Perches 102
Thursday | 14 January 2010
In Perches 102, we are examining the droppings of the raptors. Check out these bones.Some look like entire sculls of small birds! Upon reading, I have learned that raptors often eat their competitor birds before they go after ground rodents. As you can imagine, the rodents are the ultimate goal for a farm.
To date, we have these bones and visual sitings of birds carrying snakes, but no direct evidence of rodent hunting. This year, we will be watching for that.
The primary field we will be watching is the orchard because in the orchard we have implemented a no-till program. Verses the vineyard in which we have a sophisticated tillage program that discourages ground rodents, the orchard is like a buffet of fresh young roots. Delicacies for the rodents.
I will monitor the droppings under the perches to see what they are eating. I’ll let you know!
Read Perches 103...
– Barbara Steele
