mhalsted's Favorites

Day 2 of the unveiling was devoted to trying to teach the fledglings to feed themselves. Mom would still feed them some, but would also withhold it for herself or take it to the other two fledglings that hadn't been coaxed to the dried mealworm tray yet. One of the two in this series did eventually pick up a few for itself. What I usually see happen is the parents start teaching them with the easily accessible food, such as dried mealworms and suet, and then move on to how to hunt for live food on the ground and in the trees.

Continuing...Already counted. Mr.Mrs.Cangoos Total trust!!! They are feeding within 2 feet of me & the dog.
They only do this when I am close by, otherwise there is always one on the look out.
The last pic is Mr. Cangoos, his usual 'goodnight' look before following mama in to the reeds for the night.
This long time pair is such a delight to watch.

Talk about putting a guilt trip on this old caretaker. She sat in this position (pic 1) looking pitiful for about 15 minutes. When I finally went in the house and came back out with a bag of peanuts she jumped down and moved about 20 feet away from the empty ring. Pics- 2-4 are after I had filled it and went back and sat down in my porch chair.

This individual was with Red-eared Sliders and seemed much more yellow. than I am used to seeing in the area. It was sunning on a mound and both the first and last photos were taken from a distance. At one point when I approached, I was detected and the turtles all went for a swim. They resurfaced and rearranged on the mound again. I cannot be sure that the very yellow turtle in the last photo was the same individual after rearrangement, but I think so. This individual may have been a release as it seems out of area. Help needed please.

If anyone is missing their goldfinches I think I know where they are. Put the numbers together from the feeders shot and the shot of the ground beneath them together and it's still not half of the total goldfinches I have right now. goldfinch crazy town it be around here.

Mouthing off at me in #6. I was less than 1 foot away from her before she finally left, swearing at me from a nearby tree!!!She has destroyed 2 plastic feeders, and one new metal one....THIS one is an old one & she can't chew it! :)