No Gobbling Yet in the Southwest Virginia Mountains (Blog 380)

For the past week or so, I have been listening a little more intently to the beginning signs of spring as the morning temperatures have been in the 50s. Two days ago,  this winter/spring, I heard a song sparrow singing its mating song for the first time. Cardinals have already broken into song and mourning doves are likewise in full-blown mating mood.

Our two Rhode Island Red roosters have increased the intensity of their morning skirmishes, even though their respective domains are separated by a wire fence. The two roosters often fling themselves against the fence and give each other the evil eye in this battle for one upsmanship.

Still, though, I have not heard the first gobble on our 38 acres in Botetourt County. While I was tending the chickens this morning, two turkey hens began yelping and cutting, and I was sure that a tom would respond to that. But none did. It won't be long, though, because I have at least two longbeards that roost on our land.

More Young Forests Needed in Virginia's National Forests (Blog 379)

This weekend, I am going hiking in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest with Wayne Thacker, chair of the Virginia Wildlife Habitat Coalition. This is a group from such Virginia  entities as the Bear Hunters Association, the Bowhunters Association, the Deer Hunters Association, the Hunting Dog Alliance, the State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation State Leadership Team, the State Advisory Council of the Quality Deer Management Association, and representatives from two Virginia Ruffed Grouse Chapters. 

We will be talking about the need for the creation of more young forests on the GWJNF as part of a Virginia Wildlife magazine story I am working on. Many people, both hunters and non-hunters, do not realize the importance of young forests and early succession habitat for many species of game and non-game wildlife.

A good publication on this is Talking about Young Forests, A Communication Handbook. For more information, contact Thacker at bumcw@aol.com.

Signs of Spring in Virginia (Blog 378)

It's not even mid-February yet, but I noticed an early sign of spring this week - a male cardinal singing in a lusty manner. Of course, cardinals are a year-round resident in Southwest Virginia, and they do sing year-round, which is unlike most songbirds.

Nevertheless, the duration of this particular bird's song was what made it different.  The cardinal, at dawn, launched into a full-throated outburst and kept up the music for quite some time. In a week or so, I wager, our local Carolina wren will begin doing the same, and I also expect to hear mourning doves singing soon as they are one of the first birds to build nests, around here usually in March.

I also expect the two turkey gobblers that have been roosting behind our house to become "restless" by early March. Then I will know for sure that spring is here.

Letting Our Heritage Rhode Island Reds Forage (Blog 377)

Today is bitterly cold and with snow in the forecast for Sunday, Elaine and I decided to let our heritage Rhode Island Reds forage in our backyard while I cleaned out their henhouse. After our chickens had been in the yard for a while, I noticed that Elaine had followed our flock into the surrounding woodlot.

"There's just nothing green for them to eat in the yard," said Elaine, and she was right. It is now February and the depth of winter, and the yard is as gray as the sky on an overcast day. Perhaps our chickens found a few random green tidbits among the forest duff, but chances are that, too, had been picked over by songbirds, squirrels, and rabbits. It's winter and times are hard for wildlife and wandering chickens.