Category: Nature

By Posted on Posted in Biology, Gardening, Mare's photos, Nature, The great outdoors Tagged with , ,

Suddenly there’s a surge in milkweed purchases. Why? Because nature lovers know that planting milkweed in your garden will help to increase the number of monarch butterflies in your area. The plants you choose for your garden (native plants to your region) make a huge difference in supporting wildlife and the environment.

As many of you know, monarch populations have been sadly decreasing due to housing development and agriculture, thus eliminating milkweed, the one plant that used to be abundant across America, leading to a huge decline of Danaus plexippus (their scientific name). In fact, monarch population numbers have been down by over 90% in recent years! However, there is good news. Numbers have climbed by nearly 50% in 2025 according to the National Wildlife Federation. Still, we have a long way to go.

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By Posted on Posted in Animal Kingdom, Mare's photos, Nature, The great outdoors Tagged with , , ,

I couldn’t believe it. It was a FIRST. I’ve been attempting to make friends with the squirrels in my backyard. They’ve been training me as much as I’ve been training them. It takes time, effort and lots of patience. But it paid off handsomely this morning.

One of the three babies (kids of Leslie and Earl) finally put aside her fears. When I opened the door sporting a tasty peanut, I simply hoped that she wouldn’t run away. Will she stay? It’s an on and off thing. It would be 50/50 shot! However, she not only remained but as you’ve seen, approached with little hesitation demonstrating her four-foot shuffle.

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By Posted on Posted in commentary, Conservation, Government, Nature, The great outdoors Tagged with , , , ,

Today is the day when you just have to say, NO! No, to the sale of acres of our national pride. A half million there. 2.5 million here…And if you turn your head for a single moment, public lands could disappear in the blink of an eye, and that’s what several senators and members of congress are hoping will happen. And once they are sold, folks, they are gone FOREVER!! Slip in a few obscure paragraphs in the gargantuan spending and tax bill, that’s already been passed by the House, that’s on its way to the Senate and the next thing you know…

You see, public land sales are introduced as PORK or pork-bellying. Let me introduce you to the concept if you’re not already familiar with it…

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By Posted on Posted in Birds/Birding, Nature, Photography, The great outdoors

The avian gods shone their light upon me, allowing me the delight of witnessing four new house finch fledglings. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I was sitting at my dining room table, when I looked out on the deck and saw this adorable bird. Hmm, what is that? At first, I thought it was a wren, due to the way the tail was flipping up. Then I thought it was a young grosbeak, but after watching it for a while, then seeing its siblings with a parent, there was no mistaking them. Adorable house finches…

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By Posted on Posted in Birds/Birding, Conservation, Nature, The great outdoors Tagged with , , ,
White-crowned sparrow Marion J Chard

I thought I’d share my backyard birding list with you which includes every species we see during the four seasons here in northern Michigan. These are only the birds we see in our neighborhood and not while visiting other areas. What’s on your list?

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