Our Fine Feathered Friends

We have a number of birds that have decided not to migrate south over the winter, but stay with us the entire year. Some of these have been shown previously like the Cardinal and the Carolina Wren. The following five pictures show some more of these birds.

The Blue Jay

The Blue Jay is the only eastern jay and the only blue-winged jay with white on wings and tail. Common call familiar to everyone is the loud jay, jay. The Blue Jay is about 10" in length.

The Red-Breasted Nuthatch

This is our only nuthatch with a white stripe above and a black stripe through the eye. The Red-Breasted Nuthatch is smaller than a sparrow, about 4" long. Their call is a tiny yank, yank, higher pitched and more nasal than the call of the White-Breasted Nuthatch.

A Male and Female House Finch

These birds are common at our bird feeders and like to sit their for up to 5 minutes if another bird doesn't drive them off their perch. The House Finch is about 5" long, with the male having the red plumage around the head and throat while the female is brown in color. They like to sing for long periods of time in a clear warble.

The Black-Capped Chickadee

The Black-Capped Chickadee has markings similar to the White-Breasted Nuthatch, but is shorter and stockier, being about 4" long. It is easily attracted to bird feeders and is quite tame. It's call can be a buzzy chick-a-dee-dee-dee or a clear, whistled fee-bee, the second note is 1 full tone lower.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch

The White-Breasted Nuthatch is 6" in length an is often observed creeping on tree trunks, often downward headfirst. Their call is a low yank, yank and can sing with 5-15 low rapid notes given every 10 minutes.

Amish Country

Living in Holmes County, Ohio means that one lives within the largest Amish community in the world. The city of Mt. Hope is the center of activities holding a weekly auction where one can buy or sell most any kind of farm animals plus garden produce in season. The more conservative Amish (Swartzentrubers, Old Order, and New Order) are characterized by the use of horse drawn buggies and farm equipment. The following seven photographs capture the Amish use of horses in their everyday lives.

He delights not in the strength of the horse; He takes not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in mercy. Psalm 147:10-11.

Amish Buggies, One-Horse Hitch

The Amish in Holmes County, Ohio only have black buggies in contrast to the Amish in Pennsylvania and Indiana where gray buggies and black buggies may be seen. Most (99%) of these buggies are pulled by a single horse as shown in this picture. During the day women with their children (this lady has her baby in her arms) are frequently seen on the roads going visiting their neighbors or going to a local bulk food store. The horses are Standard Bred, mostly trotters, but some pacers. Some of the Amish purchase their horses from race tracks when the horses are judged to be too slow for a racing career while those with multiple buggies and horses are more likely to raise their own horses. Note the solar panel on the roof. The more conservative Amish do not have electricity in their homes, but solar power or battery power is acceptable.

Amish School Bus, Two-Horse Hitch

School is out early in Amish country so that the children can be home to help with the Spring plowing and planting. Their schools take one day for Thanksgiving and Christmas, have no Spring breaks or teachers conferences, etc. This picture was taken on April 11, 2008 which marked the last day of school and was celebrated by a picnic and a hay ride on this wagon. Amish prefer these Belgian horses which are best suited for heavy pulling. They aren't as classy looking as the Clydesdale horses, but are better workers, are gentle and even tempered. The Belgian horses weigh in at 2000 to 2400 pounds as compared to the Standard Bred buggy horses which weigh about 1000 pounds.

Three-Horse Hitch

Spring plowing begins as early as weather permits. This was a cool, windy day, but the sun was out and plowing with these three horses was underway.

Four-Horse Hitch - Percherons

Another kind of horse seen locally, but infrequently, is the Percheron. They are normally black, but can be gray or a mixture of black and gray. They stand taller than the more commonly used Belgians.

Four-Horse Hitch - Belgians

This young man is disking the field with his Belgian horses.

Five-Horse Hitch

This five horse hitch is taking a breather while the farmer unhooks the plow before heading back to the house and barn for lunch time.

Six-Horse Hitch, Three Abreast

There are a few of the Amish that use a six horse hitch with three abreast. The farmer explained that having just three abreast meant that the horses weren't walking in the plowed or disked ground (and thus packing it down) as much as they would if they were six abreast.

Looking Back at Winter

We have enjoyed a week of Spring weather with temperatures in the 60's and one day it reached 70. It doesn't seem possible that a month ago we had nearly 20" of snow and the lake was frozen. This series of pictures shows some of the winter scenes that we enjoyed. The first picture is taken from the back of our house looking down at the lake. Our pontoon boat is suspended from the covered slip. The lake is lowered during the winter months to prevent the ice from damaging the docks and to give people an opportunity to work on their docks or to build new ones. It is nice when one is on the inside looking out, but a little less enjoyable when one has to get out and plow the driveway. However, there is always hope for those of us living in the northern states based on God's promise in Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and that day and night shall not cease."

Winter Wonder Land

Snow Storm

Hanging On

A Carolina Wren enjoying some suet and adding some energy to enable him to make it through the snow storm.

Gathering of the Cardinals

Brrrrrr Rabbit?

Protection from the Snow

A gray squirrel enjoying a black walnut with his tail providing some protection.

Mute Swan

The Mute Swan can be distinguished from other swans such as the Trumpeter Swan and the Tundra Swan by the orange beak. This lone Mute Swan was on the lake on April 7, 2008. We were out on the lake in our pontoon boat for the first time this year and came across the Mute Swan, some Canadian Geese, a Mallard and a domestic duck along the shore. As we approached, the Mute Swan started to walk away from us and then decided to lift off and flew about 300 yards before landing in the water. The following sequence of pictures shows these events. The Mute Swan is about 5' tall with a wing span approaching 8'. In flight it is a graceful bird with its long neck stretched out straight and its massive wings producing a humming sound. On land and in the water, the Mute Swan holds its neck in a graceful S-curve, unlike other kinds of swans which hold their necks straight. Also, the secondary feathers are often raised when it is swimming as seen in the last of these five pictures. The Mute Swan was introduced into Eastern North America from the Old Country and is therefore not native to our country.

Genesis 1:20-And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Mute Swan and Friends

Stepping Out

Taking Off

In Flight

Peaceful Swim

Mallards and Migratory Birds

The Mallard Duck enjoys our lake year around and families can be seen throughout the summer months. Migratory birds keep spending time at the lake, some just over night, while some stay for a week or more. A flock of American Coots has been with us for over two weeks. The next several posts show the Mallards and some new migratory birds.

Mallard

These two male Mallards are leaving quite a wake as they make their way across the lake. Mallards are on our lake year around, They are one of the most common ducks in our area of Northeastern Ohio. The male has the characteristic green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, grayish body, and a black tail with a white stripe. They range in length from 18-27" and have a wingspan up to 36". They are semi-domesticated and can be found on most bodies of water.

The Pied-Billed Grebe

Grebes are swimming and diving birds, smaller than loons, with flat lobes on their toes. Their short legs are far back on their bodies and their tails and wings are short. They hold their head low in flight which is weak and hurried. So it escapes danger by diving or by slowly sinking below the water's surface. The Pied-Billed Grebe likes shallow water and is rarely found in salt water. This is the most common nesting Grebe in the East. It is a small (length of 9-12"), solitary, stocky Grebe with a chicken-like bill which is white with a black ring around it during breeding season. The Pied-Billed Grebe is uniformly brownish with white under its tail.