Looking out our back door

Technically I suppose it's more of a side door, but I don't think anyone's written any songs about side doors.

This male Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) was using the suet feeder at the bookstore door this morning, and I did my best to take a few photos of it through the window.

We usually get woodpeckers (including the Hairy, Downy, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, and the occasional Pileated) coming to the suet feeder throughout the year, but when the weather starts getting colder they become more frequent visitors.

There are many different commercial suet feeders available in stores, but making your own can be as simple as drilling a few large-bore holes into a length of wood and filling the holes with a homemade suet mix. Recipes for suet mixes can be found online or in books like NatureScape Alberta (available at the Nature Centre). Bob also has some suet recipes on hand, and he'd be happy to tell you what's been working best in our feeder if you drop by the bookstore.

Seen in the Sanctuary:

Chokecherries and turning leaves

Yesterday, it was a beautiful 29 degrees (Celsius) here in Red Deer. The sun was shining, the geese were honking, and me, being the plan-ahead person that I am, was wearing a sweater. (I thought cotton would breathe a little...). Last night, as I wrapped up my day in the same sweater that I started out in, it occurred to me that this occasion called for a blog entry. So here it is:

DON'T BE SILLY LIKE ME AND WEAR A SWEATER (even a thin one) ON A 29 DEGREE DAY!

Actually, the point of this entry is to remind you that we are having very nice fall weather...get out and enjoy it while you can! The geese are flocking, the leaves are turning, the sky is that gorgeous blue (well, not today), and that wonderful, crisp smell is in the air. Get out and enjoy fall for what it is, before the snow comes and we get locked in our houses by 40 below.

(Did I mention you should get out and enjoy the weather?)

And watch out for garter snakes...they're going to be heading to a hibernaculum soon.
Happy trails!

Hello Hello

Hi,
I'm Katherine Blakely and I am the newest interpreter here at the Nature Centre. However since there is already a Kathryn on staff you can call me Kat (though I will respond to my full name as well).

I'm excited to be here and look forward to the crazy Kerry Wood adventures ahead of me.