Aidan's Nature Blog

November 20th, 2020 Framingham, MA

Today is cloudy with chunks of blue poking through, Just like every other day for the past WEEK. This morning, I moved the feeder to be closer to the window, giving me better photos. In Today's post, I am going to document the chickadees behavior at the feeder. Every about half an hour, the flight traffic in hour front yard peaks, as chickadees take turns storming the feeder.

Chickadees live in "banditries" named for the mask-like markings on their faces. The banditry in our property seems to be made of 3 chickadees. There is still a high chance that there are more, but they feed from other sources. The chickadees always peck at sunflower seeds on a limb like a woodpecker.

The outer husk is very hard and they are adapting to punch through it with their tiny beaks. At the inside, they find a soft, oily treat, packed with energy.

Chickadees make two noises. One is a "Fee-Bee!"(Click Here To Play) This call is used in courtship to attract females. Another is the famous"Chicka-de-de-de-de!"(Click Here To Play) This call is to coordinate banditry movement and alert others of predators.

-Aidan Garrity

November 19th, 2020 Framingham, MA

I am a libertarian.

For those of you who dont know, The libertarian party represents freedom. If you are ever trying to figure out which stance on an issue is the libertarian stance, just think, Which option would provide The most freedom?

However, Climate change is a real modern issue. Many people think that the ONLY way to protect the earth is to force people to. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's "Green New Deal" is a plan made by an Admitted Socialist to restrict people from burning fossil fuels. This is comforting to people as it provides an immediate guarantee that global warming will simply stop.

This may seem like the only obvious answer to stopping climate change, However, there is still an alternative that can protect the people's freedom.

The solution is basically this, Broaden the definition on what classifies as property damage and trespassing. With these new systems, people will be able to sue fossil-fuel burning companies for "Property Damage" if the waterways, air, or groundwater is polluted, and it affects you. This way, companies will have an incentive to switch to renewable energy sources, as oil burning or natural gas will become a MORE EXPENSIVE option due to swarms of lawsuits.

When people's homes are destroyed by tropical storms or flooding as an effect of global warming, you might be able to sue a local burner of fossil fuels for the value of your ruined house.

This could also drive companies that are too stubborn to change to renewable sources out of business.

I found the above information at Studentsforliberty.org

-Aidan Garrity

November 18th, 2020 Framingham, MA

I am faced with a dilemma. I do NOT own the only bird feeder in my neighborhood. I was at my neighbor's house last night, when I noticed that they had a bird feeder filled with millet, hanging from their tree-house. Our neighbors to our right also have a bird feeder. This would explain why my bird feeder hasn't been getting the activity that I expected it to.

If I want birds, Not only will the birds be competing for my birdseed, but my birdseed will have to compete for the birds. I am going to need to make my front yard as bird-friendly as possible.

My first step will be to add a water source, so that not only will they come for food, but also for water. I will need to be sure to not put it directly underneath the feeder, as I do not want bird seed to fall into the water, feeding bacteria, and giving parasites to the birds that drink it. I will also need to Make sure the water is not frozen, as this will be an added obstacle to the birds.

I am also going to look into buying a suet block feeder (Suet is beef fat). If I get this type of feeder, I will be able to attract woodpeckers and other birds that will need the easy fat during the coldest parts of the winter.

My third addition will be to hang birdhouses made from milk cartons in our side yard. This will encourage them to nest near the feeder in the spring. Each bird house will have a bit of lint, straw, and bendy twigs to give the birds a head start of nest building material.

My neighbor to our back's bird feeder consists of Nyger, Millet, and Milo. Milo is described by thespruce.com as a filler feed, packed into bird seed to increase volume, while decreasing cost.

Nyger is an expensive seed, however, it is used to attract quails and finches: Birds that are not very common in framingham.

Millet, well, you cant go wrong with millet. Millet attracts FLOCKS of sparrows, wrens, siskins, and cardinals. My bird feed's volume is mainly composed of millet.

One type of bird that i am clearly NOT competing for are Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). My feeder is currently the ONLY feeder in our neighborhood that contains black oil sunflower seeds, which chickadees treat like they are COCAINE. They swarm in at about 9:30 every morning, bringing seeds to private areas of the tree, and then they start mindlessly pecking at the shells until they BUST open. The chickadee will then pop the soft, oily, fatty seed in there mouth, and then look hungrily back at the feeder.

Chickadees are a given.

-Aidan Garrity

November 17th, 2020 Framingham, MA

Today's section is an update on T2's development into a frog. He is basically a frog with a tail.

Ever since the growth of his front arms, his tail has begun shrinking, and he has a more frog like, rigid bone structure. He also is developing pigments that form black bands on his legs, spots on his torso, and a distinct green back. He also is now equipped with very frog like eyes. I wonder what he feeds on right now. He cannot leave the water so how could he catch insects?

also, he has a well developed jaw that is not well equipped for algae grazing. My guess is that he has saved up fat as a tadpole, to keep him going during metamorphosis, similar to how caterpillars get really fat right before they spin a cocoon.

Another Question that I have is, How will i release a the frog into freezing water without it going into shock? I could either release it now but miss it's final stages of transformation, I could also just release it in 40 degree water anyway and cross my fingers OR I could attempt to care for a fully grown frog for a few months. I have not yet come to a decision.

I think I am in a VERY TOUGH situation here.

I am going to come to a decision by Friday.

-Aidan Garrity

Today I am only noticing Dark Eyed Juncos (Junco Hyemalis) feeding from it. They are addicted to the Millet. Juncos have very small beaks and Millet Grains are just small enough to be gobbled up by the tiny, grey birds. I still think only two or three individual birds are aware of the food source. I have seen many different species around the tree with the bird feeder. Below are all the species that will inevitably end up feeding from it.

-Dark eyed junco

-Blue Jay

-American Robin

-European Starling

-Mourning Dove

-Downy Woodpecker

-Nuthatch

-Black Capped Chickadee

-House Sparrow

-Lincoln's Sparrow

-Cardinal Bunting

-Red Bellied Woodpecker

-Tufted Titmouse

Even without the feeder, the tree provides a nesting and perching site for these birds and produces berries in the fall. I am very exited for the photographic opportunities that I will have once the tree is crowded with hungry birds. Today, about a centimeter of food is gone, but i can clearly remember from when we had the feeder full, and the crowds of birds, that the feeder would empty EVERY DAY.

As I am typing this, My Mom walks in and announces that she got wild bird seed from the hardware store. I am going to wait until the parrot food inevitably runs out in the bird food, Then I will re-fill it with the real birdseed.

-Aidan Garrity

November 11th - November 15th