We have been a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation for many years and really have gotten to know our feathered visitors quite well.

My wife has kept a naturalist and garden journal for many years and it is uncanny how she can predict the arrivals and departures of plants and animals near our habitat. Nature has its own clock and despite what we think, there is an order to the environment and natural world.

To reinforce what I am saying, I will relate a story to my readers as an unofficial, but true proof of these events.

Last weekend, the arrival of May occurred and I awoke to hear the sound of water boiling on the stove. When asked what she was making so early in the day, my wife replied that she was getting ready for the Orioles and Hummingbirds by making a syrup for their feeders.

“How do you know they will be around this weekend?” I asked. Her reply was simple, “It’s that time of the season and my journal says that they will arrive.”

The mixture was made and then cooled in a pitcher in the refrigerator for their hanging feeders. Later in the day, the feeders were ready to hang and were put out for the birds. It wasn’t long before the birds came to the feeders, first were the Baltimore Orioles, then the Orchard Orioles and then the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. Just like clockwork, they returned to the habitat.

This year, we have really observed an abundance of bird life, in fact, we have seen many unusual species in our yard habitat.

The normal species we observe regularly include Blue Jays, Tufted Titmouse, Dark Eyed Juncos, Northern Cardinals, Gold Finches, Purple Finches, White-breasted Nuthatches, Robins, Red Winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallows and Mourning Doves.

The special visitors that are visiting us include Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, Eastern Bluebirds, Kill Deer, Orchard Orioles, Gray Catbirds, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Chipping Sparrows, Towhees, Indigo Bunting, Rufous Sided Towhees, Eastern Wild Turkey and Brown Thrashers. I am sure that we have many more species flitting in and out, but who has the time and expertise to identify them all as there are many birds of the field, forest and garden visiting our habitat.

This year, I made an effort to make some brush piles for nesting sites, left old dead snags standing and in general tried to keep some favorable habitat for tree cavity loving creatures. It must have paid off as I have noticed the entire line up of woodpeckers in the area as well.

The Pileated, Downy, Red-Headed, Red-Bellied, and Hairy Woodpeckers have all been regular visitors and a family of the Downy Woodpeckers have been bringing in their young to the suet blocks.

We do have some very unusual experiences with the bird life as well. In the early hours of the day, I often hear the Wood Ducks’ distinctive call between our trees and the wetlands of our neighbors, the Beran’s. Bob and Pat have developed a wetland habitat that has brought in many marsh loving birds such as Canada goose, Wood Ducks, Mallards, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron and I believe a Belted Kingfisher.

Bob is much more tuned into his Marsh and Water Birds, so I am sure that there are plenty more that I have missed.

What started out as a lark (no pun intended) has turned into an educational enriching past-time and a great time to do some beneficial social distancing. If you have some older folks or kids, they can start a journal or a simple list of the birdlife that they observe each day.

It helps to have a feeder or an area that draws birds as well. We gifted some young friends a bird feeder set for their home and they often update us of the wildlife that visits the feeders. They at least can now identify the difference between a Blue Jay and a Bluebird!

Hunting fatalities

The PA Game Commission released their annual hunting statistics for hunter safety and hunting accidents in 2019. It was bad news, the number of hunting related shooting fatalities in Pennsylvania went up. Altogether there were 26 hunting-related shooting injuries of which four were fatal.

Last year, there was only one death, which set a statewide safety mark. Even one death or accident is too many.

I say wear orange coming and going in the woods and make sure of your target!

Until we meet again, do get tuned into nature and keep a watchful eye out for some new wildlife coming for a visit … be safe and healthy!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle