Outdoors

Name: John Queen, also known as Jeffco Open Space's "Ranger No. 5"

Originally from: Beaumont, Texas

Stationed at: White Ranch Open Space Park

How long have you been a ranger?

“Five years.”

What’s one thing you do as a ranger that people would be surprised by?

“Swift-water rescue.”

What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen at a park?

(Reprinted from July 28, 2010)

Although spring migration has long been over, we had a bit of excitement in the yard this week.

The house wrens have long been nesting in a swallow box on the supporting post of the front porch. In fact, they are feeding young. Although it is supposed to be a swallow box, the swallows have never had a chance to use it because the wrens arrive earlier and have already taken it over. They usually have eggs in the box by the time the violet-green swallows arrive. That was the case this year.

(Reprinted from July 2, 2008)

It is sad to report that the song sparrow nest met with ill fate.

On Sunday, June 22, Linda called me to say there were three young in the nest. We were all thrilled at the news, although I am still confused about when the eggs were laid. Apparently, they were laid earlier than we had thought. The female diligently fed the young that day, but on Monday, June 3, the young were gone from the nest. Only two unhatched eggs remained.

(Reprinted from June 29, 2009)

About five years ago I was reading about the thousands of migrating birds killed every year by flying into windows. I had been concerned about the many birds that hit my big picture windows every year and decided I should do something about it. The article I read also told about a college student who was doing research on the problem and mentioned that a black-plastic anti-deer fabric had the best results in his tests.