[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n schedule, “our” Eastern Bluebird eggs hatched on Sunday, March 12. Bluebirds hatch about as ugly as it gets. Almost naked and blind, in just over two weeks they’ll be fully-feathered, jumping up and down, ready to fly out into the world near the end of March.
Just last week I read of a chick hatched by the world’s oldest known bird. Guess how old? … Wisdom, a Laysan Albatross is thought to be at least 66 years old. She nests at a wildlife refuge at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in Hawaii. For her, it takes nearly seven months to incubate an egg and raise a chick to fledge.
Death hit one of Mountain City’s secretive “ringtails” on Cedar at Pin Oak on Sunday night. Sally Kachoris snapped a photo. Many years ago, we occasionally saw one in our backyard live oaks. It’s sometimes called a “ringtail cat”. A cat it is not. It’s shaped like a mink, with a ringed-tail about as long as its body.
The April 2009 Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine featured a nice article about a two-year study of these agile little-known midsize carnivores at Palo Duro Canyon using live trapping in order to place a collar that emits signals on the animal (for tracking purposes). The bait that worked was a combination of sardines, apples and honey.
One detail that caught my attention was this: Ringtails ambush their prey and kill them with a bite to the neck.
Wow! KissMe, Our Great White Hunter with Red Spots, suffered a bite to the neck this past week and a puncture wound on his apple-shaped big spot while on an escapee escapade. We heard soft knocking during Jimmy Kimmel. There at the door was a filthy KissMe in the arms of Andrea Wells.
Alerted to commotion by their dog that did not let up, Britt went outside and broke up a loud brawl between KissMe and an opossum. We thought KissMe was in the kitchen asleep.
Once again, KissMe is okay, after a trip to Dr. Bob the next day for antibiotics.
Such is not the case for Alex, the horse belonging to Scott Follett in Ruby Ranch. Mid-week last week, Scott posted on NextDoor.com a photo of a long dead rattlesnake draped over a fence. The next day, Scott posted word that Alex, who was struck on the nose and back leg, died.
Ruby Ranch may seem a long way from Mountain City, if you’re accustomed to traveling by car over on 2770 to 1626 and then heading up to 967 and turning west, toward Salt Lick. But, take a look at the maps of the Anthem Development behind Mountain City. Anthem stretches from 150 almost to Ruby Ranch. It’s closer than you think, with mostly the former Nance Ranch in between.
Be on the lookout and keep your ears open for rattlesnakes. Listening through headphones, it’d be easy to miss the tell-tale warning.
For 20 years (on March 20th), I’ve been accepting tidbits. Have you sent one yet? Please consider. Email [email protected] (subject: tidbit) or leave a message at (512) 268-5678. Thanks! Love, Pauline
