Sitting in the Raptor Roost, my home at the cabin in the tree tops as the sun is rising. It’s cool (58F) and clear. Not a lot of birds as the wind is from the E/SE, coming in off of Whitefish Bay hitting me in the back of my porch rocker. It’s a quiet morning, no traffic yet. However the waves are noisy as are the sounds of nearby boats and distant freighters. I am at peace here, even knowing that my days are numbered for the rest of the year. Once snow comes time in the roost is over, replaced by tending the wood stove and watching the bird feeders. But for now I can see that the air is filled with birds and insects. There are a lot of midges, a few mosquitoes, flies and moths. All are near the end of life, either with age or as food for migrant birds. Around me, in the roost I can see spiders and their webs. They are both predators and prey. The spiders feast on small insects and are hunted by birds. A small flock of some 20 robins pass over followed by over 200 siskins high above the pines. And so it goes.
Occasionally a raptor has passed in the last few days, not many but enough to make me happy.
A young Northern Harrier. It’s probably searching for a stray Pine Siskin or perhaps American Pipits. Both are here in abundance at the beach.
Another predator, unfortunately dead in the parking lot at Whitefish Point. Most of the snakes we find here are unfortunately road kill.
More tomorrow…
Michael's Place 