Deer Sign (browsing)
Another day with plenty to do and not much time outside except when I had someplace else to be.
Weather: Mostly cloudy today. Pretty much a flat overcast, but there was an occasional patch of blue sky. There seemed to be a light breeze out of the south this morning. There was still a breeze this afternoon, though I neglected to pay attention to the direction.
Birds: I observed a Winter Wren singing this morning. It was singing from the top of the burn pile behind maintenance. I hope that marks the edge of its territory rather than one of its chosen nesting sites; otherwise it is going to have some trouble this spring when the pile gets burned.
While I was watching the wren, I also heard some raven noises, but did not pay too much attention to them. After a minute, I heard the sound of branches cracking in the woods and two ravens came flying out, with one in hot pursuit of the other. It almost looked like one might be carrying something but I did not get a good look. I would not have thought anything of it except that I thought I heard something hit the ground and when I saw the ravens on a second fly by, neither raven was carrying anything.
Other Notes: Yesterday when I was walking with the kids, I noticed where a skunk cabbage plant had been browsed by the deer. They get the plants when they are just coming up, or sometimes even before. I almost wonder if they can smell them, because one of the skunk cabbage plants was partially covered up by a log, and it seems like it would have been difficult to see. I forgot to mention that yesterday, but was reminded of it today when I took a look in the old garden and happened to notice where some plants had been bitten off in a very similar manner. I think they were probably the carrot family plant that grows pretty thick over there (which I have never bothered to take the time to clearly identify).