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Outdoor hour challenge #1

A mysterious feather . . .

I have the Outdoor Hour Challenge to thank for trying Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study, a lovely book, and I can’t imagine why I didn’t think I would like it . . .

So we went on our walk in the woods behind our house on a very overcast and warm winter day.  We encountered several areas of bird poop scattered on the leaves, and after visually inspecting one of these area for a long minute, I was enormously gratified when Cecily slowly looked up, straight up, to see what I knew was there, a branch that the birds had been using for their roost.  As I said there were several areas, and I was suprised to see that the branches above them were so varied in both size and height.  Whatever these birds were aren’t too picky.

According to Cecily this feather is a clue to the identity of the birds.  I think it is a turkey buzzard feather, but I don’t think that is the kind of poop we saw, because, well, I think such a big bird should have bigger poop. . .

This is a curious feather and she drew it in our nature journal.  It is quite large and strong, and near the tip it doesn’t have a gentle taper, but juts aside at a rather abrupt angle, which she noticed as a unique feature.

the bird poop

So here is the bird poop

the branch

and, imagine you are looking up, and here is the branch they were probably using as a roost.

We also saw a really cool giant gall on the trunk of a young oak tree.  This is on the trail so we walk by it all the time, but I have never taken a picture before.  Probably because I just got a new camera for Christmas (thanks Nanny).  Here is the tree front and back.

Alright, time to go take care of the chickens, I’m logging off.