Wildlife Around Your Home (post pics if you've got 'em!)

Hi!

Flock of Turkeys

Hi!

A Mantis. Probably at the end of his life cycle. Typically, I think, they’re all green. About 7” 8 “ long, so pretty big.

tempo_n_groove

Riverrunner said:

This is a photo of a Water Moccasin a/k/a Cotton Mouth.  It is poisonous.  This was taken last October on "Snake Road."  It is a road in Southern Illinois in Shawnee National Forest that lies between the Mississippi bottom lands and a rock bluff.  In the Fall reptiles migrate from the slough (swamp) to the bluffs to hibernate.  In the Spring they leave the bluffs and head to the sloughs.  The Forest Service closes the road during these times to allow the reptiles to migrate safely.  You can walk the road but you can't drive on it.  It has become a very popular spot for wildlife observers and wildlife experts because of the diversity of reptiles here.  I will post a link below if I can figure out how to do it with the photo already posted.  http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/9-Days-On-Shawnee-National-Forests-Snake-Road-Of-Illinois/     I have yet to see the two species of Rattlesnakes here.  Hopefully on the next trip. 

Might be Timber Ratters out there.  They get BIG!

The Juggler

These sons of bitches are destroying trees in my neck of the woods. Fuckers need to be eradicated. 

vogonpoetbythelake

Hi!

eeriepadave

went to the movies around 4:15 and when i came out around 6:30 turned to my left and saw a few deer in the parking lot (which was kinda empty).  Sorry the pics aren't too great, the sun was setting and beginning to get dark. Looks like they were eating stuff on the ground.

rhanishane

Magpiesfeed your noisy babies.. made a huge mess of the spaghetti

Fifthelement

rhanishane said:

Magpiesfeed your noisy babies.. made a huge mess of the spaghetti

The magpies of AUS/NZ look so different from the magpies in the area where I grew up in western Canada.  I always loved them when I was growing up in the city, although I know that a lot of farmers do not like them.  My uncle had a tame one that would sit on his shoulder or on the table beside and visit with him.  They are a curious bird, much like the crows and ravens in the area where I currently live.

images from:  https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/bkbmag1/introduction

Hi!

Fifthelement said:

rhanishane said:

Magpiesfeed your noisy babies.. made a huge mess of the spaghetti

The magpies of AUS/NZ look so different from the magpies in the area where I grew up in western Canada.  I always loved them when I was growing up in the city, although I know that a lot of farmers do not like them.  My uncle had a tame one that would sit on his shoulder or on the table beside and visit with him.  They are a curious bird, much like the crows and ravens in the area where I currently live.

images from:  https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/bkbmag1/introduction

Interesting about your uncle. Are you saying it was a pet? 
We had a neighbor when I was growing up who had two pet crows. They had their wings clipped or whatever so they wouldn’t fly away. They would just hang around in his yard, or hang out in his garage while he drank Pabst all day. Just a normal pet like a dog or cat. Funny too, he trained them to talk and they would actually swear, lol, I forgot exactly, but I think it was shit or fuck.

Fifthelement

No, it wasn’t a pet.  It was more like a friend.  He worked in the forestry service and just had an amazing way with animals.  He died when I was young, but I remember him as a really kind soul.  I was entranced by the magpie that would sit with him as he did his paint by numbers under a big tree in the yard.  

vogonpoetbythelake

Another lucky girl you are...thank you for sharing...

rhanishane

this is another baby magpie that turned up to work randomly one day. would steal keys off my desk and sit on my laptop. They are the cutest cheekiest little things and it was not a pet. He came and went as he pleased usually at lunch time he would fly in for a snack then fly off again after terrorising the offices. we named him morty but hes gone now.  They grow up and do adults things. Some are savage at breeding time and will swoop the hell out of anything nearby. They dont forget a face so if you're familiar they wont hurt you. My family of magpies have jad 5 sets of babies since ive lived there.  this time they had 3 babies and they steal the dog and cat food everyday so i five them extra haha

rhanishane

Fifthelement said:

rhanishane said:

Magpiesfeed your noisy babies.. made a huge mess of the spaghetti

The magpies of AUS/NZ look so different from the magpies in the area where I grew up in western Canada.  I always loved them when I was growing up in the city, although I know that a lot of farmers do not like them.  My uncle had a tame one that would sit on his shoulder or on the table beside and visit with him.  They are a curious bird, much like the crows and ravens in the area where I currently live.

images from:  https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/bkbmag1/introduction

these look like our Australian bower bird. some are all black and some have bright yellow where the white is on these. Some are brown but have piercing cobalt blue eyes and they collect anything blue to decorate their ground nests. usually blue pegs and blue bottle caps.

brianlux

Nice to see the love for our avian friends here! 

Fifthelement

rhanishane said:

this is another baby magpie that turned up to work randomly one day. would steal keys off my desk and sit on my laptop. They are the cutest cheekiest little things and it was not a pet. He came and went as he pleased usually at lunch time he would fly in for a snack then fly off again after terrorising the offices. we named him morty but hes gone now.  They grow up and do adults things. Some are savage at breeding time and will swoop the hell out of anything nearby. They dont forget a face so if you're familiar they wont hurt you. My family of magpies have jad 5 sets of babies since ive lived there.  this time they had 3 babies and they steal the dog and cat food everyday so i five them extra haha

That is such an awesome story. The circus family has so many cool birds.  So social.

My parents had a Rottweiler that would bring out mouthfuls of dog food to feed the local magpies.  They became quite friendly with him and trusted him enough to eat the food right beside him.  Unfortunately, their next rottie wasn’t so friendly with them.  They learned quick though 😳🤣

rhanishane

Fifthelement said:

rhanishane said:

this is another baby magpie that turned up to work randomly one day. would steal keys off my desk and sit on my laptop. They are the cutest cheekiest little things and it was not a pet. He came and went as he pleased usually at lunch time he would fly in for a snack then fly off again after terrorising the offices. we named him morty but hes gone now.  They grow up and do adults things. Some are savage at breeding time and will swoop the hell out of anything nearby. They dont forget a face so if you're familiar they wont hurt you. My family of magpies have jad 5 sets of babies since ive lived there.  this time they had 3 babies and they steal the dog and cat food everyday so i five them extra haha

That is such an awesome story. The circus family has so many cool birds.  So social.

My parents had a Rottweiler that would bring out mouthfuls of dog food to feed the local magpies.  They became quite friendly with him and trusted him enough to eat the food right beside him.  Unfortunately, their next rottie wasn’t so friendly with them.  They learned quick though 😳🤣

i bought a maremma pup especially so the natives around here would be comfortable in my yard. She still play chases them but she would never hurt them and as you can see they are not afraid to bring the babies to the dog food dish haha.

Fifthelement

Not the best picture quality, but cab you spot the deer?  There are two.

eeriepadave

Fifthelement said:

Not the best picture quality, but cab you spot the deer?  There are two.

took me a few seconds to spot the other one. Nice pic.

Fifthelement

eeriepadave said:

Fifthelement said:

Not the best picture quality, but cab you spot the deer?  There are two.

took me a few seconds to spot the other one. Nice pic.

Me too, tbh.  I only saw her after I herded the dogs inside and she finally moved.  Dude deer was staring them down protecting her as she is injured.  Not sure if she will survive, she wasn’t putting her left, front hoof down.