Lincoln and the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat have received over 20 inches of snow so far in January. This moisture is good news and Nebraska is no longer in the ‘exceptional drought’ range.
Mary Jane Frogge
Snow!
Tag Archives: winter
Snow Fall
Lincoln received its first major snow fall of the year yesterday, nearly 9 inches. I enjoy visiting the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat after a snow fall to see the tracks from animal activity. The deer had been through for a visit. Many bird visitors too. Found two imprints of bird wings in the snow. Hope you have a chance to get outside and enjoy your habitat in the winter. There is so much to see.
MJ Frogge
Decorate Your Trees While Feeding Birds and Wildlife
Feeding the birds has never been so fun. Decorate your trees with homemade garland and wildlife friendly ornaments.
Fruit Garland
Decorate outdoor trees with a fruit garland of cranberries, orange & apples slices. Supplies needed include cotton string and a large sewing needle. Alternate different fruits to make your own design. Remove string from the tree when fruit is gone, to prevent girdling the branches.
Pine Cone Bird Feeder
Supplies needed: pine cones, cotton string, peanut butter, bird seed and a spoon. Tie 8-inch string around pinecone and make a loop. Cover pinecone with peanut butter. Roll peanut butter pine cone in birdseed. Make several and hang on tree branches. Remove string when birdseed is gone.
Suet Cakes
You can purchase suit cakes or make your own.
Recipe for homemade suet (source Penn State Extension)
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup vegetable shortening
4 cups cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 cup sunflower seeds (optional)
Suet can be frozen in blocks and placed in suet feeders. Or use cookie cutters for making different shapes. Place large cookie cutters on a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Fill cookie cutters with suet mixture. Put in freezer. When hard, pop out of cookie cutter, place in suit cage bird feeder and hang in tree.
Enjoy, MJ Frogge
Decorate Outdoor Trees with Fruit Garland
An easy way to decorate outdoor trees that will benefit wildlife too, is to make a fruit garland.
Supplies:
cranberries
oranges cut in 1/2 inch slices
apples cut in 1/2 inch slices
cotton string, 3 feet long
large sewing needle
Directions: Put the cotton string on the large sewing needle and make a knot at the end of the string. Put the cranberries, oranges and apples on the string to make the garland. Alternate the different fruits to make your own design. Attach the garland to tree branches. Be careful not to injure the branches by tying the string too tight. Remove the string from the tree when the fruit is gone, to prevent girdling the branches later.
MJ Frogge
Feeding Birds
Last week I placed sock feeders for the American Goldfinch we have in and around the Cherry Creek Pollinator habitat. I also put up the sunflower seed bird feeder for our seed eating birds. We often see Dark-eyed Junco and Northern Cardinals in or near the habitat. It is important to keep your feeders filled through the winter because birds and wildlife will rely on them through the winter season.
MJ Frogge
Tracks in the Snow
I love to go out to the Cherry Creek Pollinator habitat after it snows. It is always interesting to see what tracks I can find. Wildlife are very active in the habitat during the winter. This week I found deer, rabbit, raccoon, opossum and varies bird tracks.
MJ Frogge
Seed Heads
You many think there is not much to see in the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat this time of year. It may be brown, but there is a lot to see. We do not cut back the habitat plants in the fall. This plant material is cover and protection for the birds, squirrels, opossum, rabbits, raccoons, skunks and deer that frequent the habitat during the winter. The seed heads from our native plants bee balm, goldenrod, brown-eyed Susan, tall thistle, milkweed and sawtooth sunflower feed our wildlife and also reseed themselves for more plants next year.
MJ Frogge
Snowy Winter
The Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat has experienced a very snowy winter. With last night’s snow, Lincoln Nebraska has received over 40 inches of snow this winter season. There is another snow storm predicted for this weekend. I know we are all looking forward to spring.
MJ Frogge
Bird Feeders
Today was a nice and sunny day to hang our bird feeders in the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat. We have American goldfinch, northern cardinals and dark-eyed juncos visit our habitat. It is important to leave native grasses and plant cover for them during the winter months.
MJ Frogge
Snow!
Snow has come early to the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat. We usually have a long fall season, but not this year. We have had three snow storms and more is predicted for the weekend. We have good cover in the habitat for wildlife and many plant stalks with seed heads for seed eating birds. The habitat is still an active place in the winter.
MJ Frogge
The Buzz at Cherry Creek 