Bird seed and Bears..Not good..

My wife and I are blessed to live in an area of upstate New York that has shopping centers, malls, supermarkets, large cities and small towns within a 30 minute drive of our home. We are further blessed to live where wild animals live. We share our yard with deer, turkeys, rabbits, fox, coyote, grouse, all kinds of beautiful song birds, raccoons, hawks, and, oh, did I mention Black Bears. We are further blessed that we only see the bear or bears "visits" a couple times in the spring. Yes, we've had our share of bird feeders destroyed, but $20 for a replacement feeder is the price I'll gladly pay to live with nature. We have never been put into situation where we have felt danger, although, my wife does get nervous when we have an encounter. A couple of pots and pans banged together or other loud surprising noises usually deters any further visits. With that said, I have also been blessed with some wonderful pictures. Here are a few...

Note swinging bird feeders.

Why do you have them so high?

Ya know I gotta eat too...

Admit it, I am a cutie, right?     

I'll hide behind this big rock.

Aw heck with it, I'm hungry.

This looks good. Smells good too.

Ok, I get the message. See ya later.

But I may be back.

Bottom line is, if you want to live in natures neighborhood, you have to share and be very tolerant and be very aware of what is going on around you...all the time. I've never had a bear visitor that became a problem. Taking the bird feeders down for a few days usually causes the bear to alter his travel patterns.

Feathers and Fur Dining

Save some for me.

Do ya want a nut?

I'm glad those guys up there are messy.

Hey..Wat-cha eatin?

Mixed Bag of Finches

Hey Tom, you really should chew your food.

The Brillance of Purple (?)

They (?) call them Purple Finches.    "Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful"

Things That Go Bump in the Night

A few years ago, well after dark, I heard my darlin say.."What was that? I just heard something. Go outside and see what's out there." Being the great protector that I am, I responded with a very polite "yes Dear" and grabbed my camera and out the door I went. It didn't take me very long to "see" what was making all the noise. I got a quick picture and went back in the house..quickly. And I mean quickly. My darlin asked, "See anything?" I said "Nope, nuttin honey". Then I showed her the picture I had just taken. 

It only took a few hours for her to settle down and go to sleep. Wonder why...

Sunny Turkey Wednesday

After yesterdays rainy miserable day the weatherperson said this morning was going to be sunny and warmer. Well for once they got it right. The local flock came back and gave me quite the show. My Turkey picture library received an abundant addition. Here are some of my favorites. The sounds of nature that filled the backyard while these beautiful birds were doing their thing added to the lasting memory that filled my camera lens. Music from the Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Cardinals was deafening. The sound of that chorus was accompanied by the sweet song from the Tufted Titmouse and the thunder Gobble from big Tom Turkey as he tried to keep his hens in order, and let his rivals know he was in charge. It was indeed a beautiful morning.

Rainy Turkey Tuesday

It's a pretty rainy day here in Chemung, NY today but that in no way means it's going to be boring. My visitors this morning were a bunch of Turkeys...pun intended.

Am I Lucky? or Who Wouldn't Want to Be Me.

 From a furry and feathered viewpoint, my wife and I have been very blessed with the "guest" that we have entertained and, in some cases, fed. I probably should say our guest have done more entertaining than we have. It amazes me that I can honestly say that the list that follows are animal/bird species that have graced our property and have been viewed by my family from the comfort of our deck or computer/living room. It is common knowledge around here that one never knows what they will see at any given time in our backyard. We are indeed blessed. I have "at the ready" 2 video cameras that are connected to my PC that I can activate within seconds. I have another video camera that fits nicely into my pocket in case I have to hike further out into the yard. I always have my much loved Nikon D-60/zoom lens camera within arms reach. My video library and picture folders and albums are my treasures. I am so very very thankful for being where I am and being who I am. Thanks Honey for letting me make this paradise happen.

These Creatures have been to our yard....

Birds                                          Wildlife

Baltimore Oriole                         Bear

Barn Swallow                             Chipmunk

Bluebird                                     Coyote

Blue Jay                                     Deer

Canada Geese                            Fox (Gray)

Cardinal                                     Fox (Red)

Carolina Wren                            Mink

Catbird                                      Opossum

Cedar Waxwing                         Rabbit

Chickadee                                  Raccoon

Crow                                         Skunk

Dove                                          Squirrel (Flying)

Duck (Mallard)                           Squirrel (Red)

Duck (Merganser)                       Squirrel (Gray)

Duck (Wood)                             Woodchuck

Evening Grosbeak                                                                  

Flicker

Gold Finch

Hawk (Cooper)

Hawk (Red Tailed)

Hawk (Sheep skinned)

Hummingbird (Ruby Throated)

Indigo Bunting

Junco

Kingfisher

Nuthatch

Phoebe (Eastern)

Purple Finch

Red-wing Blackbird

Robin

Rose breasted Grosbeak

Ruffed Grouse

Tufted Titmouse

Turkey

Turkey Vulture

Woodpecker (Downy)

Woodpecker (Hairy)

Woodpecker (Pilated)

Woodpecker (Red bellied)