# Today in nature I saw **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854 "2020-07-20T18:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 110
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2183 "2023-04-04T18:15:32Z")
Foxes are awesome. We supposedly have them here but I never see them. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2184 "2023-04-04T18:21:09Z")
The closest I’ve ever come to seeing a fox is passing a dead one by the side of the road, less than 2 mt/yd from my house, abouta year ago. So they must be around here. I’ve always wanted to see one in person. (That, and a flying squirrel.) So far, mostly black squirrels. ⚫ ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2185 "2023-04-04T18:51:59Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I’ve always wanted to see one in person. (That, and a flying squirrel.) I had a pair of flying squirrels as pets when I was a kid. Very cute, but hard to tame. I ended up releasing them (after teaching them to survive in the wild). ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2186 "2023-04-04T19:09:56Z")
If it ever turns warm in the morning again, I’ll start my dawn rides. I’ll usually see a fox or two. Each time, I’ll call out, “Morning Reynard!” to them. The Eastern Cottontails I see also get told good morning. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2187 "2023-04-04T22:27:14Z")
There are foxes near my old neighborhood but I never saw one in the yard. That’s coyote territory. Foxes lived a block north. Lucky you. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2188 "2023-04-05T02:27:58Z")
We have finch babies in the roosting pocket in the southeastern corner of the front porch. I saw mama feeding them today. The wren(s) on the back porch have fledged - I think there’s only one or two. One flittered down and landed at my husband’s feet while he was nattering about in the garage. Very cute! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2189 "2023-04-05T12:05:26Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I’ve always wanted to see one in person. (That, and a flying squirrel.) Our flying squirrel family continues to thrive. A few years ago we had a roofer/handyman fence in the area of the attic where the Northern Flying Squirrels were living. He put down a stainless steel plate to protect the wood and blocked all entry except for where they sleep. If we watch out our living room window at dusk, we can see them zipping around. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2190 "2023-04-05T16:23:32Z")
The report on the parent eagles is that they are still hanging around their nesting territory and I’ve seen them fly by. I hope they find a suitable tree, but am not expecting to see more eggs this year. That will give the male another year to mature. Our falcon cam is looking promising. There is a couple hanging out at the nest box and they appear to be readying it for eggs. Usually the eggs appear right about now, so I’m excited. I spotted a pair of mallards at my current locale. Per my hostess, she’s never seen mallards in the yard before, only turkeys and deer. I’m thinking the turkeys will push the mallards out quickly. Time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2191 "2023-04-05T16:45:11Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > I’m thinking the turkeys will push the mallards out quickly. We put out shelled corn every morning for wildlife. There are usually deer waiting. What they leave is eaten by turkeys and crows. Any time now, mallards will show up on our pond to lay eggs. They eat some corn also, and we put more out once they arrive. I’ve seen turkeys and deer “get into it”, but the turkeys and ducks always peacefully coexist. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2192 "2023-04-05T17:21:08Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > the turkeys and ducks always peacefully coexist. That would be nice but this spot isn’t really conducive to duck housing. The babies would have to cross a couple of roads to get to the nearest pond. There is a vernal pond right now, but it will disappear within a week or so. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2193 "2023-04-05T17:41:22Z")
I was driving north on 101 this morning, and up ahead I saw a large dark bird fly low across all lanes of both south- and northbound commute traffic. It barely cleared the tops of all the cars; had it encountered a taller truck, it would have been history. It landed on the bank off to the side on my side of the freeway, and when I got close, I looked to see what it was. It was a turkey! That heavy thing crossed safely, but it was touch and go. Since they usually come in flocks, I hope any others trying to cross the freeway did so safely. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2194 "2023-04-05T18:02:10Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > It landed on the bank off to the side on my side of the freeway, and when I got close, I looked to see what it was. It was a turkey! As god is my witness, I didn’t think turkeys could fly. Wow, never saw one in actual flight myself. I’ve walked right up to a flock and tried to get them to fly off before with no luck, damn they walk fast. I’ve seen them strut across busy intersections, seemingly laughing at the cars. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2195 "2023-04-05T18:17:31Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Wow, never saw one in actual flight myself. I’ve walked right up to a flock and tried to get them to fly off before with no luck, damn they walk fast. Yeah, they’re very reluctant to take to the sky even when it would seemingly make life easier for them, like when they’re stuck behind a fence. They’re great runners, but very slow and clumsy flyers. But I have a number that like roost in trees ten feet from front door so I regularly get to see them fly up at dusk and if I’m up early enough, fly dawn at dawn. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2196 "2023-04-05T18:36:32Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > The babies would have to cross a couple of roads to get to the nearest pond. We have a pond, but it’s within a horse pasture, so it’s fenced. The mallard hen incubates a huge number of eggs, then takes shitty care of the ducklings. Every year she starts out with 12-20 ducklings. Each day the number drops one or two. Typically there will be one to three ducklings that reach maturity, ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2197 "2023-04-05T20:06:17Z")
I’d seen a turkey fly across the road once. She took off just before I got to her. She nearly hit my windshield. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2198 "2023-04-05T20:32:26Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Typically there will be one to three ducklings that reach maturity, Looks like a great example of Darwin’s theory. She with the most children surviving wins. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2199 "2023-04-06T18:12:42Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > Usually the eggs appear right about now, so I’m excited. And I was right. There’s one egg in the peregrine nest, laid there in the early morning hours today. Yay! I hope we get at least three. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2023, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2200 "2023-04-07T01:11:11Z")
I was riding my mountain bike on a trail north of Scottsdale, Arizona. The trail curved right, around a pile of boulders. As I came around the far side, I spooked a bobcat, which ran up the trail ahead of me, then dove into the boulders. I’ve seen a few around here, but this was unusual in that it was daytime (they’re usually crepuscular), and it was BIG. All the bobcats I’ve seen before were not much bigger than a house cat. This one was easily 30 lbs/14 kg. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2201 "2023-04-07T15:53:09Z")
Big Tom displaying his tail feathers next to the neighbor’s bird feeder as if to say “Ladies, I can make sure you always have food!” But the ladies weren’t listening. That first peregrine egg probably won’t hatch as there has been a lot of time not sitting on the egg. Temps are climbing starting today but most times I looked yesterday the parent’s weren’t around. This is apparently a new pair of younger birds. Still, I’ll keep checking. The eagles were in a nearby tree this morning, grooming each other and scouting around. Fingers crossed they’ll stay and start building a new nest. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2202 "2023-04-10T14:24:57Z")
As I was walking the first of three dogs this morning at 5:45 (still dark) I heard robins singing! What a wonderful sound. It gave me hope that winter is actually, finally over. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=109) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=111)