This year we are observing the wildlife at Hickory Heights differently. We have always put out bird feeders that attracted a multitude of kinds of birds. The Pennsylvania Wildlife Commission has requested that all bird feeders be taken down. We complied. Now we are missing our birds.

While the feeders were up, we saw all kinds of birds. Don especially likes the Baltimore orioles. He brought his big orange ball feeder up last year, but a bear promptly destroyed it. We bought two new feeders this year. We saw an oriole early this season, but that was it. He only returned to the feeder a couple of times. Must be he did not like what we were offering.

Early on we saw Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. While they are comparatively large birds, they are very pretty. We also had mourning doves as the ground feeders. We had a lot of gold finches at our finch feeder. We had several pairs of cardinals, too.

A couple chipmunks discovered that if they visited a bowl that is out on the porch, they could find seed that the birds left behind. They drove the dogs crazy. The dogs wanted out to get them but could never catch them.

It is so much fun to watch the birds feed. I miss them now that the feeders are down. We also had several pairs of hummingbirds come to the feeders. We kept them fed for quite a while before we got the notice to take down the feeders.

While we do not want to see the song bird population destroyed, we do miss seeing them.

Have no fear the other wildlife has stepped it up. One morning as we were eating breakfast, I glanced out the bay window on the east side of the house and saw a large bear ambling down where the grass ends and the field starts. He did not seem to be in any hurry. I told Don to look so he saw it too. We watched it walk down to the road and cross over. We have no idea where it went from there.

We routinely watch the deer. The moms seem to bring their families to show them off. The dogs really go wild when they spot a fawn running back and forth in the back yard. It is such fun to watch the little ones play.

One night there was a mother out there with her two fawns. A third fawn came along. She smelled of it and then chased it off. It was not hers. A little while later another mother came through the yard I suppose with that same fawn.

Another day we spotted a family of turkeys. There was a hen, a tom, and at least seven babies. They too just walked around the yard before disappearing into the woods. We had just told someone that we had not seen any young turkeys. Oh, well, now we know there is a whole family of them.

No matter where you go on this road you run into deer. I just hope that none of them run out in front of me when I am driving. Years ago, on my way home from a township meeting, a deer hopped off of a bank right onto the hood of my car. It was able to get up and walk away but the car sustained a great deal of damage.

My son has a wildlife camera up on the hill so he was not surprised when I told him we saw a bear. He has captured a number of them on the recorder. We have had several sightings through the years. One night as I headed to the garage, a bear walked right across the driveway. Another time we saw one at the end of the driveway. We never saw the one that damaged all of the birdfeeders. A couple years ago we saw a bear wander across the back yard then head into the woods. I recall taking a picture of one years ago. I was not sure my husband would believe me if I did not have a picture so I peeked out from the garage to capture him on film. He was quite far away but you could definitely tell it was a bear.

Oh, yes, we had coyote hunters up here this year and they took quite a few of them out. We have never seen one down by the house, but we can hear them.

Now, we just watch the wildlife. Sometimes we feed them. We do not take pictures any more.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.