Rucker Canyon, Arizona Birds and Reptiles

May 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

When Tom and I go hiking we always have a problem as to where we should be looking.  Should we be looking up into the trees to see the birds, or should be be looking down at the rock slide to see if any reptiles are sunning.  Well last Sunday we got it right.

The day started off with high winds.  The birds were going to stay down and it would be hard to hear any bird songs.  High clouds we passing over so the sun was not warming rocky areas for herps.  But, we had the trip planned and the lunch packed so we took off.

Mountain Kingsnake picture at Tom's Reptile Supplies

The Arizona Mountain Kingsnake is a beautiful snake.

I should tell  you that Rucker Canyon is about 25 miles south of Portal. Arizona at the end of Tex Canyon Road.  Our first bird was a Swainson’s Hawk and it was our first for the year.  As we continued on up our next “goody” was a Mountain Kingsnake.  While watching him disappear into the forest we flushed a Hermit Thrush.  The day was looking up.

The day continued with sightings of  a Hepatic Tanager, Yellow-eyed Juncos, Striped Plateau Lizard, Horned Larks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Eastern Fence Lizards, Bewicks’s Wren (yes, we saw him, not just heard him) Mourning Doves, Ornate Tree Lizards,  American Robins, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Side-blotched Lizard, Bridled Titmouse, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Lesser Earless Lizard, Turkey Vulture, Mexican Jays, Western Tanager and a Coot.

Hermit Thrush from blog at Tom's Bird Feeders

The Hermit Thrush is always a great bird to see.

As you can tell we started counting species on the desert scrub brush and continued our trip to deciduous streamside through pine forest.  That’s one of the great benefits of being here, you can find many different habitats when you live in the Sky Islands of Arizona.  And that means a chance to see a large number of species of both birds and reptiles.

Not bad for a windy, cloudy day!

 

Filed Under: Bird Watching, Reptiles

Is Your Mockingbird Singing at Night?

May 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment

As a fellow bird lover I know that most of the time we enjoy listening to birds sing. BUT, when the Mockingbird starts singing all hours of the night they can become a nuisance. This is usually during the spring and summer when breeding territories are being established and mates are being courted. Although their songs can be beautiful and we all are amazed at the sounds they can mock we all also want a good night’s sleep. Sometimes simple things like ear plugs or sound machines can solve the problem. However, there are times when you need to take a more drastic steps. Here are a few ideas that have been sent to me over the years.

1) Try playing the call of the Mockingbird during the day. It may think that another Mockingbird has claimed the territory. Don’t play it too loud, but do repeat the song often. The Mockingbird may look for a fight, but may give it up and move on. Hopefully far from your bedroom.

2) Try spraying the tree (not the bird) that the bird is singing from with a hose right before bedtime. He may look for a dry and more hospitable place to sing from. I mean really, who would be attracted to a mate whose house was always flooded?

3) Try covering the tree with netting that is used to keep birds out of fruit trees. If he can’t find a great spot to sing from he may try another place. Please, check the netting every morning to make sure that birds have not become tangled in the netting.

Hope at least one of these solutions leads to a good night’s sleep. After you have caught up on your sleep, let me know what worked for you.

Filed Under: Bird Watching, Birding in General Tagged With: , ,

Can I Attract Birds to my Apartment?

April 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Question:  I have recently moved to a twelfth floor apartment in a large city and miss the birds I used to feed every day.  Is there any way to attract birds to the balcony of my apartment?

 

Safflower Bird Feeder at http://tomsbirdfeeders.com

Cardinals Love Safflower

Answer:  The answer to this question depends on many things.  One would be the habitat around your building.  If it is adjacent to a park it will attract cardinals and many of the finches.If it is adjacent to a park, a lake or a river your chances are better.  Can you place flowers or small shrubs in pots on your balcony?  Try for plants that produce nectar and have a long flowering season.  This would catch the attention of birds more quickly than just hanging a bird feeder.  The best time of the year to start your feeding station would be during migration. It is then that birds are looking for new food sources and have not established a routine.  Depending on the part of the country you are in, you may try hummingbird and oriole feeders.  I would also recommend a waste free seed such as hulled sunflower seeds or safflower seeds.  Many birds are attracted to sunflower seeds and safflower will attract cardinals and many of the finches.

Filed Under: Bird Feeders, Bird Watching, Birding in General Tagged With: , , ,

How Do I Treat Snake Mites?

April 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Question: I recently purchased a corn snake (ghost). Once I got it home I soon saw some swelling between the eyeballs and the orbital scales and a white ring around the eyes. I also found mites. Could the mites be causing the problem around the eyes? It doesn’t seem to be bothering the snake.

Answer: This is a perfect opportunity for me to remind everyone to always quarantine new animals. Mites can spread and infect every reptile in your collection. Mites not only suck blood but can spread disease.

Now to answer your question, your first step is to eradicate the mites. I would take all of the bedding out of the cage and throw it away. Thoroughly clean the cage with Wipe Out. Treat the snake with Mite Off following the directions on the bottle. Place newspaper on the floor of the cage during treatment. Be sure to clean any hides or dishes. It is easier to see mites on the newspaper than in bedding. Once you are sure the mites are gone see if the swelling disappears. If any redness, irritation or changes in behavior are noticed while you are treating the problem, it is time to see a vet. If eradicating the mites does not solve the problem, it is time to seek professional advice.

This will give you some idea of the size of mites.

This will give you some idea of the size of mites.

Filed Under: Reptile Supplies, Reptiles

Problem Shedding in Pet Reptiles

November 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Question: My Corn Snake seems to have trouble shedding. The skin comes off in ragged pieces and sometimes he has trouble shedding the eye area. Is there anything I can do to help him? Will it hurt him if I help by gently pulling the skin off?

Answer: Medically, this condition is called dysecdysis, but in simple terms, improper shedding will suffice. In almost every case this condition is a symptom of a problem, not a primary problem. In other words, nearly all cases are the result of improper husbandry or handling issues. It is found in both snakes and lizards.

Husbandry factors which may cause dysecdysis include low cage temperature, lack of adequate humidity, improper nutrition and not having the proper cage furniture for the snake to rub its skin on. You should check each of these areas for problems. The place to start is to know what the requirements in each of these areas are for your snake. You can go to our Reptile Care at a Glance Chart to find the requirements for your pet. Once you have the requirements you would also need the tools to monitor the requirements, especially temperature and humidity as these are often the cause of this malady. A good dual temperature and humidity gauge will always tell you if you have a problem. A rough rock, hide or rough piece of wood or branch will also help the snake in rubbing the old skin off. Once the factor causing the problem is corrected the shedding should return to normal.

In some cases handling the snake during its shed cycle can cause damage to the skin and cause it to come off in patches. Your snake should develop a blue film over the eyes during the shed cycle and during this time the snake should not be handled.

In the instance when you have the problem of a bad shed before you it is important to treat your snake. The dead skin needs to be removed as it can harbor many disease causing organisms such as mites, bacteria or fungi. However, do not rip the skin off yourself as this may damage the fresh new skin below if done improperly. For snakes or lizards, the best way to remove tattered skin is to soak the animal in tepid water which is just deep enough to cover the animal’s body but not deep enough to drown it. It is very important to never leave a soaking reptile unattended. After soaking apply a good shed aid to the entire body. Then release it back into its tank with all other husbandry areas set up properly. Sometimes it will take two or three soakings to remedy the situation, but, be patient. In situations where soaking is impractical you may gently, but very thoroughly mist the snake or lizard and follow the same instructions.

As the snake or lizard sheds always check the skin over the eye which is called the spectacle or eye cap. These eye caps act as clear eyelids and protect the cornea of the eye from damage. If they are retained during the shed the eye may become infected. These retained eye caps can be hard to remove and the best action is to use the soaking or misting technique discussed earlier and let the snake take it off itself. In an emergency you can hold a moist rag over the the eye caps for about 15 minutes. Then allow the head and eyes to dry. When dry, gently press a piece of Scotch tape onto the retained eye cap and very gently pull the tape off. If there are no other complications, the eye cap should come off. If it does not come off easily then it is time for a veterinary consultation as there is probably a complication of some sort involved.

If all of the requirements of handling, heat, humidity, food and furniture are taken care of then problems with improper shedding in pet reptiles should be minimal.

Filed Under: Accessories, Reptile Supplies, Reptiles, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Thistle Seed Is Falling Out of My Feeder!

November 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Goldfinch feeding young.

Young goldfinch begging from its parent.

Question:  The goldfinches and siskins are birds that I want coming to my yard so I purchased a thistle sock.  It seemed to let a lot of thistle seed slip through and land on the ground.  I then tried a feeder from a box store and have the same problem.  What do I look for in a finch feeder to stop this?  Thistle is too expensive to waste.

Answer:  First, please go out to your feeding station and take a good look at the seed on the ground.  Finches and siskins crack the seed, eat the meat and leave the hull.  What you may perceive as wasted seed may have already been eaten by the birds.  If this is not the case, then it is time to pick a quality bird feeder.  When looking for any bird feeder the first criteria should be easy to clean. The feeder should come apart so you can get into every nook and cranny. You should clean your feeder at least once a month.  Second, the bird feeder should be easy to fill.  This may not sound important at first, but after the first month or two hard to fill feeders are usually empty a great deal of the time.  Third, look for a company whose main line is bird feeders.  These companies take the time to develop a great design.  Many companies who build bird feeders as a side line will ususally build a pretty feeder, but not pay attention to the details that make bird feeders great.  The bird feeders we carry meet the above criteria and most have been tried in our yard or in the yards of the savvy birders we know personally.

Thistle Sock from http://tomsbirdfeeders.com

Finches feeding at a thistle sock.

You have tried a sock, but know that there are different qualities of  thistle socks.  Look for a sock that is made of heavy duty material and has a locking closure.  To keep the seed fresh after rain, roll the sock between your hands.  It will keep the seed from retaining moisture and molding.

Finches feeding at thistle feeder from http://tomsbirdfeeders

The finches cling to the screen of the thistle feeder.

Many of our customers first step from a sock to a thistle feeder will be the one quart acrylic finch feeder.  The features that make this a quailty feeder are the  stainless steel screen, durable acrylic top and bottom with drainage holes in the base and a seed diverter so there will be no waste of your thistle seed.  It comes in 4 different colors.  If you are feeding lots of finches we also have a 3 quart acrylic thistle feeder.

Once our customers try a quality thistle feeder, it is usually a short time before they start looking for larger feeder or one with a lifetime guarantee.  Browse through our large selection to find the perfect feeder for you.  If you have any questions about any of the feeders, please contact us.
Filed Under: Bird Feeders, Birding in General Tagged With: , , , , ,

What is Happening to My Treefrogs??? They Are Changing Colors!

November 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Squirrel Treefrog-One of Several Brown Variations

Question: I recently acquired four Squirrel Treefrogs. When I got them they were all bright green and beautiful to watch climbing around on the rocks in their terrarium. Now, they have all turned various shades of brown. Is this a disease? What is happening to them?

Answer: Fear not. This is not a disease or even a bad thing. Squirrel Treefrogs are very much like the anoles (American Chameleon) in that they can change colors. Many other species of frogs are also able to do this. Your Squirrel Treefrogs can easily change from green to brown and be solid colored or spotted in either color phase. Many of the field guides for reptiles and amphibians in the United States show two “color phases”of this species. It has been found that this is not true as any individual can show either color at any given time. It does help in identification however with both colors shown.

Squirrel Treefrog -Green Coloration

Contrary to popular belief, the color changes are not necessarily due to trying to blend in to the frog’s surroundings although it probably does help some in nature. Like the anoles, this ability has been tied to mood, comfort, time of day and the presence of other tankmates. A tank with no plants or few hiding places will often result in a brown color. While ill heath may or may not be a factor, stress caused by too many treefrogs for the space available or other incompatible tankmates will often cause a perpetual brown coloration. Cold temperatures and low humidity can also be a factor.
So, what can you do to attain a better ratio between the two color phases? Start with the habitat. Eco Earth or Frog Moss may be used as substrate to keep humidity up and stable. A light misting each day will also help. Temperatures in the mid 70s to low 80s will help bring out the colors. A good dual thermometer/humidity gauge can help you keep these two items in check. Plants are important and should be arranged to provide a vertical aspect to the terrarium. Either live or artificial plants may be used, but, we find that artificial plants are easier to keep clean and to rearrange in the tank. Lighting will also help. While amphibians generally do not need UVB light like many reptiles do, a good UVA light such as the Naturesun series will help to bring out the best colors in your pets as well as support interesting natural behaviors.
It is also important not to overcrowd your tank. A 10 gallon aquarium with a good screen top will accommodate up to 4 adult treefrogs providing that there are adequate hiding places available for each. Small snakes should never be mixed with frogs and small lizards may be kept with them as long as they do not threaten the frogs or think of them as food. The anoles and small geckos such as House Geckos or small species of Day Geckos are good companions for your tree frogs as are Long-tailed Grass Skinks. Make sure that the requirements for your other inhabitants are the same as the treefrogs to reduce stress on all of them. You may check this out on our Reptile Care Chart.
We have a couple of Canyon Treefrogs in a tank in our home. When they sit on the driftwood near the water container on the bottom of the tank they are the color of an old cinder block, gray with small black specks throughout. While moving up through the plants hunting crickets or small moths near the top of the tank they evolve into a beautiful frog with nice shades of tans, yellows and dark browns.
Color change in treefrogs is normal. With the correct setup you can enjoy your pets in their various attire.
Filed Under: Amphibians, Reptile Supplies Tagged With: , , , ,

Black-billed Magpies: Did You Know?

October 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We were recently in South Dakota and of course we had to do a little bird watching while we were there.  One of the species that I enjoyed seeing was the Black-billed Magpie.  Although it is not rare and not really hard to find, the striking black and white pattern always makes me smile.

Black-billed Magpie featured at http://tomsbirdfeeders.com

The black and white pattern along with the long tail make identification easy.

When I started bird watching I was startled to see a magpie sitting on the back of a deer.  I watched it land on the deer’s back, fly away and then land on the deer again four times.  This behavior sent me back to the books (this was before the internet) to find out why.  It seems that magpies are tolerated by the deer because the birds are removing ticks.  The magpies will eat some and then cache some for later use as many members of their family do.  The problem with this is that the ticks are stored alive and unharmed.  The ticks simply crawl away and resume their lives.

Black-billed Magpie nest from http://tomsbirdfeeders.com

The large domed nest of the Black-billed Magpie is unmistakable.

 The nest of the Black-billed Magpie is unmistakable.  It is a large domed nest, made primarily of sticks and mud. The interior of the nest is lined with hair, grass, bark, or rootlets. The nest can take the birds up to 40 days to build.  A recent study found that the pair only spent about 1% of their daily energy to build their nest.  The female on the other hand spent 23% of her energy laying the eggs.

 As with other members of the corvidae family, the magpies will predate the nests of  birds taking both eggs and nestlings.  However this predation only makes up a small part of the Black-bill Magpie’s diet.  Most of the time the magpie will forage on the ground for insects, grains, with acorns being a favorite, small mammals and some carrion.

 When we lived in South Dakota the magpies would sometimes visit our suet feeders and our platform bird feeders.  The smaller songbirds would sound the alarm and quickly make the magpie feel unwelcomed.  They never stayed very long and we never seemed to be visited on a regular basis.  Maybe they just came in with the deer that visited our birdbath for a drink  occasionally.   :^)

Filed Under: Bird Baths, Bird Feeders, Bird Watching, Birding in General, Nesting and Nestboxes Tagged With: , , ,

Red to Yellow Kills a Fellow

October 27, 2011 by 2 Comments

Arizona Coral Snake in Our Driveway

A few days ago, I was on my way out to check our Box Turtles when I caught a slight movement out of the corner of my eye.  There, crawling slowly across the gravel of our driveway was a beautiful 14 inch long Arizona Coral Snake.  I quickly brought into my head the old adage “Red to yellow kills a fellow.  Red to black venom lack.”  I did this because, in addition to having the highly venomous neurotoxic Coral Snake locally we also have the Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake in the area and the New Mexico Milk Snake is native to the next mountain range to the east of us.  Both are harmless Coral Snake “look a likes.”  The above adage helps to sort out the venomous from the harmless. 

It was easy to see the bright red bands of this snake bordered with light yellow bands even from 10 feet away so I knew that the snake I had was, in fact, venomous.  Arizona Coral Snakes are fairly common in our area of southeastern Arizona although very few people actually see them.  For the most part they are nocturnal and are most often observed at or soon after dusk on warm rainy evenings.  Their generally flat build is an indication of their preferred habitat under rocks and in crevices in rock walls.  They feed on other small snakes including the Blind Snakes and Black-headed Snakes and small lizards.  All of these are common in our area.

As Arizona Coral Snakes go, this was one of the largest I have observed.  Most individuals in our area are from 8-12 inches in length.  We have an informal truce with all of the wildlife on our property.  Unless they are causing property damage we leave them alone to go about their lives.  This snake made its way into our rock wall which should provide it with a happy home and a great food source.

Two days after the sighting in our yard a neighbor called to report that he had a Coral Snake caught in his cattle guard.  He is much nearer to Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake habitat than our local Coral Snake habitat so I thought at first that he might be mistaken.  Upon reaching the scene 10 minutes later I found that he was correct and he did, in fact, have a 12 inch Arizona Coral Snake trapped in his cattle guard.  I took out my Midwest snake tong and hook and worked the little fellow out of the cattle guard and into an empty quart jar.  I had learned long ago that Coral Snakes are escape artists and that they easily find the way out of my snake bucket that I use for moving rattlesnakes and snake bags.  As our friend really did not want a venomous snake near his home, I took this little waif home with me and released him in the rock wall near where the first snake had disappeared.  Maybe we will get a population on our property in years to come.

Previous to this year I had never observed more than one Arizona Coral Snake in any one year.  Last night I was called out on a fire near my home ( I am a volunteer fireman in our small town.)  During the course of putting out a small structure fire I located a third specimen.  This one was a little smaller than the first two and, in an effort to save it from any other firefighters which might notice him, I caught him and placed him in an empty Gatorade bottle.  This specimen was donated to a friend who maintains an educational reptile collection.  He will be set up next to a display with a Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake to show off the differences between the two species.

These are truly beautiful little snakes and it has been a pure pleasure to see three of them within a week’s time.

Filed Under: Reptiles, snake hooks and snake tongs, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

How Herman Got His Name

August 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I was at Southwest Wings Birding Festival when I noticed David a 10 1/2 almost 10 and 3/4 year old boy looking at our novelty signs. I couldn’t tell if he was looking at the bird signs, dog signs or the reptile signs. When I asked David which sign he liked he replied that he liked the sign like his pet, Herman the Second. With a name like Herman I took the dachshund sign down.

David’s father started laughing at me and told David to tell me what he had for a pet. It seems that Herman the Second is a Bearded Dragon. The story goes that David’s Grandmother had a dachshund named Herman Von Clouse. David and Herman were great friends. They liked to play in the sand pile. Well, David played while Herman slept in the sun. They also shared a chair while watching TV. Herman died when David was 7 years old. For David’s eighth birthday, his family tried to find a new puppy. None of the puppies could compare to Herman Von Clouse.

The family was wandering around the pet store deciding what to do. David found the reptile section and became fascinated with the lizards. David and his father went home to research lizards. They found that Bearded Dragon care was easy and they made great first pets. David brought his Bearded Dragon home and was sitting in the same chair he had shared with the dachshund when Grandma asked what the lizard’s name was. David replied Herman the Second. Grandma thought it was a great name.

A great new friendship was started.

Filed Under: Reptiles Tagged With: , , ,
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