So, had to run Toni and Liza up to Lake Oswego to the bird doc. Beautiful day for the 8 hour round trip. Traffic wasn't too bad, cops were out on I5.
Took Toni up a week early because she started to lose weight again. Her tests didn't look too bad but she put her on Enulose for life and 30 days on a second antibiotic. Hopefully she'll start to gain weight. She's a veracious eater, well, yeah, she's an Amazon, they are usually good eaters. So, just needs to get her body to make use of those nutrients.
Took Liza up for a quick look at her picking. Fall is hard on them as they go through the molt. We're trying some thing new, a topical. Topical ointments are hard on birds because like cats, they lick it off. We'll see. Parrot's don't belong in cages, they belong in the wild. But, they're here, so you have to try to make their stay as comfortable and happy as possible. With some, not so easy.
Decided to stop at McD's on the way home in order to try to stop the low blood sugar that happened on the last trip. Usually I get the small hamburger, apples and ice tea, about 300 calories. Decided, that wasn't going to be enough, so got a Frappe and one of these new Angus burgers. I guess those things are 1/3 pound of meat. You have got to be kidding me. There was enough there to feed me all week! At least I didn't get any fries. I munched on it from Wilsonville to Eugene. My GOD, no wonder we're the fattest nation in the world.
Well, I didn't have a sugar crash, made it all the way home, bright and alert.
28 September 2010
24 September 2010
Never Static
I decided to go see what changes have taken place along the upper Deschutes since I was there a few days ago. Things are changing so fast. I absolutely love that walk/ride, it's never the same twice. Today I rode my Arab gelding, hoping that not having the dogs would help in getting wildlife photo's.
There were lots of Gray Jays or what I've always called Camp Jays, Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, a Red Tail Hawk, two Cranes and two Bald Eagles. We saw a doe trying to find some where to hide and lots of elk track. We came around one corner and down on the river sitting on a log were about 20 ducks, all in a row. They were very skitish and the second they heard us they took off, so didn't get a photo.
There were several fisherpeople on the river. I had to laugh, 3 days ago the fish would have practically been jumping in their boats. Today, apparently the mosquito population is down and there weren't many jumping.
There was a Hawk flying over them, but, I just couldn't get a shot of it.
At one point, a fishing boat with an outboard engine moved through an area causing 2 cranes to take flight, one of them very noisy in it's complaint about being bothered. They also flushed a Bald Eagle.
I watched that eagle hoping it would land and I'd be able to get a photo. It did land and Taro and I rode to the area that I thought it should be. Lot's of branches and it was well hidden. Just as I was about to give up, I saw it. She was sitting in a way that made it difficult for her to watch us, so she turned around. LOL, either direction, I'm happy with the photo! Darn, I LOVE that walk.
There were lots of Gray Jays or what I've always called Camp Jays, Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, a Red Tail Hawk, two Cranes and two Bald Eagles. We saw a doe trying to find some where to hide and lots of elk track. We came around one corner and down on the river sitting on a log were about 20 ducks, all in a row. They were very skitish and the second they heard us they took off, so didn't get a photo.
There was a Hawk flying over them, but, I just couldn't get a shot of it.
At one point, a fishing boat with an outboard engine moved through an area causing 2 cranes to take flight, one of them very noisy in it's complaint about being bothered. They also flushed a Bald Eagle.
22 September 2010
Cycle of Life
The gang and I decided to do our favorite walk for the last full day of summer. The upper Deschutes was quiet, you could see, hear and feel the change in season's taking place. Last week the river was high and running fast, yesterday, slow and lazy. Obviously they have closed the gates at Wickiup to start filling her up for next spring.
As we started the walk, it was sooo quiet. Usually there is a constant background noise of birds and squirrel's. Yesterday, they were there, but rather than a crowded room with the constant noise where you have to strain to make out any single conversation, it was an almost empty room with just a few stragglers left behind and you could hear their every word.
The river was low and slow with large mats of algae that hadn't been there a week ago. Wow, it grows fast. The low water had made ideal conditions for mosquitoes. Oh, how nice, now I have to make sure I include the bug spray in the backpack. The fish were doing their best to keep the mosquito population down, jumping up out of the water, taking advantage of the fresh feast. I've never seen so many fish jumping.
We walked the 2 1/2 miles of river up to a bend where the ducks will be congregating soon, but no ducks, nothing. So, quiet. On the way back we stopped and sat at a favorite S in the river. Quiet, yes, at first glance. There were of course fish jumping every where, then the dogs flushed two cranes. Oh, cool, I thought, then I looked to my left to see a Bald Eagle flying up the river, passing right in front of me, unconcerned by our presence on his/her hunting grounds. Oh, WAY cool! Sooo beautiful! No picture, even if I'd had the camera at the ready I doubt I could have gotten it. After the Eagle flew by a flock of ducks sitting unseen in the algae patch close by took flight.
Ah, so, the cycle of life, the hunter and the hunted, the fish hunt the mosquitos and the Eagle hunt the fish and . . . so it goes.
Later, away from the river we saw a hawk like bird flying low through the trees. It landed, but, with the dogs in tow, I couldn't get close enough to get a good look to see what it was. Probably a Red Tail, but don't know for sure.
A nice afternoon walk to center and lighten the soul.
As we started the walk, it was sooo quiet. Usually there is a constant background noise of birds and squirrel's. Yesterday, they were there, but rather than a crowded room with the constant noise where you have to strain to make out any single conversation, it was an almost empty room with just a few stragglers left behind and you could hear their every word.
The river was low and slow with large mats of algae that hadn't been there a week ago. Wow, it grows fast. The low water had made ideal conditions for mosquitoes. Oh, how nice, now I have to make sure I include the bug spray in the backpack. The fish were doing their best to keep the mosquito population down, jumping up out of the water, taking advantage of the fresh feast. I've never seen so many fish jumping.
We walked the 2 1/2 miles of river up to a bend where the ducks will be congregating soon, but no ducks, nothing. So, quiet. On the way back we stopped and sat at a favorite S in the river. Quiet, yes, at first glance. There were of course fish jumping every where, then the dogs flushed two cranes. Oh, cool, I thought, then I looked to my left to see a Bald Eagle flying up the river, passing right in front of me, unconcerned by our presence on his/her hunting grounds. Oh, WAY cool! Sooo beautiful! No picture, even if I'd had the camera at the ready I doubt I could have gotten it. After the Eagle flew by a flock of ducks sitting unseen in the algae patch close by took flight.
Ah, so, the cycle of life, the hunter and the hunted, the fish hunt the mosquitos and the Eagle hunt the fish and . . . so it goes.
Later, away from the river we saw a hawk like bird flying low through the trees. It landed, but, with the dogs in tow, I couldn't get close enough to get a good look to see what it was. Probably a Red Tail, but don't know for sure.
A nice afternoon walk to center and lighten the soul.
18 September 2010
Well, Hello Stranger!
In the 11 years that I've lived here, I have never seen a Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma califorinica) in my yard. Stellar's Jay's, yes, but never a Scrub Jay. My yard in the Rogue Valley ALWAYS had Scrub Jay's, to the point that my parrots would mimic their fighting. So, look who came to visit today!
15 September 2010
Cyanocitta stelleri
As I said before, it is clear that the season's are changing when the Steller's Jays come to visit. With the loose seed feeders gone, the Pine Siskin's are down to a small trickle, sharing the suet mostly with the Chickadee's and Nuthatches a few at a time rather than a hundred at a time.
There is at least one Hairy Woodpecker coming in but I haven't been able to get a picture yet as it seems to manage to always hang on the backside of the suet. Robins and Jays are also coming in for suet and water and I was able to get a photo of one of the Jays. They are a handsome bird. Noisy and bossy but handsome.
There is at least one Hairy Woodpecker coming in but I haven't been able to get a picture yet as it seems to manage to always hang on the backside of the suet. Robins and Jays are also coming in for suet and water and I was able to get a photo of one of the Jays. They are a handsome bird. Noisy and bossy but handsome.
11 September 2010
Gang's Day Out
Last week the gang and I went up to Johnny Lake to play around. It's a smallish lake and we walked all the way around it. I forgot to take my camera but as it turned out, there wasn't much in the way of beaches for the dogs to go for a swim. They, Sarah and Jack, did play in the water while Bay Li tried to keep his feet dry while greeting some other people with their dogs.
Today we went to their favorite watering hole, the upper Deschutes. As you can see, Sarah and Jack took to the water again, but Bay Li was well up on the bank watching. Jack really had fun, doing some real swimming, had me worried at one point as he went quite a ways out. Sarah decided to be a bit more cautious. You would have thought the Labrador would be chasing the stick, but, no, it was the obsessive compulsive JRT.
It was a bit warmer than I expected and we were all a bit tired. Not a lot of bird activity, kinda in between right now, but I did see a hawk playing on the thermals and two other birds so high that I wasn't sure what they were, but they were playing up there on the thermals, coming together and separating and diving and gliding. Probably a couple youngsters practicing for next spring when it will mean some thing. LOL.
Life marches on!
Bird Feeders
The Pine Siskin's have finished off the bird seed, a combination of thistle seed and shelled sunflower seed. I removed the feeders and hung a second suet container. The waves of Siskin's are gone, replaced by Red Breasted Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadee's.
I kinda miss the large flocks but, my oh my, they can get to be a bit much. The Nuthatches and Chickadee's come in more reasonable numbers. I have two types of suet out there and each hanger usually only has 2 birds at a timed. In the afternoon I occasionally see Robin's and Stellar Jay's taking a bite or two. There is also a White Breasted Nuthatch or two that come in, but mostly it's the Red Breasted.
I think they are relieved that the Pine Siskin's are gone. It was like a big mob and only a few others birds would venture in. It is a bit quieter with them gone and I did rather enjoy their chatter. They sure did move on quickly, though I see some out there getting a drink.
The bird bath has been completely frozen the last two mornings. I may have to look for a heater, other wise I'll have to cover the bath for the winter. I've had that bath for 20 years and I'd hate for it to crack.
Well, I have some hooves to trim and about 2 cord of wood left to split. Did appreciate Dale and Dave stopping by to help on the wood the other day. Every little bit helps. Ah, better get busy.
I kinda miss the large flocks but, my oh my, they can get to be a bit much. The Nuthatches and Chickadee's come in more reasonable numbers. I have two types of suet out there and each hanger usually only has 2 birds at a timed. In the afternoon I occasionally see Robin's and Stellar Jay's taking a bite or two. There is also a White Breasted Nuthatch or two that come in, but mostly it's the Red Breasted.
I think they are relieved that the Pine Siskin's are gone. It was like a big mob and only a few others birds would venture in. It is a bit quieter with them gone and I did rather enjoy their chatter. They sure did move on quickly, though I see some out there getting a drink.
The bird bath has been completely frozen the last two mornings. I may have to look for a heater, other wise I'll have to cover the bath for the winter. I've had that bath for 20 years and I'd hate for it to crack.
Well, I have some hooves to trim and about 2 cord of wood left to split. Did appreciate Dale and Dave stopping by to help on the wood the other day. Every little bit helps. Ah, better get busy.
04 September 2010
Hmm, Maybe a bit much.
No question as to whether the Pine Siskin's have found a good deal or not. Being a finch, they tend to flock and boy are they flocking in to the feeders I put out and when done eating, they quite like the bird bath.
There must have been close to a hundred out there this morning. They come in waves. Don't know if it's the same birds coming and going or if each wave is a new group of birds but you have to feel a bit sorry for the other birds. The Junco's have given up but the Chickadees and Nuthatches try to time their visits in between waves. One Chickadee in particular persists on coming in for his/her fair share.
Then there was the ground squirrel perched on the $7 feeder this morning. His cheeks full to bursting. When I went out to move the feeder so it wouldn't be quite so easy, he sat there stuffing as much in as he could then tried to run off. Lucky for him I didn't take the dogs with me. After I moved the feeder the little dirt mover was climbing up and down the tree trying to figure out where the feeder had gone. I knew last night that the squirrels were having a hay day when I saw the feeder was empty. I moved it over on the Aspen with the other feeder. The squirrels don't seem to like to climb it, though they are coming in to feed at the base. Gotta get a live trap!
Okay, I really enjoy the birds and the sound of their activity outside the window, but, really, this may be a bit much. Especially with the ground squirrels. They are doing so much damage. The birds lighten my soul and the ground squirrel's darken it. When this batch of feed is gone, that's it, back to being an Oger. Though I might leave the suet out, it's not so messy.
Then there was the ground squirrel perched on the $7 feeder this morning. His cheeks full to bursting. When I went out to move the feeder so it wouldn't be quite so easy, he sat there stuffing as much in as he could then tried to run off. Lucky for him I didn't take the dogs with me. After I moved the feeder the little dirt mover was climbing up and down the tree trying to figure out where the feeder had gone. I knew last night that the squirrels were having a hay day when I saw the feeder was empty. I moved it over on the Aspen with the other feeder. The squirrels don't seem to like to climb it, though they are coming in to feed at the base. Gotta get a live trap!
Okay, I really enjoy the birds and the sound of their activity outside the window, but, really, this may be a bit much. Especially with the ground squirrels. They are doing so much damage. The birds lighten my soul and the ground squirrel's darken it. When this batch of feed is gone, that's it, back to being an Oger. Though I might leave the suet out, it's not so messy.
Sugar Rush
Had to drive to Portland yesterday. Didn't realize until I had started that it was a long weekend. Oh, no I thought, that means the drive home will be bumper to bumper as I'll be leaving PDX the same time every one else does.
Turned out it wasn't all that bad. Was surprised that the traffic going into PDX was pretty close to the speed limit. I've done that drive when the traffic is moving at 80 mph plus from about Eugene on, so, hovering between 65 and 70 was rather novel. Figured people were worried about extra police presence for the weekend.
I had to take Toni, my Blue Front Amazon to the avian vet. I have tried and tried to find a vet in central Oregon that I can trust with my kids when they are really sick, but when an emergency hits, I know with out a doubt that Dr. Litner can handle it. She saved Liza Cockatoo's life when the local vet said to put her down and she saved Toni's life a couple years ago when her liver started to fail. So, only one place to go when Toni needed help.
Toni had been to the local vet about two weeks ago and I had not been pleased with the experience. It was just for a nail trimming, nothing wrong. The vet had taken Toni in the back room, closed the door, did what he did and then returned her. I've been to a lot of avian vets and that's the first time one has insisted on doing their work in private. Toni came back traumatized and that was it for me, back to Dr. Litner in PDX, 8 hour of driving or not.
Anyway, Toni's pancreas is failing and she has an infection. It's not good, but she's a fighter. She is the sweetest bird. Dr. Litner laughed and said that "sweet" was not an adjective she often heard to with respect to any Amazon. Well, the challenge right now is getting the medication in her twice a day. We used Cheerios and yogurt this morning.
We managed to get out of Dr. Litner's by noon, stopped by Safeway to get some ice for the medicine and a sandwich for me. Good sandwich! The traffic was heavy, but moving pretty well. Around Eugene I started getting pretty tired. As I headed up 58, it really hit me, I could hardly keep my eyes open.
I was so glad to get to Oakridge. Got gas and stocked up on sugar. A large Starbucks and a couple of candy bars. Thank goodness for sugar, I'd never have made it home. The sugar lasted me until I got home a bit after 4pm, then I crashed. I think it was a combination crash, a bit, you didn't get enough sleep last night, a bit, worry and a bit sugar crash.
Have to take Toni back in a month.
Turned out it wasn't all that bad. Was surprised that the traffic going into PDX was pretty close to the speed limit. I've done that drive when the traffic is moving at 80 mph plus from about Eugene on, so, hovering between 65 and 70 was rather novel. Figured people were worried about extra police presence for the weekend.
I had to take Toni, my Blue Front Amazon to the avian vet. I have tried and tried to find a vet in central Oregon that I can trust with my kids when they are really sick, but when an emergency hits, I know with out a doubt that Dr. Litner can handle it. She saved Liza Cockatoo's life when the local vet said to put her down and she saved Toni's life a couple years ago when her liver started to fail. So, only one place to go when Toni needed help.
Toni had been to the local vet about two weeks ago and I had not been pleased with the experience. It was just for a nail trimming, nothing wrong. The vet had taken Toni in the back room, closed the door, did what he did and then returned her. I've been to a lot of avian vets and that's the first time one has insisted on doing their work in private. Toni came back traumatized and that was it for me, back to Dr. Litner in PDX, 8 hour of driving or not.
Anyway, Toni's pancreas is failing and she has an infection. It's not good, but she's a fighter. She is the sweetest bird. Dr. Litner laughed and said that "sweet" was not an adjective she often heard to with respect to any Amazon. Well, the challenge right now is getting the medication in her twice a day. We used Cheerios and yogurt this morning.
We managed to get out of Dr. Litner's by noon, stopped by Safeway to get some ice for the medicine and a sandwich for me. Good sandwich! The traffic was heavy, but moving pretty well. Around Eugene I started getting pretty tired. As I headed up 58, it really hit me, I could hardly keep my eyes open.
I was so glad to get to Oakridge. Got gas and stocked up on sugar. A large Starbucks and a couple of candy bars. Thank goodness for sugar, I'd never have made it home. The sugar lasted me until I got home a bit after 4pm, then I crashed. I think it was a combination crash, a bit, you didn't get enough sleep last night, a bit, worry and a bit sugar crash.
Have to take Toni back in a month.
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