It’s time for more nature tales brought to you by the wild animals that live on our property and entertain us continually by doing what comes naturally.
Our property is a regular herpetarium. We have wall to wall lizards ranging in size from tiny babies that have hit the ground running up to foot-long alligator lizards that can scare the heck out of you. We also have skinks, beautifully iridescent lizards with bright blue tails.
Fence lizards dominate, however. You can’t go outside without seeing dozens at this time of the year. They are fun to watch as they scamper across our yard in search of bugs. And they are even more entertaining when they try to impress another lizard by doing push-ups and puffing up their bodies to almost twice their normal size.
They are also quite curious. Or at least they seem to be. Anytime I am outside working around the house, they show up and watch me, often choosing a high perch for a better view. If I do something that chases them away, they’re back in a minute or two. The fellow below came out to watch me when I was building a brick planter around our yellow rose bush earlier this week.
I think we have seen all of one wren since Peggy and I moved here. But a couple of weeks ago, a pair showed up looking for a home. It was pretty funny. The male wren, it turns out, is responsible for house hunting and nest building. The location may be a tree cavity, a birdhouse, a drain pipe, etc. Even an old shoe will do in a pinch. Once he finds what he considers the ideal site, he fills it with twigs and invites his lady love over to check it out. She’s the one that makes the ultimate decision about his nest finding abilities. I can see where she might be concerned if he has picked an old shoe. The poor guy may find himself building 3 or 4 nests before she finally says yes.
I think ours must have been on number four— or maybe five— when he showed her our bird house. He seemed very eager, or maybe he was nervous, like a real estate agent about to close or lose a big sale. He talked and talked and talked. Finally, she hopped in to take a look. And immediately hopped out with a feather in her mouth that she spit out. I could almost hear the discussion. “You are trying to sell me a used house!” “No, no sweetie. Think of it as an already feathered nest.” Whatever he said, she went back inside and came out with another feather. This time she ate it! Apparently that meant yes because the little guy started hopping around and talking twice as fast. Then he zoomed off to pick up some grass to add to the nest. Soon, they were both busy at work.
I’ll close today with a few more photos of the deer herd. Do you remember when I did the post on young buck and his fearless leaps over a wall and a fence to get at our honeysuckle and native shrub garden? Well, it turns out he isn’t so young…
Tomorrow’s post: Who knows? Not me. (grin)
Wandering through Time and Place 
Lovely to see all the deer. A rather strange comment above.
The deer are always entertaining, Peggy. As for the comment, I guess it is welcome to the internet. 🙂
I found the third “eye” particularly interesting. Here in Florida, geckos, a lizard sub-group, abound.
I have enjoyed the posts by you and Pit on your deer. When we had a wooded property in N.J., I considered deer more of a pest [ate flowers and trees] or hazard [ran in front of cars]. I wonder how I would feel now when life is at a slower pace.
I like geckos, Ray. Always fun in the tropics. I remember a large one in Ubud, Bali that lived at a place I was staying for a couple of weeks. Each night he would issue a number of loud ‘geckos’ and then walk out on a ceiling beam and poop. Luckily t was over the floor instead of our bed!
Deer can be a nuisance, no doubt about it. But they are also fun and educational to watch. Both Peggy and I love our ‘front window’ on their lives. –Curt
Great post, Curt. Thank you. Like ralietravels’ comment, it was the third eye on the lizard that caught my attention. There’s lots of talk in Sedona about those human third eyes, and many tourists pay big bucks to ‘discover’ theirs. We seem to have an unusual abundance of lizards in our yard this year. And no roadrunners anywhere, which usually run about with lizards dangling from their mouths. All my best to you and Peggy. Stay safe.
Thanks, JoHanna! Yep, Sedona is one of the centers for those searching to find their third-eye, which is one of the reasons I’ve always found the town appealing. Brings out the old hippie in me. 🙂 Of course, the natural beauty is my real reason for visiting! Any reason for the lack of roadrunners? –Curt
Oh take your pick…eggshell thinning due to overkill chemical use, dirty rain runoff affecting water quality, loss of habitat, so many people showing up to recreate and commune with nature in a huge and always expanding number of ways and means, drought…. I think the Roadrunners have run onto somewhere else Curt . Best and Highest Outcomes Always to You and Peggy.
One advantage of living next to a national forest on zoned five-acre parcels. 🙂 The animals rule. Sorry to hear about your roadrunners, JoHanna. They are such wonderful birds! –Curt
I love your posts, thank you!
And thank you Karen! Much appreciated. –Curt
Thank you for my tour around the property, Curt. Can’t wait to see the new deer herd additions!!
You’re welcome, G. I’m with you on wanting to see the new family members. Hopefully, Floppy will bring them around soon. She has them hidden in the blackberries for the time being! I am assuming two since she usually has twins. –Curt
Great stuff Curt, I enjoyed it.
Pictures back to normal size for this post. How curious.
Thanks Andrew. Our wildlife is entertaining. And educational. The photo-size problem must have to do with reposting, somehow. When I go to my site to check, I don’t see any problem other than having to scroll through a few photos that are too long. Did you have the problem with all of the photos? –Curt
I got a kick out of ‘Pacy’s’ comments. I think she must be a friend of the fellow who recognized me recently and sent his phone number and email in a comment so I could contact him to discuss a business opportunity. Someone’s found a way around the Akismet filters.
I loved the story of the wrens. After hearing them for a couple of years but never actually seeing them, I finally figured out who was doing all the singing. Now, they visit the feeders regularly, and nosh on the dried mealworms. They’re such pert little birds, and great fun to watch. I got a photo of one of the babies; they sit atop a row of bushes by my patio and wait for mom and dad to show up with the goodies.
Yes, Pacy is interesting. I suspect you are right, Linda. True love, I’m sure. Still, one can’t help but be curious. 🙂
The wrens are a delight. I don’t think I have ever seen more animated, chatty birds. I’m looking forward to meeting the family. 🙂 –Curt
Loved the images and the narration. Thanks and much appreciated for sharing
And thank you for commenting! We live in an area surrounded by national forests and observing nature is an important part of our life. It’s both educational and entertaining. 🙂 –Curt
Funny, I too received an invite to ‘Pacy’. Hope mum and fawn(s) are OK and that the naughty fox stays well clear.
I am still enticing the birds to visit my place. I might get a bird contraption a bit higher up than my present set-up.
My previous place, birds would just about bang on the windows to get fed. Some would eat out of my hand.
Mom would probably kick the foxes tail, Gerard. 🙂 A coyote would be more of a problem. As for your birds, if there are any around at all, you are pretty sure to be ‘discovered.’ 🙂 –Curt
Love that last shot, and I wish I had a third eye like the lizard!
Wrens once decided to nest in my sculpture studio (an old garden shed). When they were feeding their young they would come in with a beak packed full and slide down the flex holding a single light bulb scolding all the time. They waited for me to walk past (close to the flex) and out of the door before feeding the babies. It was a terrifying day when the babies fledged as a sculpture studio is full of hazards, and endless containers. I spent the day collecting these tiny birds (about the size of a copper ten pence piece) and putting them under a bush. as far as I know they all survived that day at least.
Oh what fun, Hilary. I can picture the challenge. Baby birds everywhere! Ours should be flying before too long but they have a whole garden to fall into. The baby swallows will soon be exiting as well. Given how much energy it takes to feed them, I’m sure that the parents can’t wait! Good to hear from you. –Curt
Paging Dr. Doolittle…
You bet, Dave. I’ve forever ‘talked’ to animals, occasionally plants, and quite frequently myself! 🙂