Free-range Chickens"

Earlier this summer one of our neighbors tried raising "free-range" poultry on their small property. Their flock included several ducks, chickens and a young turkey. At first the birds stayed close to the coop and in the owners yard, but then the birds discovered bird feeders in neighboring lawns and the size of the free-range expanded.

The birds also tried to answer the age old question, "why did the chicken cross the road". Their answer, to test a vehicle driver's reaction time and the stopping distance for moving vehicles. Over time the numbers birds decreased to one rooster which is now looking for companionship and a safe place to sleep at night. The rooster's new sleeping quarters is a hanging flower pot where it roosts every night.

Harry the Spider

For the past couple of months we've had Harry living in the area of our basement/TV room. Harry is a large Fishing Spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus). While most people have an unexplained fear of spiders (arachnophobia), Harry has Zuigerphobia, a fear of vacuum cleaner. Harry has become a well behaved house pet and roams freely around the basement looking for insects, but prefers this corner of the TV room, next to the night light.

Unlike most other spiders, Harry doesn't build webs to catch his meals, he uses an ambush method and has reduced the amount of other bugs in the basement area. Harry with the remains of ants he has caught.

A close-up of Harry showing the 8, two rows of 4, eyes at the top of his forehead.

Red-tailed Hawk

While brush hogging a small field I had this Red-tailed hawk fly in several times to catch mice that were running from the mower. A second hawk joined the mouse hunt before I finished mowing.

Reptiland

Roadtrip for grandson Reed, his cousin Liam and aunt Diana to Clyde Peeling's Reptiland near Allenwood, PA. The boys attended live shows about snakes and venom with a discussion about what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake. Liam told the crowd "go to a doctor", Reed's answer was "prepare to die". The boys handling live snakes.

The Exhibit Gallery featured many live reptiles from around the World. Reed taking a picture of a komodo dragon.

Visiting the exhibit of life-sized animatronic models of dinosaurs that roar, spit, and bellow.

This one will spit water at you.

"Reed, there's something following you"

The parakeet aviary where the boys used seeded sticks to attract and feed the birds.