Coming in Hot! A bird heads to the feeder

A Dove Spreads Her Wings

Male Cardinal

Male Brown-Headed Cowbird

The Brown-Headed Cowbird is a popular visitor to our pond and garden area.
Bird Watching Headquarters states the following about this blackbird:

In Alabama, these blackbirds are naturally found in grasslands, brushy thickets, prairies, and woodland edges. But they have greatly expanded their range due to human development, and they have adapted well to residential areas, pastures, orchards, and cemeteries.

Cowbirds have a truly interesting way of reproducing. Instead of spending energy building nests and raising their young, they let other birds do it for them! Females deposit their eggs INSIDE the nests of other species, which means the “chosen” bird does all the hard work.

Common Grackle (Blackbird)

This is a picture of a Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) found on the ground by our feeder which contains a mix of seed. The blackbirds seem to dominate the feeding area. The area in the picture is a North Alabama Backyard garden and pond area.

Squirrelly McDaniels has joined our backyard wildlife population

Introducing a new friend to the pond/garden area. Squirrelly McDaniels has joined our backyard wildlife population. Squirrelly is an Eastern Chipmunk. Above you will find Squirrelly pictured while feeding on a few walnuts while sharing space with a beautiful dove.

Gardening in Retirement Grows in Popularity

Gardening in Retirement Grows in Popularity

When people retire, especially from laborious jobs,they desire to wind down from working for someone else or a created business to focus on positive hobbies that enhance your retirement life. Hordes of people are turning to gardening. Many have transformed backyards in to tropical paradises. While many can afford to pay landscapers to perform the work for them. However, many decide to take a lower budget approach and design and build over time. Here is an example of a pond and garden being developed over time. In this example, a 41 year retiree from the federal government, says his pond area is simply an easy way to bring nature to your backyard while increasing aesthetic value. Join us for a 9 minute tour of a north Alabama backyard pond and garden.

Start planning to plant your spring flower bulbs

...It's time to start talking about daffodils, tulips,... If you want to have these spring bulbs popping up in your garden in the spring, you need to plan a few months ahead...

Reference: whnt.com

Bullfrog waiting on a meal to fly by.

Our backyard water garden in late June 2019.

Fresh mulch

First canna bloom of the year. My sister lives in Florida where hers bloomed a month earlier.

Banana pod/flower opening

Calla lily's

Moss rose

'One in a million' yellow cardinal spotted in Alabama (Pictures)

'One in a million' yellow cardinal spotted in Alabama

Article Excerpt: "... Auburn University biology professor Geoffrey Hill said the cardinal in the photos is an adult male in the same species as the common red cardinal, but carries a genetic mutation that causes what would normally be brilliant red feathers to be bright yellow instead. Alabaster resident Charlie Stephenson first noticed the unusual bird at her backyard feeder in late January ..."

Reference: www.al.com

The frozen Koi pond with aerators keeping oxygen level up and removing any methane gas build up.

Standing on the frozen Koi pond