Elk

The scientific name for Elk is Cervus elaphus. Male Elk have antlers. Elk are light brown to tan. Elk live to be about 20 years old.They eat grass and leaves and other green plants.They live in farm lands and forests.Elk can weigh to be about 1,000 lb. Elk are nocturnal but they do get up during the day. There are many different types of Elk but only one in North America.  They can sometimes reach the speed of 30 mph. Here is another website that will tell you more about Elk. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk

Four toed Salamander

Hemidactylium scutatum or Four toed Salamanders live to be about 10 years old.They are a reddish brown color and have 4 toes on each foot. They live in bogs and springs. These little creatures lay over 20 eggs a year! In winter they live under rocks and logs.They eat insects. If something grabs it's tail, it will break of, then later on the tail grows back. Here is a website that will tell you more about them. It has pictures to.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-toed_salamander

Tiger Shark

I think Sharks are amazing. One shark I really like is the Tiger Shark. Tiger Sharks are a gray color. They will eat anything but they usually eat fish,mollusks,jelly fish,sea birds,sea turtles,e.t.c. The scientific name is Galeocerdo cuvier. They are one of the largest sharks. Here is a website that will tell you more about Tiger Sharks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_shark

Pictures

Here is a  picture of some White-Tailed Deer.   

 Here is a picture of a male Mallard duck in my swamp.  

Here is a picture of a Cotton tail rabbit.  

Here is a Wild turkey.

Photos with a story

I have Buckeye Chickens. I started out with 25. One died from my dog. One died from a Hawk and one just died somehow. The roosters were really mean(We had way to many roosters. They were all trying to be the alpha.) I called one The Evil Outsider, it was the one that was outside of the fence the most. One was The Evil Insider, it was in the fence the most. And one was called The Evil Coopsider, it was in the coop the most. They were all the most rudest ones. The rest were like there sidekicks. Now we only have 2 roosters left.(We ate the others.) The hens lay eggs. And we only get 2 a day. Most of the hens are in my driveway,yard,and swamp. They probably have eggs under tree roots and other things.  Sometimes the hens are freaky. They follow me all the time. That makes the 2 roosters come. Then the roosters sneak up behind me and jump on me,they peck me and claw me. They have been better because only 2 roosters still exist in my yard. But I still don't like them. Here is a website that will tell you things about them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckeye_%28chicken%29  I also have some pictures of Buckeye Chickens. I could only find pictures of them as chicks. Sorry!  

White-Tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus also known as a White-tailed Deer. They are wonderful creatures! They are brown and have large ears, the males have antlers. Male and female have white on the under side of there tails. They live to be about 5 to 10 years. They live in all kinds of places, but like forests best.They eat leaves,grass,and other plants, ,nuts,twigs. They have 1-2 fawns usually.  Here is a website that will tell you more about the White-tailed Deer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_tail_deer

Photos

Here are some pictures my family or I took.

Wild Turkeys on Thanksgiving

Don't you love seeing a Meleagris gallopavo run by in the morning? Also known as a Wild Turkey.Wild Turkeys eat insects,seeds,and fruit. Males are brown to black and have a red and blue head. Females are  thinner. The eggs are white with brown markings. Wild Turkeys do not migrate. Here is a website to tell you more about them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Turkey

Paper Birch

I love the Betula papyrifera. That's the scientific name for the Paper Birch tree. Paper Birch trees have white smooth paper like bark with black horizontal lines. Native Americans used this paper like bark to write on. Paper Birch trees have a flower called a Catkin. The leaves turn yellow in Autumn.Native Americans also made canoes and baskets out of the white bark. Here is a link that will tell you more about Paper Birch trees. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_Birch 

Zebra

Did you know that Zebras are camouflage? It's because they all look the same and live in big groups. When another animal tries to attack it waits for a zebra to leave the group. But a Zebras kick is very strong. I don't know a lot about Zebras so here is a website that will tell you more. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra

Little Brown Bat

I like bats a lot.I think they are interesting and magnificent. My favorite is the Little Brown Bat. They eat insects. A Little Brown Bat is brown and small. They live in forest's,urban and suburban areas,and farmlands. They come out at dusk and look like birds but they do not glide in the air like they only flap. When you see them you can usually tell they are bats. Here is a website about Little  Brown Bats.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_brown_bat#Description Little brown bats sound like birds chirping.

Cranes

The same Sand hill cranes came back today. All four! I took some more pictures and a video  But sadly my videos wont load. So I can't show them to you.

Apologies

I'm sorry my video did not work! It was taking to long to load.

Sandhill Crane

Have you ever seen a sand hill crane? I see them alot! Sand hill cranes Can be white or light brown. Both male and female look the same. There scientific name is Grus canadensis.  They eat plants and insects,nuts,fruit,and small animals. They have a red forehead  and are tall birds. For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_Crane.  Here are some pictures I took today.I also took a video. Sorry it's not the best!

Massasauga

Have you heard of a Massasauga? It's a type of snake. They are grey with black spots. They eat small mammals, birds, amphibians, and other snakes. They live in prairie wetlands,swamps,river valleys, and woodlands. They can live up to about 25 years.They are also venomous.
Here is a website that will tell you more information.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massasauga

Newts

A picture of Newts in my hands.

Multnomah Falls

Here is another picture of Multnomah Falls!! 

Pictures

Here are some more pictures My family or I have taken. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

  The frogs are Green Frogs.  The water fall is Multnomah Falls.  I hope you enjoyed my pictures!!

Apologies

I am very sorry if my blog does not show my comments! Even though I  write comments my blog it  doesn't always show  the comments.

Chickens

I have Buckeye Chickens and  yesterday, September 9th 2012  a Red Tailed Hawk went right above my head! Then I went over to the Chicken area and up in a tree next to the fence was a Red Tailed Hawk! I was about to go in with the Chickens but all of a sudden Chickens were screaming and running into the coop! Then I looked at the tree and a Red Tailed Hawk swooped out of the tree and almost  grabbed one of my Chickens but the Hawk was to late! So I decided to stay in the Chicken area. I didn't leave the area until about three hours had passed. And I only left because it was getting really hot outside and I had a sweater on. But luckily all the Chickens were safe!   Sorry that I don't have pictures! I thought I did but I guess not!      

      

Photos

Here are some pictures me or my family have taken.  I'm sure you will love them!!!  Oh just so you know the gray frog is a Male Gray Treefrog . The green one is a Female Gray Treefrog.  And the brown one is a Female American toad. 

Beaver

Do you like beavers?  Well I sure do!  I have a swamp and once  I went down to it and guess what I saw!  Right there was  a  beaver! It darted into the water and swam over to land. So I followed it.  When I found it again It had climbed a tree!  And I noticed  it was a juvenile!  And I was not sure whether it was a Beaver or a Muskrat!  But as I saw it more I thought that it had to be a Beaver! But when my dad saw it he thought it was a Muskrat. But I still think it was a Beaver! Beavers have the tails that are flat. Muskrats have the tails that are long and skinny.  Here is a website about Muskrats.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskrat
 Here is a website about beavers  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver
    And these are  pictures that I took of the Beaver or Muskrat. 
 I never knew Beavers could climb trees!?  Sorry that the tail is hidden!!!

 

Caterpillar

Hi! Have you ever seen a caterpillar about the length of a cell phone? My Grandma has! This is a picture she took of it.
 
 It was the caterpillar of a Cecropia Moth!  They are really big!  I don't really know much about them! But I do know they  turn into Moths!  Well here is a website that you can use to learn more about them!   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyalophora_cecropia It has pictures and information!

Mockingbird

Have you ever heard of a Mocking Bird? I have. And no they do not mock people! But the calls from a Mocking Bird sound like the calls from other birds! Mocking Birds are a light grayish with a white chest. They have a  white stripe on each wing. The females look the  same  as males. The males display their wings to females. These birds are amazing to listen to!!!!! Sometimes they may fool you by their sound!! 


Here is a website that has the songs of a Mocking Bird. http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=4

Red Tailed Hawk

Do you like hawks? I do! ( I love every animal!) My favorite type of hawk is a Red Tailed Hawk with their orange tail and strong look! Did you know the females are slightly larger then the  males!? They eat mice,birds,small animals, and small reptiles like snakes.  They look amazing in flight! They can be brown to white! But in my opinion they are always beautiful!!  Some times they fly around my chicken coop. One of my chickens was found in a corner almost completely eaten! ( Except for the bones and feathers of course!) I think it was a Red Tailed Hawk I saw earlier  in the day circling the coop! But to find out my dad put the deer cam in that corner. But he has not checked it yet. ( It happened 2 days ago!) But he said we will look at the pictures tomorrow!                 

Raccoon

Have you ever seen a raccoon eating cat food? I have!  My family found out that a raccoon had been visiting our barn to eat cat food every morning at 2:00.  I have pictures from a deer cam! My dad went in the barn one night and there staring at him was a raccoon! But my dad somehow scared it away up to the loft just by standing there! What a shy raccoon!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it never came back! But it had been visiting for weeks before getting scared away!   These are two pictures from the deer cam!:)  In the first picture the raccoon is standing up. In the second picture the raccoon is in a little tub of water for sheep.


Raccoons usually eat fruit, small animals, small fish, nuts,seeds,insects, baby birds,and bird eggs.

            

Cedar Waxwing

Don't you  just love the songs of birds in the morning and evening?! Have you ever seen or heard a Cedar Waxwing? Cedar Waxwings are small birds. They  are gray to brown with pointed crest, light yellow belly  and bandit like black mask. Tip of tail is bright yellow. The tip of its wings look like they have been dipped in red wax. Females are same as male. Juveniles are grayish with a heavily streaked chest, lacks red wing tips, black mask and sleek look. Food; cedar cones, fruit,insects. Scientific name is Bombycilla cedrorum.
Here is a website that you can listen to
 http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=10      I got this information from Birds of Michigan field guide by Stan Tekiela 

Gray Tree Frogs

 Have you ever wanted to know the difference  between  a Gray Tree frog  and a  Copes Gray Tree frog?  I have answers here!   Copes Gray Tree frogs  are in the Tree frog (Hylidae)    family. They  are green with a white belly. But they change color to gray with large dark spots.  Some have a small white patch just below the eyes.  Inside thighs of behind hind legs  are yellow. Males have  a gray throat (vocal) sac. They live up to 5-7 years.  Habitats, moist forests, woodland edges, ponds,and wet meadows. Over winter; under leaf litter, logs and rocks; Partially freezes.  Food,  Beetles and other insects, caterpillars.  Compare, The Gray Tree frog is nearly identical. The best way to  tell the difference is by their calls.   Here is a website that you listen to their sounds on. /http://www.real.msu.edu/explore/mifrogtoad/   I got this information from a field guide called  Reptiles and Amphibians of Michigan Field Guide.

Introduction

Hi! I am Cornelia! I love Nature and I love to  share the wonders  about it to others! Here you can learn about  lots  of   animals and plants!   Some animals are big  others are small. Some plants are soft   others  are  hard. Have fun reading about the wonders of  nature!