Spring in SoCal. Pix of wildlife (dial-up warning)

[Gold Metal Flake]

Today was an interesting day for local wildlife. It is now spring in SoCal, and the critters are coming out.

Shortly after we had grass installed in the backyard, we have been visited regularly at night by rabbits. Over the years the number has increased, along with the damage. Last year it was so bad that areas became permanently damaged, and we didn’t have to mow sections for months. So, I decided to try to discourage them.

After trying to get the dog interested in chasing them in the evenings (she’s not really into it, only runs around and then asks for a treat), trying coyote urine (pricey, no effect) and a motion-activated sprinkler (they got used to it) I decided to start trapping them and transporting them a few miles away. This morning we had our first catch.



Later today, Ms. OR was working in the backyard as I was working on the truck. The boy ran up all excited and took me over to see that Ms. OR was holding a lizard. It had been in a bucket but looked OK for the experience, if a little clingy. This is not unusual, except for the fact that Ms. OR actually picked up a lizard.

Our lizards here are not the pretty anoles that I grew up with, but they have their own charm.




Only moments after that episode was concluded, more excited shouts went up. I had heard from the fam about a mysterious white crane that had moved into the neighborhood, but had never seen it. Today, it perched for a moment on the hill behind the house. I wish I had a better camera with more zoom. After I snapped it, it took off and soared over the house. A very big and magnificent bird, and unusual in the Santa Clarita Valley.

[alarimer]

1. Cool

I think the last picture is a heron, not a crane. But still a cool bird, if a lot more common.

But then we had a swan here (S. Texas) the other day. Not it's usual habitat.

[Gold Metal Flake]

3. A heron!

Either way, it's big, pure white and very cool. This would be it's second season here, so it must be thriving.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Nice wildlife.

It's good that the rabbit is in a havaheart trap rather than eating its way through the yard too. We had a ground squirrel move in last Spring and we had to trap and move the foolish thing TWICE. We also managed to trap several very annoyed blue jays who found the plum bait very tempting.

The bird in the last shot looks like a Great Egret. They're 4-5 feet tall and magnificent in flight.

My NorCal spring has sprung -- the daffodils are blooming all over the yard.

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. Egret?

I'll have to send the pix around to some wildlife folks to see. I don't think it's 4" tall, but the wingspan must be five feet.

I had no idea you could trap blue jays. I think this particular rabbit might come back, as I did not take it to the place that I will take others trapped on weeknights. There is a state park area on the way to work which is about 8 miles away. It would be some time before a bunny might find it's way back from there without a little bunny map or something.

[petronius]

7. Yes, that's a Great Egret

Although I think the preferred name now is Common Egret...

[Gold Metal Flake]

8. Damn. Everything gets devalued in Bush'd America.

Even the Great Egret had to take a job cut.

Thanks for the ID! :hi:

On edit...



That's what it looked like flying over the house.

Does it know it's better than us?

[Gormy Cuss]

11. I wasn't trying to trap the jays -- they're just too curious

and couldn't resist the chance for a piece of their favorite fruit. Each time I released one the bird flew to the roof of a nearby shed and screeched for a solid five minutes while staring at me.
I like jays, as annoying as they are at times.

[spindrifter]

5. You need a dog like mine!

A German shorthaired pointer would run the furbritches off your rabbits.

[Gold Metal Flake]

6. My terrier was quite enthusiastic about it.

Poor dear, she's gone now. The German Shepard Dog just has no heart for it.

I love the German Shorthair Pointer. In fact, most hunting dogs make great pets.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Oooh, I love your pics, and the stories too!

Have you had any snakes? :scared:

I can deal happily with the other critters, but not those!

Thanks for posting these!

:hug:

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. Ms. Peggy!

:hug:!

I saw your new car thread but had not yet replied. Congrats! :party: I look forward to the pix!

These pix were taken with an old Sony Mavica on loan. The one that uses 3.5" floppies.

I have not yet seen any snakes this spring. They don't bother me, but we are always on the lookout for rattlers. Those are a problem. Otherwise the snakes around here are generally beneficial. We could use some, as a rat decided to chew on some containers I was using to store some used veg oil (that I use for fuelling the little diesel pickup) and created an oil slick on my paved side yard. :mad:

[bertha katzenengel]

12. Great photos!

Santa Clarita, eh? Meet an alum of The Master's College. :hi: (Although when I was a student, it was still Los Angeles Baptist College.)

[zanne]

13. In MA, the daffodils are up!

What an incredibly strange thing to see. In midwinter. In Massachusetts. Holy shit.