Birds, Bats, and Bugs
Because of our location in the Wakarusa Valley and being near open farmland, grassy fields, and forests we have a variety of wildlife, including insects. Certain species of birds are well-known for their bug-eating prowess, and we can encourage their presence in Oakwood by installing appropriate bird houses and water sources. For example, house wrens, bluebirds, and purple martins are natural bug-zappers, and live in our area. Those birds circling while you mow are barn swallows who are trying to snatch insects. They like to nest near people, in barns, and under structures like raised-decks. Bats are voracious mosquito-eaters, but they need to roost in specially-designed bat-houses near reliable sources of water like our lake. There are many local and mail-order sources of bird and bat houses, as well as advice on how to install and maintain them. One mail-order company that also has a wonderful annual insect and disease-damage identification guide, and natural products, is Garden's Alive/Audubon Workshop {www.gardensalive.com, www.audubonworkshop.com}.
One supposedly not too damaging insect that we have in the community is the "box elder bug". They are somewhat beetle-like in appearance, are black and red, winged, swarm on the sunny-side of houses in the early spring and late fall, and like to crawl inside for the winter. These true "bugs" feed on and breed in box elder trees in the warm months, so there is at least one of these unusual-looking, crookedy trees nearby {anyone know where?}. Besides sealing your house, apparently the other best solution is unfortunately to remove the box elder trees.
Other wildlife that has been sighted in or over Oakwood at various times:
Deer, rabbit, red fox, coyote, bobcat, skunk, opossum, squirrel, badger, beaver, mole, vole, raccoon, snake, salamander, toad, and turtle.
Bluebird, barn swallow, purple martin, house wren, meadowlark, mockingbird, crow, robin, goldfinch, cardinal, woodpecker, egret (blue heron), red-tail hawk, ferruginous hawk, bald eagle, turkey vulture, hummingbird, canadian geese, duck, owl, and wild turkey:
