The first time we visited KY was nearly ten years ago, and a memory from that trip that makes us laugh when we recall it involves trying to figure out the source of a weird sound we kept hearing. It was a low, constantly-occurring, almost electrical buzzing, like high-tension power lines. But there weren’t power lines around where we kept hearing it.
We were determined to find the source of that noise. The sound clearly came from overhead, in the tree canopy. While there were no likely suspects – birds? – to be seen, there were owl statues in the trees. Hmm…could there be speakers in or around the fake owls emitting those sounds to scare off birds?
While that hypothesis seemed plausible to a couple of out-of-towners, we were totally off the mark. An internet search revealed that insects were the source of the sound. With the culprit identified, we set about trying to find one. Continue reading “Cicadas Make An Appearance”
In the PNW, you can find mushrooms in your lawn, growing on trees (and, if you have a moisture problem, even in your house). Mushrooms like it soggy – think dripping moss in the rainforest soggy. Slow-moving giant slug slime soggy. Squishy, oozing mud soggy.
As the pullets begin to lay, we keep finding oddities in the nest boxes. Today’s find is one we haven’t seen before – not a rubber egg, a giant egg, a fart egg, or eggs with seams, wrinkles, or striations – this one looks like it has a stem.
The second group of incubator ducklings (the “gang of five”) has been spending time among the juveniles and adult ducks. It’s entertaining to watch their interactions with the older ducks and drakes. The ducklings are quick to defend their territory against intruders (the curious adults and teens), “biting” back at exploring bills poked through the exercise pen. Good thing wire separates them.
The adult Muscovies have been lodging in the chicken coop for the past couple of weeks. It’s amazing that they knew it was time to leave the small coop to Phoebe, who only has a week to go until hatch day; one evening, we went to round everyone up and we discovered that the adults had all just moved into the chicken coop. Clever creatures. Phoebe’s in the “grumpy broody” phase, and they must have known it was coming.