The Bird at the End of the Racket

A few days ago, there was what can only be described as a terrific racket coming from somewhere in the back garden. I'm not great at identifying bird calls, but this didn't even sound like a call, and honestly, I wasn't even sure it was coming from a bird. It was an awkward sound- not … Continue reading The Bird at the End of the Racket →

Annual Sheep & Fiber Fest Field Trip

Sometimes I like to put on my green gardening boots (with cartoon goats on them) and go out into the country for the day (especially if it involves actual farm animals). And so, last weekend, my husband, daughters, and I went to one of our state’s Sheep & Fiber Festivals. It was a beautiful day— … Continue reading Annual Sheep & Fiber Fest Field Trip →

In which one of the new chipmunks chooses a new home…

Now introduced to the world, weaned, and savvy(ish) about some good feeding and hiding spots, the new chipmunks have been choosing their new homes this week. Some may have ventured out of the garden, but it looks like a couple have chosen to make their burrows within its borders. The easiest of them to spot … Continue reading In which one of the new chipmunks chooses a new home… →

In Defense of Sparrows

When I started birdwatching (and knew basically nothing except to look for beaks and wings), one of the first species I managed to identify and photograph clearly was the sparrow. It wasn't hard to find and differentiate at all! It let me get so close! This was that first photo, of a sparrow sitting on … Continue reading In Defense of Sparrows →

Hello, world!

Last week, six baby chipmunks emerged from the burrow where they had, unbeknownst to us, been born and growing for the previous month. Their mother, chunky and slightly beleaguered-looking, leapt out first and headed straight for the seeds and nuts that were waiting at one of the nearby bird feeders. The babies hung back. A … Continue reading Hello, world! →