A pond liner, empty and filled with rocks and water. There is a pump in a box in the deeper end too, I forgot to take a picture. The box keeps debris away from the pump.

The weather forecast didn't show frost anymore, so I decided to put the pond back in. Things are still slow and everything looks barren but I am doing it piece by piece. I know people were curious about the pond, so here is what the liner looks like. I am hoping for some migration action this week!

a male Brownheaded Cowbird

Two MoDos trying to fit into one photo

The MoDos are still going to posing school, they are masters at the couple portrait 😆 And the Cowbirds have returned. They are very interesting native birds that get a lot of hate for their breeding behavior, they practice parasitic breeding. Nature made them this way. Happy Friday!

It has been very nice today, and I opened the windows in the sunroom to let a breeze in so it doesn't get too warm and there was a kick! We are expecting a nicer stretch of temperatures but this is Michigan, and until Mother's Day, you cannot really rely on the weather. How exciting! 🦋

A strictly indoors kitty sits in front of a monitor. Yes, that is Cary Grant as a jumping jack.

The manager is up early, making sure surveillance is not interrupted and squirrels kept in check. A heated bed helps keeping warm when you're on duty all day long.

Isn't he hilarious?

A day on the branch. I like how the light changes and how this camera does colors (this is the Maxdone again). I haven't put peanut butter on this branch in a while, but the #birds seem to like this branch regardless, it is a good vantage point.

A Chickaball

a RWBB mid-eruption

a very disappointed Blue Jay

A MoDo looking for snacks under its wings

I am so happy that we live in a world with so many wonderful things to explore and see. Look at all these goobers. They are hilarious and smart and fascinating. I love them so much ❤️ #birds

I can hear Bluebirds in the area but they have not checked out any of the nestboxes so far. I am a bit disappointed but last season, they did their second brood here, and that would be fine by me too.

It remains frosty outside but the Chickadees have been visiting the nestboxes every day. They do seem to be more interested in this one and have kind of started to "measure for drapes".In 2024 when they used this box last, they started building on April 14th.

I moved one cam to brush pile again, and a Song Sparrow showed up. With the insane timeline the world is in right now, I try to find solace and grounding in the little wonders in my backyard. And I hope I can extend a bit of calm to others too... May the #birds sing again in the morning 💗

Journey North Help us track wildlife migrations and seasonal change across North America for Monarch Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and more!

Everybody is getting very excited about #spring migration. May I recommend something to help with the anticipation? There is a website that has maps with sightings for all kinds of things, also Orioles and hummingbirds, it is journeynorth.org

Another short update on the Swallowtail chrysalis. Things are looking good, and it has started to move more than during the winter. The disco lights are grow lights for some seedlings. Anybody else checking the weather forecast constantly? I am so tired of the cold. #bugs

(Sorry for posting twice, my account seems to have issues for whatever reason.) @support.bsky.team anything going on with my account?

No, I got it on Etsy a couple of years ago. The seller is still active, PKNKTreasures.

Some photos from the cam, unedited

house finch

Grack

Chickie in foggy light

I am using this with additional lenses that I stick to the lens to achieve the focus, like I do with all my trail cams. The audio is not amazing but ok. And there's an app. All of that for about 50 bucks. #trailcam

This is the smallest trailcam I have used so far, and I am very impressed. This is a Maxdone camera. The FOV is on the smaller side, which makes this great for smaller setups like a feeder, but it also works with a bird bath. It comes with a solar panel and does not need batteries.

a very wet blue jay

a gorgeous Grack with rain drops on the head

breads were just baked too. I had a headache all morning, now I know why. Anyways, here are some of today's visitors. Looking forward to bed and Jack Black and White on SNL ☺️ #birds

A molting male Goldfinch

A wet Cardi man

April is showing off, today, we had a tornado warning! This was just the second time since I moved here in 2012. Down into the basement we went, the kitty behaved perfectly and nothing happened. Timing was great, laundry was done and my two

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it is considerably less costly than other brands. It works with a subscription but also without, and the cam has an SD card. Setting it up was very easy. They have a Mother's Day sale on their website vinguys.com. #mothersdaygift #smartbirdfeeder

to FOV (Other feeders often are super wide and show the entire yard, which I do not like). Night vision can be b/w or color, and of course it works in rain and snow and sun. It also comes with some fruit forks. The best is the price,

Spring is a good time for experimenting, and I have been trying out a feeder cam, from #Vinguys. It's a smart feeder with a really nice video and photo quality (2.5k UHD video) and comes with a solar panel and an app. I love that the setup is comparatively small, also in regards

Photo of my cat's head on top of a Great Horned Owl photograph by USFWS Pacific Region via https://birdfeederhub.com/owls-in-nebraska/ Happy April Fool's Day!

I was very lucky today to see a Great Horned Meowl in my backyard! Such expressive creatures 😍

The Robins have discovered the bath, Juncos are still around, and today, a Chipping Sparrow visited. They look similar to American Tree Sparrows but one good ID marker is that they do not have a dark spot on their chest. Can you believe it's pretty much April? Good times await, at least in nature 💚

The Grackle boys are ramping it up 😎 (Imagine Hot Chocolate's Sexy Thing playing)

A handsome male House finch

House Finches visit here year-round, and because I am so used to seeing them, I sometimes forget to post them. This one is a male, and I love that he has some orange tones on him. The males' coloration depends on what they eat, some can be very vibrantly red while others are more subdued. #birds

Today, a Chickadee visited my one box and started cleaning out the wood shavings I had put in there (because I know they like to "excavate"). This is exciting news, April is almost here, so this could very well mean that the Chickies have chosen this box and will start making a nest soon ❤️

I was rooting for him so hard for days! I am so happy.

a nut right under the lid to lift it, and pile them up so much the lid would lift, so he knows that it can. And yesterday, he finally figured it out. It was quite the process and but he did it! I am so proud of him, and I hope he will be nice and fat and shiny soon. #wildlife

A squirre learns to use the Kingsyard box YouTube video by Ostdrossel

I've been filling the #Kingsyard box with black walnuts every day, and many squirrels came and took them out. One of them seemed to have issues figuring it out, and of course it was a tiny haggard little guy and I kept looking for his progress and made it my mission to help him learn. I would put

Sialis.org - Information on bluebirds and other birdhouse birds Sialis.org provides information and resources on bluebirds and other cavity nesters & birdhouse birds | Eastern, mountain & western bluebirds

invasive species. If you cannot make sure to keep House Sparrows out your Bluebird box, consider adding a hole restrictor so that only smaller native birds like Chickadees or Wrens can enter. sialis.org has great information about nestbox plans, location, management etc.