While much of my springtime has been devoted to botanizing, and to sharing nature with LOTS of school children, have also noticed a variety of springtime "critters" here in East Tennessee.
Let's start with a few birds. Grackles have returned to our region in good numbers, but don't seem to enjoy posing for very long...
Kildeer are nesting - this one was in an area schoolyard, and plenty of children got to watch the pair at work defending their young'uns!
Canada Geese are busy "herding" their frisky Goslings...
Mourning Doves nest so early in the spring, that some are already working on their second brood of the season!
Spring is also butterfly season here in East Tennessee. Satyrs are small brown butterflies. Most species of Satyrs' caterpillars eat grass, so the sunny meadows are perfect places to watch for them. Here's a Carolina Satyr and a Little Wood Satyr. The Little Wood is perched on some Poison Ivy - it's a good thing that butterflies don't get rashes!!
West Virginia White butterflies prefer the forest edges. Here's one nectaring at a Wild Geranium flower.
It's getting warm enough to bring out our Reptile friends these days. Here's a friendly little Queen Snake. These little snakes hang out at the creeks, seeking their favorite food - soft-shelled crayfish. This one was caught by some school children visiting the park on a stream ecology field trip. They were amazed to find that, even when wet with creek water, the snake did not feel at all slimy!
(PS - Queen Snake was returned to the creek right after this "portrait session!")
Hope you enjoyed these views of some of our East Tennessee animal life. And thanks in advance for any comments & critique!
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