Gary Engberg Outdoors
Backyard wildlife on the Wisconsin River
I’ve been unable to fish much the last few weeks due to an injury I suffered when I got clipped by my Labrador retriever. Katie and her young canine friend, Little Bear, were in my backyard chasing each other and playing games at full speed. If you’ve ever seen my Katie, she’s a rock solid female yellow Lab weighing about 100 pounds. Little Bear is a black male lab that is only a little over a year old and full of energy. Katie is six years old, and whenever she gets together with Bear, he brings out the puppy in her and they play and chase each other non-stop till their tongues are hanging and it’s time to cool off and take a swim in the river.
Baltimore oriole and grape jelly.
About a month ago I got in the way of one of their games and was hit in the knee. I have barely been able to walk, and most of my time has been spent at my computer and desk, which overlook the wonderful Wisconsin River, my many trees and dozens of bird feeders. My salvation has been watching multiple diverse species of birds and animals that inhabit my property or come daily to feed. I’ve been lucky enough to have all these birds and critters to watch daily since my injury. I feed many species of birds, ducks, geese and animals year-round, but my injury has given me the opportunity to watch the many species that inhabit our part of Wisconsin. Every day there are finches, sparrows, wrens, blackbirds, blue jays, cardinals, Baltimore orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, cedar waxwings, wood thrushes, numerous woodpecker species, ruby-throated hummingbirds, purple martins, mourning doves, robins, chickadees, starlings, and numerous hawks feeding and watering.
Though I have fed birds for decades and understand how much they depend on humans for much of the winter, I have never spent this much time watching, studying and observing my backyard wildlife. Many of you spend considerable time feeding and caring for birds in the winter, but not that many of you make it a year-round activity. Feeding wild birds is not cheap, either, and I’m constantly checking the price of black oil sunflower seeds. I’ve found that the black oil seed is the best all-around seed to feed because most, if not all, birds will eat it. The cheaper seeds often contain seeds that birds don’t eat, or if they do, it’s under severe winter conditions.
I also was surprised at the large number of grey, fox, and pine squirrels that inhabit the area and constantly figure ways to raid my feeders. I have a large number of Baltimore orioles this year, too, which I think is due to putting out grape jelly, which the orioles love. My birds go through a jar of jelly in just a couple of days, so I’ve been looking for the best price to buy it along with the price of black sunflower seeds, which can vary as much as $3 or $4 depending on the store.
In closing, I finally was able to go fishing Sunday, and while waiting for my angling friend, four wild turkeys and pouts came and ate seed from under the bird feeders. I’ve just given you a new activity for helping birds and wildlife during all seasons, not just the winter. Now I find joy and inner peace in helping wildlife all year.
Contact Gary Engberg at 608.795.4208 or gengberg@garyengbergoutdoors.com, or visit garyengbergoutdoors.com.