tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post6974281024260931091..comments2024-03-28T01:13:28.497-07:00Comments on Late to the Garden Party: Wednesday Vignette: Wildlife SightingsKris Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-62000529054894637522016-05-07T17:50:08.505-07:002016-05-07T17:50:08.505-07:00I know that fear - I lost a kitty to their jaws (p...I know that fear - I lost a kitty to their jaws (presumably). My two are now indoor kitties, safe and sound. Eliza Watershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879335295393594236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-15443963885893084732016-05-07T11:45:20.107-07:002016-05-07T11:45:20.107-07:00My brother made a similar comment about Mourning C...My brother made a similar comment about Mourning Cloaks. As the adults like oak tree sap, I wonder if the sudden oak death epidemic is affecting their numbers.<br /><br />I guess we should both be happy that coyotes remain fearful of humans, or at least adult humans. They don't seem to be nocturnal predators anymore. The drought is probably making their lives more difficult too.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-66468802061732203982016-05-06T21:28:38.456-07:002016-05-06T21:28:38.456-07:00Interesting--the Mourning Cloaks were so common wh...Interesting--the Mourning Cloaks were so common when I was growing up in Gardena--it was the only butterfly we would ever see. I see them every once in a while here. <br /><br />A couple days ago I went out for the mail and there was half a rabbit...fresh bloody mess. I went and got a shovel and bag to clean up, and when I came back it was already gone. The coyotes are around constantly, and are so good at hiding. I'm glad you take good care of Pipig. Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-78062997329518042562016-05-06T14:53:59.840-07:002016-05-06T14:53:59.840-07:00I suspect there is a nest nearby given the earlier...I suspect there is a nest nearby given the earlier conflict I witnessed between the mockingbird and the crow outside our garage. No, I won't encourage the bird to mimic Mr. Trump - the daily news broadcasts are already more than I can take.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-53290270655209604052016-05-06T14:47:43.078-07:002016-05-06T14:47:43.078-07:00That Mourning Cloak is a beauty! If you do train ...That Mourning Cloak is a beauty! If you do train a Mockingbird that sounds like The Trump I hope you won't regret it...they often sing day and night when looking for a mate and nonstop Trumping might be a lot more than you bargained for. : )<br /><br />Mockingbirds are quite territorial. If you have a nest nearby you'll be seeing (and hearing!) a lot more of these vocal visitors. TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-10575430200085569552016-05-06T11:36:03.964-07:002016-05-06T11:36:03.964-07:00I don't know if mockingbirds are trainable, Sa...I don't know if mockingbirds are trainable, Sarah - they seem to have their own purpose in the songs they choose to mimic. However, I've been curious to try running talk radio in the garden overnight in an effort to put off the raccoons (some people swear this works) - wouldn't it be funny if I ended up with a mockingbird imitating Donald Trump? He's getting a lot of coverage here as you might imagine and he's very repetitive!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-14762243755764926212016-05-06T03:45:09.244-07:002016-05-06T03:45:09.244-07:00Will your mockingbird mimic any noise? It could be...Will your mockingbird mimic any noise? It could be fun to find out! The mourning cloak is exquisite. I have never seen one of those before. Good luck with keeping your cat in. I have never seen a coyote anywhere but a zoo. Sarah Shoesmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03410745860215082568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-20170375454901571552016-05-05T21:03:38.210-07:002016-05-05T21:03:38.210-07:00Pipig actually growled at me this morning when I u...Pipig actually growled at me this morning when I unceremoniously picked her up and tucked her back into her screened (and reinforced) porch. She's managed a few disappearing acts since we moved here and each time I was in fear that she'd become dinner (or breakfast) for some coyote.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-49692392973924766632016-05-05T21:00:19.266-07:002016-05-05T21:00:19.266-07:00It's amazing how widespread coyotes are here, ...It's amazing how widespread coyotes are here, Diana. They were present in a densely populated area my husband and I lived in as students too. I was concerned they might be present here and asked the real estate agent representing the seller about them during our home inspection but was told there were none in the area. He lied. They have a high profile here and regularly pick off pets who are left unattended, even during the day. (They're considered nocturnal but they clearly adjust their schedules based on their needs.)Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-91773180711845804702016-05-05T17:13:38.228-07:002016-05-05T17:13:38.228-07:00Coyotes have adapted well to suburban settings, ju...Coyotes have adapted well to suburban settings, just like fox and raccoon. A wily trio if there ever was one. Glad Pipig is safe, even if he doesn't know it is for his own good. Mockingbirds are almost as annoying, sometimes even calling at night! But if they learned to mimic some good songbirds, it may be enjoyable. :)Eliza Watershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879335295393594236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-47840516278950950402016-05-05T15:52:12.131-07:002016-05-05T15:52:12.131-07:00Grateful that defending our cats from coyote (or c...Grateful that defending our cats from coyote (or caracal here) is not one of my tasks!Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-80187322746895768942016-05-05T10:37:11.178-07:002016-05-05T10:37:11.178-07:00I read that the mockingbird's vocalizations ca...I read that the mockingbird's vocalizations can extend to "modern" urban noise and now I think the species may account for a very odd call I've heard in spring the last couple of years, Susie. It sounds like a cuckoo-clock rendition of the sound a car's electronic locking and unlocking device makes, repeated over and over and over again.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-60085791423818364432016-05-05T10:30:12.421-07:002016-05-05T10:30:12.421-07:00If I hadn't witnessed the mockingbird's co...If I hadn't witnessed the mockingbird's conflict with the crow, he may not have registered when I saw him later, Christina; however, now that I know more about his vocal habits, I think the species may account for some of the odd bird song I've heard in the past.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-87669399138146611842016-05-05T05:06:49.882-07:002016-05-05T05:06:49.882-07:00Lucky sighting of the Mourning Cloak butterfly--th...Lucky sighting of the Mourning Cloak butterfly--that's new to me. A nice bit of happenstance. We have lots of mockingbirds here and enjoy them. Around the country they've adapted to modern noises and can be heard mimicking car door beeps, chain saws, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-9010105037530859342016-05-04T23:10:08.750-07:002016-05-04T23:10:08.750-07:00The butterfly is stunning, not one we have here. ...The butterfly is stunning, not one we have here. I don't have much luck capturing the swift moving wildlife either. I've never seen a mocking bird either, in fact I may have thought it was fictitious. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-70321308322109208112016-05-04T20:10:47.244-07:002016-05-04T20:10:47.244-07:00I laughed at the Latin name when I saw it too, Ann...I laughed at the Latin name when I saw it too, Anna. Now, I'm wondering if I have as many backyard birds as I thought I did, or maybe just one very vocal linguist!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-71802999561306364112016-05-04T20:08:34.744-07:002016-05-04T20:08:34.744-07:00I love the birds and the butterflies, Jennifer, bu...I love the birds and the butterflies, Jennifer, but I could do without the raccoons, skunks and - yikes! - coyote.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-77738527137314803472016-05-04T20:07:24.783-07:002016-05-04T20:07:24.783-07:00My personal theory is that the raccoons and the co...My personal theory is that the raccoons and the coyotes have a deal dividing up the neighborhood. Other than auditory evidence of a possible skirmish between the two species shortly after we moved (as described above in my response to Rusty Duck), this is the first time I've actually seen a coyote on our property. Unfortunately, the raccoons are regular visitors.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-4294650322767420362016-05-04T20:06:14.626-07:002016-05-04T20:06:14.626-07:00I love the Mourning Cloaks - although I have only ...I love the Mourning Cloaks - although I have only seen very few in my life, they are one of my favorites. Wonderful shots! The Latin name for the mocking bird made me laugh - "polyglottos"... Quite the linguist, I understand, and probably well prepared to police the various bird cultures! Anna Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02353084595743927603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-79873350457128295162016-05-04T20:03:51.998-07:002016-05-04T20:03:51.998-07:00Thanks Alison! Pure serendipity.Thanks Alison! Pure serendipity.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-84795043401938291712016-05-04T20:03:27.428-07:002016-05-04T20:03:27.428-07:00We have red-tailed hawks in the area - I see them ...We have red-tailed hawks in the area - I see them often circling the harbor area but they seldom land in the garden. On the rare occasions they do, all the small birds seem to go into hiding.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-6528150191043421372016-05-04T20:01:21.411-07:002016-05-04T20:01:21.411-07:00Well, I remembered the Mourning Cloak well enough ...Well, I remembered the Mourning Cloak well enough to recognize it on sight (although I did check my ID on -line to make sure I wasn't mistaken).Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-70885887720472918732016-05-04T19:59:47.726-07:002016-05-04T19:59:47.726-07:00At my old house, the hummingbirds occasionally div...At my old house, the hummingbirds occasionally dive-bombed both me and my cat - just another indication that size doesn't matter, I guess! I honestly thought that mockingbird (before I knew its name) was about to become the crow's prey but, when I saw him on the offensive, I guessed there might be a nest in the area he was defending.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-67043443420860782162016-05-04T19:54:59.183-07:002016-05-04T19:54:59.183-07:00I was surprised that the Mourning Cloak hung aroun...I was surprised that the Mourning Cloak hung around long enough for me to take 6 photos, Donna. Perhaps his mate was in the area.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-1282493845920486532016-05-04T19:53:36.004-07:002016-05-04T19:53:36.004-07:00I don't remember seeing mockingbirds here befo...I don't remember seeing mockingbirds here before but, as I previously didn't have a name to peg to them, perhaps that just fell into the very large "unclassified" bird category for me. They're probably nesting nearby - I'm seeing them regularly now.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.com