Coyote tracks were scattered all over the open area to our east and they wandered through the woods as well.  It looked like a small pack had come through last night.  I saw a single set of turkey tracks in the woods and two trails of ruffed grouse.  I could see where one of the grouse had roosted.  By chance I followed both grouse trails and could see where their wings hit the snow as they took flight.  What really surprised me was finding the tracks of several snowshoe rabbits.  I haven't seen a rabbit around here in years.  The snow is really crunchy as we had rain yesterday morning and then an inch of fresh snow as the temperatures dropped in the afternoon.  It makes a perfect surface for tracking wildlife.  It is hard on the deer, as the snow will not support them and they can't just walk through it either.  I see them lunging about in the back yard and walking on trails they have made when they can.

March 23, 2008 - Happy Easter!  There was quite a gathering here this Sunday morning.  There are some downed cedars below the studio and the deer have been having a feast.  Our normal group of five had doubled and I think we had a dozen deer there last night.  This morning there were a dozen turkeys that joined in, but they just perched on the logs and watched the deer feed around them.  Squirrels and birds were everywhere as a few of the brave turkeys and deer ventured up to the bird feeder.  I noticed a few jakes in the group of turkeys, but no beards evident.  I got out a diaphragm call and made some calls out the window.  Immediately I got some responding chatter and a few gobbles.  The young birds went through some quick changes with their head coloring and the engorged wattling on their necks.  They continued to gobble when I would call.  It was quite a show and very entertaining - for me.  The deer were the only ones getting food as the sunflower seed and corn is gone.  The raccoons have been coming in at night lately and I swear they are filling up garbage cans and taking the stuff with them.  They can empty the feeder so quickly it is amazing.