feeder...nothing.  Finally, I tried to pick him up.  He was having none of that.  Away he went to the feeding tree and watched as I went back inside.


When, I left for the day, I noticed him and his buddies scaling the tree to pull seed out of the bark.  The Juncos were on the ground waiting for anything to fall.  The Woodpecker was watching with intense curiosity.  Yep, he was their Grand Wizard and now my little friend.

We keep chairs on the porch for our human visitors to stop in and do a little bird watching.  Make sure when you are in Cloudcroft to stop over and bring your camera.  You are sure to be entertained.  While here come on in and pick up a little seed and a feeder so you can start your on bird sanctuary

Can't wait to see you,
Ruth

Store Manager
www.thebirdhousecloudcroft@blogspot.com