On the fence
Are you on the fence? I’m not and I have voted BUT this is not about that. The following is about stuff on the fence, my barbwire fence!
The Loggerhead Shrike was quite busy storing its cache on the fence. This beetle was still twitching so it was very fresh.
Maybe the Loggerhead Shrike’s poop? If it is not, then another bird’s perhaps. Song and Chipping sparrows have arrived here.
Praying Mantis’ egg casing or ootheca as it also called, attaches to the wire.
Praying Mantis’ egg casing on the T-post
Orange egg sac nestled by the barbs
Lovegrass (Eragrostis species) caught on the fence.
The Loggerhead Shrike finds a grasshopper to cache. In fact, along this one stretch of fence, there 8-10 grasshoppers and as many of the beetles as well.
Maybe a spider’s egg sac.
Here is the another beetle of the Loggerhead Shrike’s cache. A small spider is taking advantage. With the beetle already stuck, it makes a easy catch for the spider.
Often times, the deer leaves a bit of hair behind when jumping the fence. Ouch.
Greenbriar (Smilax bona-nox) latches on.
Crustose lichens grow on the anchor post.
Bold Jumper (Phidippus audax) makes a meal of a smaller spider.
A convenient place to hang my homemade nestbox.
Glad you have a shrike this year!
That shrike is giving you a lot of entertainment.
So tell us how you made the log bird house. Is there a hatch to get inside and clean it out? How did you hollow it?
Kathy
Kathy,
The nest box was made from a cedar log we had. I cut the log into 15-18 inch lengths. Then I cut that in half lengthwise. Next I carved out on each half a hollow. The insides were about the same size as woodpecker's hollow. I put it back together with screws and I believe a little caulk. Then I drilled the entry hole. I can not get back in the box to clean them out. I made 2 of them and this one has last 20 years. This nest box has successful fledged a family every year. I let them do their own housekeeping as they would do in nature. The box has out lasted all the store brought board nest boxes.
Kathy,
Forgot to say I carved the hollow out with either a woodcarving chisel or a a grinder. Too long ago to remember.