A flurry of parties and picnics was on our agenda for the 4th of July weekend, but I still had some time for some repairs to the local bluebird trail bird boxes that were hit hard by weather and predators.

Keeping a log and an eye on a bluebird trail can take some time and can be both rewarding and heartbreaking. New nests with eggs and hatchlings raise your spirits while pilfered nests and destroyed boxes can bring you right back to earth with the harsh realities of nature.

Bluebirds don’t give up easily and they are all about trying again with a second round of nesting efforts.

I had pulled several boxes for repairs and was using my portable work bench (the tailgate of my chevy truck) to lay out the replacement wood and hardware for re-assembly. One box needed a new backing and another a new roof, but closer inspection told me a total box for next season would be the way to go, but quick repairs would work for now.

One box was mounted on a pipe and was bent over almost to a 90-degree angle, but I was able to straighten it up (almost). An inspection of the nest showed that bluebirds had indeed built the nest. To my surprise, there was a nice group of blue eggs in the nest and a pair of parent birds fluttering about resiliently.

I put some new metal U straps on another box on a pipe and my work was done in this location.

As I was working on another box, I heard an ominous crack that sounded vaguely familiar, yes, it was around the corner of my driveway out in the front yard … was it a daring daylight raid by raccoons or worse?

I slowly walked around the landscaping shrubs and noticed that my Redbud tree was missing. It had been ravaged by insects and disease and was on my list for removal, but our bird population loved to explore and stage their flights from it … so it stayed as a natural perch of sorts.

I walked closer and out around the plantings and was greeted by a large set of ears and a basketball-sized head raising up to look at me. I was way too close and stopped in my tracks … it was a bear and he had pulled the whole tree down to enjoy the cherry crunch suet that I had just purchased at Zanella’s Mill in West Sunbury.

It appears that all the wildlife enjoys it as we go through a cake a day as the baby woodpeckers have an affinity for it, too! He looked up at me and had that cherry crunch between his paws along with the tree branch and was licking it like ice cream.

I yelled out at him and tried to shoo him away from my front door area; he ignored me and kept at his work on the suet. It was only 10 a.m. and what a day I was having already.

I didn’t dare get any closer as I do know that a bear can run a lot faster than I can … and I wasn’t going to become one of those news shorts on the internet. I backed away and went for my trusty 350, 350 Chevy truck that is!

My plan was to drive over to the bear and direct him out of my yard. I was hoping that the truck would make him think twice. The plan sort of worked as I slowly pulled out into the yard and around the shrubs ... he got up and sized me up. Truck … bear … bear…truck, well, the truck won out and the bear left the tree laying down in the day lilies and went around the house again.

I drove over to the next corner, which has huge rhododendrons and was blocking my view. Once again, I had to get out of the safety of my truck to peer around them … nope, no bear. Then I saw him up under the pear tree laying down with his head resting on his paws, he saw me and was still trying to circle around the house.

I backed up the truck and went back to my original spot. He was now in the Hosta Garden and smelling my anti-deer proof spray, it probably smelled like perfume to him (phew!).

He apparently had enough of my defensive maneuvers and headed for my neighbors’ house, who never did see him as I checked on her. Good thing … Vilma’s in her 90’s and pretty gutsy. She wished that he would have visited her, too, but I was glad he chose the hay field instead of her back yard.

Another neighbor, Clay, and his dog showed up as they had heard all the commotion …good neighbors!

The bear gave some passersby’s a show as he sauntered over the road and back into the swamp bottoms. The PA Game Commission gives out good advice about bear-proofing your home and I guess we all better heed their words or expect a possible visit and likely damage from these powerful animals!

Until we meet again, watch for Cherry Crunch!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle