finches - summer breakfast

The finches enjoy the thistle seed while other birds enjoy the boxelder seeds dangling around them.

wren - twig nestbuilding

House wrens want to nest in the nestbox outside my office window, and they are determined to get twigs inside no matter what contortions are needed.

chickadee - 8 eggs

We used the plans from NestWatch to emulate a "tree snag" nestbox using a PVC tube. A pair of chickadees found it quite cozy and built a nest inside. Monitoring the snag box for NestWatch, we noted on May 23 their clutch of 8 eggs.

bluebird - first egg

This spring a pair of bluebirds (Sialia sialis) settled into the nestbox, and Bill’s camera system allowed me to get some amazing footage without disturbing the nest. Here the female is laying her first of 5 eggs.

Lights, Cameras, Action

The wild woods adjacent to our garden is full of critters and photo opportunities. With expertise in still and video photography, Bill is my resource for digital, electronic, mechanical, and other technical systems to observe and document the wonders in our wild woods.

cardinal - last snow

The male cardinal was emphatically singing this morning, despite the few inches of heavy wet snow we got overnight. He sat for quite a while outside my office window, stretching out his neck and erecting the crest feathers atop his head while turning side to side. Yes, there is snow on the ground but it is Springtime!

wild turkey - forlorn

woodpecker - morning seeds

The female Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus was at the feeder this morning. She is among the guild of woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, cardinals, juncos, finches, and bluejays that hang out in the wild woods.

Hoarfrost

Hoarfrost on oak trees, January 2009. The morning is so beautiful, it inspired me to start this blog!