Who You Gonna Call (or would you?)

A rather thought provoking conversation a friend of mine and I had a number of weeks ago. We all know to call 911 in the case of a human emergency or injury. Who do you call when it's an animal... especially a wild one? Would you call anybody? Would you try to help the animal yourself? Would you just ignore the poor creature and carry on with your own life?Without getting into the details of my own personal story or the one from my friend......

Read More

Why? Why? Why?

Once again, somebody in the city of Toronto has let me down. I do not know this person, I do not know what they look like and honestly I would never like to know this person or someone much like them.They have done something, which probably in their own eyes thought was a good deed... or they just didn't care. Their actions have impacted a number of lives now... both human and animal.Please read on...I know this couple, who have become pretty...

Read More

He's Picked Me...

About mid-summer of 2008, I happened to be out gardening on the weekend (no surprise). I have a big dirt area to play in and I take full advantage of it.Well, one day this small cat comes running out to me from the back of my shed, rubbing up against my legs, meowing at me and you would think I was his owner... or best friend. I had never seen this cat before. He looked a lot like the couple females a few doors over but much smaller and this...

Read More

Breakfast with the Downys

It's times like these, that I have to stop and enjoy the moment with nature. Who wouldn't miss seeing these two everyday right outside their kitchen wind...

Read More

My take on the common House Sparrow

Recently I questioned the disappearance of my Downys and after two weeks they have shown themselves again... thankfully.Now, another question of "where are they now?" is where are all the Sparrows?For many backyard birders, they would say this is a blessing to NOT have such commoners around as there can be many of them cleaning out your feeders daily. For me, I don't mind. A Sparrow adds life to the backyard and a sound-track. Multiply that by...

Read More

They HAve Returned!

I am happy to announce the return of my pair of Downy Woodpeckers (should I say "our" Ang?).Tuesday evening I got a text from Angie saying that she saw both of them on the suet feeder. Through the next morning I too saw the both of them at different times buzzing back and forth for a meal. I guess they were busy building/preparing a home for a batch of babies?I just realized that I don't have many photos of them taken with my digital camera......

Read More

Old reliables, where are thou?

I'd say since the first few months of actually doing this whole backyard bird feeding that we have had a pair of Downy Woodpeckers visiting the property. A couple suet feeders have been hung in the trees right out back of the kitchen window. I can honestly say this too... that I can count on my two hands the number of days where they have NOT been seen right outside the kitchen window. Well, that is up until about two weeks ago.Where have they...

Read More

Spring is here, no matter what your calendar says!

Well, spring is here! I don't care what any calendar says... Saturday March 14th, 2009 is MY first day of spring.Why? As those who know me and have had this discussion with me... today I saw my first Red Winged Black Birds of 2009. These are males in the photos.For the last week or so, Angie and I have talked about when they might show up. I did some searches on-line and discovered that others in Ontario had begun seeing them as early as March...

Read More

Off they go!

Hey All... it's Friday... woo hoo! Enjoy the weekend and please be kind to our animal friends... feed a bird, pat a dog or cat, make a donation or contribution to your local animal rescue or pick up a piece of trash in the park... whatever!I just wanted to inform everyone that the kittens are off to a new home. Someone took them together which makes me and everyone else involved very happy. The black and white one has been named "Checkers"...

Read More

Don't Point that Thing at Me!

So, the past couple weeks I have been hit with a number of animal stories. Unfortunately they have all been real downers. Grim realities for sure and nothing I really want to get too into at this moment.Spring is coming, the flowers will be blooming before we know it. So, with the flowers comes the bees.I've had my share of Bee adventures since living in this old house. Cracks in the walls and they find them, start building their hives. Luckily...

Read More

Me and My Shadow...

So, I've been battling this cold for 8 days now and am finally feeling better. I know Meadow can sense my "unwellness" but lately she's been even more of an affectionate cling-on. She is my shadow.If I am on the couch, Meadow is on the couch. If I go to bed, Meadow goes to bed. I am in the shower, Meadow is outside the shower. Funny how when it's your pet, you really don't mind all that much.My neighbor has been fighting a virus of her own....

Read More

The Red Breasted Nuthatch

So, much of last week found me out in the backyard, with camera in hand, chasing around this little bird and his mate. It was pretty darn cold everyday, which should be, being the end of February and me, being a dum-dum... out there in a sweater and no jacket. Why? I don't know really; I guess I get caught up in the moment? It may explain why I am fighting a cold this week.Part of my mission this winter, since getting this camera, is to get...

Read More