Trego's Mountain Ear

Our lawn has became a favored spot for wildlife – Gander has made the decision that it’s a good place for short flights of his gosling trainees – maybe 15 to 25 feet from takeoff to landing as they first begin to learn to fly from a running start.  That’s the mornings for the youngest flocks – the older goslings are now into full flights to nearby lakes and return flights.  It’s impressive to wander through the field and see how many of the seed heads they have harvested from the grass.

Evenings are becoming the domain of fawns – with the water from the Spring rains, the grass in the hayfield is too tall for good sporting runs by fawns, so the short grass on the lawn provides a better place for their cavorting – even if the doe would prefer they stay further from the house.  Last night the twins’ run included the cat, who was fast, but not particularly pleased.  While he did run from the fawns, he seemed to lack an appreciation for his inclusion as he went under the porch.  The little dog barks at the vehicles stopping by the pond – one doe has left her fawn in the tall grass between the water and the pond, and the little fellow keeps stepping out onto the road.  I appreciate the drivers who stop.

The cat’s specialty is voles.  While I am thinking about setting out my vole bait stations, he seems to have made a real dent in their population.  The voles take to the water like miniature muskrats, so I think part of the vole problem is that the pond provides a great habitat.  The marsh hawk (Northern Harrier is the up-to-date name) also does his best for vole control.   The hawk’s life is becoming easier as I mow the hayfield and reduce the vole’s cover.