Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Backyard Biodiversity Challenge #3 - Mammals and More

How are you doing with your birds?

Since I last posted, I've noticed American robins and collared doves (which were around earlier in the winter, I just didn't notice them the days I was looking around the yard). A new bird for the year is the Yellow-headed Blackbird. They are so colorful. It's too bad they're not found in Indiana, as with their black and yellow coloring they are perfect for Purdue.

If you need help identifying birds, there are several great websites, including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Anyway, keep recording your birds. Your list should grow substantially over the next few weeks!

And here's Backyard Biodiversity Challenge #3:
What mammals, amphibians, and fish live in or visit your backyard?

It might be hard to see the mammals, but perhaps you can find sign of them. Rabbit pellets? Raccoons knocking over garbage cans? Gopher holes? Mouse droppings in the garage?

Are you hearing any spring peepers? This is a great time of year to listen for frogs.

Unless you have a pond or stream in your backyard, it might be difficult to get anything from this class of organisms. But hey, once in awhile it's nice to have an easy category!

3 comments:

I Am Woody said...

Our apartment complex has a stray cat or two running around. And some really great snails! But other than that, I haven't seen any animals. Unless you count the gang-bangers...

phil said...

gamble quail, rabbits, valley quail,One old and one younge bobcat, a group of javelinas, some scattered rattlesnakes,a pair of nesting owls, lots of doves and catus wrens,house finches, hummingbirds,sparrows, two grackels,a pair of ravens..and anything else that wonders in from the desert.

Desert Survivor said...

@Incredible--I suppose gang-bangers are a life form!

@Phil--what a wonderful backyard you have! Those bobcats sound really neat. Do you know what kind of owls you have?

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