Sitting down at the computer, this Jumping Spider (Salticidae) paid me a visit. I escorted it out the backdoor. In fact, a great way to start the day!
Gracie’s walk was predawn. Indeed, the waning crescent moon and Venus were bright! Furthermore, the mockingbird was doing its version of a Broadway medley. LOL. Among its medleys were bluebirds, Great Crested Flycatcher, and even a weak Red-tailed Hawk call to mention a few. Quite the songster! So later in the walk I saw a Common Nighthawk and cardinals.
Next, a Tawny Emperor. lights on the window pane. The Tawny lays its eggs stacked in a pile. Its caterpillar looks very similar to its cousin, the Hackberry Emperor. with its ‘reindeer like antlers‘. Its face can be dark like in the link or green. Both butterflies’ host plant is the Hackberry tree. However, the Tawny is more of late season person and feeds on the older tough leaves. The young caterpillars are gregarious. In late fall, the half grown cats will overwinter inside a Hackberry leaf. So consider not raking those leaves to send to the landfill.
The nine-banded armadillo is a lovely addition to our region in North Texas. The armadillo did not arrive here until the early 1950’s in Wise County.(pers. comm -Joe England). It is a generalist feeder that includes many invertebrates like beetles, wasps, fire ants, snails and grubs to mention a few. It will also on occasion included in its diet small reptiles and eggs of birds and reptiles. And even to a smaller extent fruit, seeds, fungi and other plant matter. Rosie, our dog before Gracie, used to catch the juvies and proudly bring them to us. It was pretty cute 🙂
A map of the armadillo range in 1942 (Principle Game Birds and Mammals of Texas, 1945). Besides being an interesting map, the book said that they were once consumed as food for poorer folks.. Additionally, the armadillo shells were sold as ornamental baskets in Colorado County for 25 cents each in 1925 to 1926.
Last week our mockingbird did a Canyon Wren. When I heard it, I got so excited as I had not seen or heard one here in years. As soon as I heard the first call, the mockingbird changed to another call and then I realized it was a hoax!
LOTS of people kill armadillos down here. I just can’t do that. We instead put chicken wire along the lower 2 ft of the orchard fence, the cabin yard and a couple other places where I just can’t have them coming in uprooting plants and rearranging expensive mulch. Now when I see one I can just enjoy!! A couple months ago I caught a young one and we posed for pictures. That was really cool.
The mocker certainly has fooled and disappointed me when I find that it is not the exciting bird I thought it was going to be. 😉 I bet they don’t eat ‘dillos either 🙁 Where the pic?
I love the chick fearlessly jumping into the sea. Truly brave. And armadillos are special. Amazingly strong. Too many people kill them.
Strong is right!
Last week our mockingbird did a Canyon Wren. When I heard it, I got so excited as I had not seen or heard one here in years. As soon as I heard the first call, the mockingbird changed to another call and then I realized it was a hoax!
LOTS of people kill armadillos down here. I just can’t do that. We instead put chicken wire along the lower 2 ft of the orchard fence, the cabin yard and a couple other places where I just can’t have them coming in uprooting plants and rearranging expensive mulch. Now when I see one I can just enjoy!! A couple months ago I caught a young one and we posed for pictures. That was really cool.
The mocker certainly has fooled and disappointed me when I find that it is not the exciting bird I thought it was going to be. 😉 I bet they don’t eat ‘dillos either 🙁 Where the pic?