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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Recent content by Avon Avians

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    Any tips for trees, shrubs, or other features that attract chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers rather quickly?

    Any suggestions for shrubs, grasses, and ground covers sufficient to conceal small mammals such as rodents and shrews? I'm worried the neighborhood cats might kill the chipmunks and short-tailed shrews that spend their time hanging around and hiding in the neighbor's rock pile (near our property).
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    Any advice on the topic of attracting green darners to our backyard?

    Hello folks! The springtime is soon to be here, and with the arrival of warm weather, the giant green darner (Anax junius) will return with the migratory birds and butterflies. The green darner is possibly my favorite of all dragonflies. It is one of the most famous dragonflies, and to me, a...
    • Avon Avians
    • Thread
    • aeshnidae anax junius aquatic insects attracting insects attracting wildlife backyard habitat backyard wildlife common green darner dragonflies dragonflies and damselflies green darner odonata ponds
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Insects, Dragonflies, Arachnids, Beetles & More
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    What are the most interesting wildlife that you've seen in YOUR HOUSE?

    There was a western conifer seed bug in our bathroom this year. They enter buildings for the winter, but aren't well adapted for this lifestyle. It died within a week, almost in the same spot. Dead conifer seed bugs are common sight almost everywhere inside private and public buildings. Brown...
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    What are the most interesting wildlife that you've seen in YOUR HOUSE?

    Hello, folks! Those of us who are interested in wildlife have all had a few of those surprising moments when wildlife turn up unexpected. Sometimes, this is in their suitable habitat, even though we didn't anticipate that they might be around. Sometimes, though, they show up where they are...
    • Avon Avians
    • Thread
    • amphibians arthropods backyard wildlife birds chipmunk deer mouse flying squirrel frog indoor wildlife mammals short-tailed shrew squirrel synanthropes unexpected encounters wildlife wildlife in my house
    • Replies: 24
    • Forum: Other Wildlife
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    Attracting American bullfrogs? What's the minimum preferred pond size?

    What would be the minimum pond size preferred by American bullfrogs? I'm aware that they can be big amphibians (6-8"), but they seem to be adaptable, and I've read from other people's experiences that these frogs can colonize surprisingly small freshwater bodies. I've also read, though, that...
    • Avon Avians
    • Thread
    • american bullfrog amphibians backyard ponds backyard wildlife bullfrog frogs habitats lithobates lithobates catesbeianus rana rana catesbeiana ranids wildlife ponds
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Reptiles and Amphibians
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    Attracting bullfrogs to an outdoor turtle pond? Is it possible to protect them from predation?

    Hello, folks! As I've mentioned on at least one other post, we own a red-eared slider turtle (terrapin) as a pet. She is an adult turtle, surpassing seven inches in shell length. I have been considering moving her to an outdoor pond for some time now, as red-eared/pond sliders aren't always...
    • Avon Avians
    • Thread
    • amphibians attracting frogs attracting wildlife backyard ponds bullfrogs frog-friendly ponds frogs ornamental ponds outdoor ponds red-eared sliders terrapins turtles turtles and frogs wildlife ponds
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Reptiles and Amphibians
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    Comment by 'Avon Avians' in media 'Did someone say Alligator?'

    Raccoons are supposed to prey on them. Otters and foxes also, although foxes probably rarely predate them since they spend most of their time out in the middle of ponds. Most major population control occurs when the turtles are barely the size of dollar coins.
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    Any suggestions on keeping weasels safe from cats and dogs in our yard?

    I have actually heard of weasels winning fights with cats. One post (which annoyed me) showed someone's barn cat with a dead weasel, and commended the cat as "brave" because they claimed that their other barn cats prior couldn't defeat them and actually died (I believe they kept chickens, so...
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    Any suggestions on keeping weasels safe from cats and dogs in our yard?

    Hopefully, Herman doesn't starve to death and can access the outside if necessary to search for more mice and other small prey. Short-tailed weasels can starve to death in a single day and can't survive without water for long either. A bowl of wet cat food and a bowl (or bottle) of water might...
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    Any suggestions on keeping weasels safe from cats and dogs in our yard?

    There aren't any laws about keeping cats off of the lands of other people, nor restricting neighborhood cats from killing birds, but there is something seriously wrong with cats being allowed to venture into other people's yards and "steal" wildlife from their own properties when they aren't...
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    Red-eared sliders are opportunistic predatory omnivores rather than herbivores

    I suspect that they were feral turtles released by man? In such a poor pond, the ducklings were much easier pickings than the more maneuverable mosquitofish. And the carp and ducks would be major competitors for insects, crustaceans, snails, and tadpoles. Aquatic vegetation is extremely...
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    Any suggestions on keeping weasels safe from cats and dogs in our yard?

    I agree. Why in the world would you get into legal trouble and give your neighbors no reason to respect you when you could use the law to your advantage? If you don't want cats that aren't yours on your property, then tell the neighbors that they need to confine their cats! I wouldn't even call...
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    Any suggestions on keeping weasels safe from cats and dogs in our yard?

    The weasel has probably gone off to hunt more mice by now. They usually hunt for food every few hours in the winter. They will certainly eat cat food (especially wet) when starving, but as long as the weasel isn't trapped, it will probably prefer to search for more mice and meadow voles...
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    Red-eared sliders are opportunistic predatory omnivores rather than herbivores

    Was aquatic vegetation abundant at that site? I always try to note if voracity in red-eared sliders might be attributable to a lack of vegetation and other pond life. I also believe that domestic and feral red-eared sliders may be more aggressive than undisturbed wild individuals, especially in...
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    Red-eared sliders are opportunistic predatory omnivores rather than herbivores

    Red-eared sliders don't prey on ducklings frequently enough to impact populations most of the time, but where they are common they may take their share. They are generally herbivorous. But if snapping turtles are scarce, red-eared sliders possibly might predate them with even more frequency...
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