FILLING A NICHE AND A CAVITY.

 Cool damp weather gave way to sunshine and our yard is filled with pockets of beauty. 
So many of our spring plants are ready to bust open and the bees are ready to go. 

 Out in the timber new mushrooms are popping up each and every day.  Which makes it hard to spend time in the yard hulling wood chips, tilling, planting, mulching and mowing.   



But, the end result is so rewarding when you take the time to slow down and enjoy it.

 This little fox squirrel scampering around on this old oak snag, kept his eyes on me as I poked around his timber.


I've talked in the past about the importance of these old snags that are left behind after the mature trees have been harvested.   


Standing dead trees, or snags, may appear to be useless, even eyesores, but they are important components of wildlife habitat and frequently in short supply.

 On a sheer bluff overlooking the Mississippi River we've got a nesting box that has been there for two years now.  As I drove by the other day I noticed a smaller bird chasing an eagle.

During the entire nesting season, the adult Peregrine Falcons are very territorial. They dive and chase after almost anything that comes close to their young, including birds and other raptors much bigger than they are! - See more at: http://www.peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/Peregrine_Falcon#sthash.F1ZZNZSv.dpuf

During the entire nesting season, the adult Peregrine Falcons are very territorial. They dive and chase after almost anything that comes close to their young, including birds and other raptors much bigger than they are! - See more at: http://www.peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/Peregrine_Falcon#sthash.F1ZZNZSv.dpuf

During the entire nesting season, the adult Peregrine Falcons are very territorial. They dive and chase after almost anything that comes close to their young, including birds and other raptors much bigger than they are! - See more at: http://www.peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/Peregrine_Falcon#sthash.F1ZZNZSv.dpuf

During the nesting season, the adult Peregrines are very territorial.  They dive and chase after almost anything that comes close to their young, even an Eagle that's much bigger than they are!

I hope that's what I saw!


















Along the trout stream wooden hides created more habitat in streams for adult trout, particularly overhead cover where the fish could hide during the day to escape from winged predators.


Plus stocking streams that contained already naturally reproducing trout populations actually hurt those populations and the fishing.

  Anytime I can save an old fallen cavity that on the floor of the timber I do.   Weather the opening is large or small.  Some one will set up a nets in them.

Several of the birds that nest in cavities tend to be resident species an are more likely to locate  these homes. We've been watching a pair of chickadees  nesting in this one.