Predators

We have some annoying new residents.

Three hawks are living in a nearby tree.  They are interesting , but it seems their main interest in life is to catch the birds that come to our feeders. 

They are threatening, but the neighborhood cats present an even greater problem.  They lurk in the bushes under the feeders and stare at the fish in the pond.  The hawks have been successful more than once and the cats sometimes catch a slow bird. 

Either a raccoon or a speedy bear got all the fish in one section of water last winter.  Recently a bear turned over a very sturdy feeder, but didn't feel impressed by the sunflower seeds.

Afternoon Visitors to Trimont Trail

These visitors came by about five o'clock in the afternoon two days ago, looking for food. They are standing in the driveway across the street, trying to eat some of the little decorative crabapples on the ground.  There are usually some apples on the trees across the street, but this spring's late frost killed them.  There are acorns, but not as many as usual. The next day these bears stopped traffic up the street by settling in the top of an oak tree.

(pictures as usual by my husband Tom)