Site Discussions

Raised over fifty monarchs to adults and still counting :D

I have a Viburnum acerifolium and I would like to know if the berries on this shrub are poisonous or whether they can be eaten by humans.  Any help will be appreciated.  Thank you.

sincerely,
Paul Holden
Shelton, WA

These morning doves are amazing! I had two hatch in my flower pot and they are back again.
What disheartens me is people’s comments on here, one in parties by Gary- who hunts them. I suggest that he keeps his selfish remarks to himself about these beautiful birds. He is another low life person who doesn’t value nature. Shame on Gary Bobseine. You do not belong on this site.

I’ve found 2 caterpillers. 1-1 1/2 inches long black yellow black with white whiskers at either end. Are these distructive & what kind are they please?

First: Thank you for all the work you do. Second : a short funny bat story.
Years ago I woke up to noises in my house.  Noises like someone was bumping into things…a burglar (or worse)?  It was perhaps one or two in the morning. Listening, I realized the noises had progressed from downstairs to the upper hall. As I got out of bed ’ it’ was suddenly in our bedroom and I realized it was a bat. I’ve always liked bats but catching one in the dark was interesting. As I tried to catch it, it moved into our computer room.  I had a A-ha-Gottcha! moment and came up with the smallest most baby bat I have ever seen.  It was so cute and SO little. As I was trying to figure out how to open a window with my hands full of bat the problem was solved..  He grabbed a chunk of my thumb and bit with all his might.  It was so gentle.  I could hardly feel the pressure.  Do baby bats have no teeth?  But this action freed up one hand.  He was holding on for all he was worth.  I was able to open the window, pried the bat gently off my finger and he flew away. My husband slept through the whole episode.

Thank you, Dave Mance III and Gerry Lemmo, soo much for the information and pictures in this article! Thanks to both I was able to successfully identify a wingless female White-Marked Tussock Moth!

The Woodcock has appeared at my farm this last February 2019.  Was beyond excited to find and hear them.  I hope for their return this winter!!

I am an amateur naturalist and Master gardener. I love every bit of nature, Unfortunately, we are losing it to builders who do what they do for money only. Wildlife habitats are disappearing, I did not see any butterflies last year, this year I had plenty. I have nine Butterfly bushes and an extensive array of perennials. Hummingbirds and the like are flourishing. Thanks for your photos, I photograph different stages of the praying mantis, as I have many in my yard, I collected some egg cases years ago and they remain in my yard. I have them in every stage, including laying their egg case, and escaping from their exoskeletons!, They are marvelous creatures.

I have 3 or 4 that visit my yard 2 that actually come on the porch and beg for peanuts ( prefer) as they also store sunflower and safflower seeds they are very territorial I have one that comes up on the porch all the time and he runs everyone else off and I’m pretty sure his cachet is pretty extensive I just love the little guys they’re so cute I do find that they are smarter than squirrels I’ve seen them run birds off squirrels off all I have to do is open the 10 to my bird seed container and he comes running up the stairs one of the other ones caught on to that trick too but he seems to run him off all the time they are funny to watch I’m pretty sure my little guys will have a good winter.

Today my wife and I visited Gorham and Berlin in NH . We had so many complex feelings. That is the pulp making industrial development way since 1995 in the whole world . High consumption, high environmental pollution and high competition electronic products . But we will remember the great history of Gorham and Berlin in NH for ever !!

What a great article!  Many years ago I stayed at a cabin near Rangley Lake, ME…it was so lovely to hear the loons and I keep the memories with me.  It’s fantastic these birds are protected and encouraged.

I rescued a baby. I’m trying to introduce her to the wild. I want to be prepared for winter for her just in case. She’s just started living outside full time. I do put food out for her
Any suggestions?

When the coordinates of property boundaries are reduced to a reference surface, one would assume that the quoted area parameter is different from the actual area due to slope and ruggedness. If land tax calculatiion are based on the convention of area measurement reduced to the horizontal plan, then the amount of land tax is under stated.

I love the above story thank you for sharing. I was researching this creature because dad is now gone but mom is up in the corner of my bathroom with 24 teeny tiny little baby spiders in her web. When I looked it up it said it takes a year for the babies to hatch so I figure I have a very special case here. So do I just keep the family and let them live in my bathroom?  I get the feeling they feel safe in their space.

My husband and I were sitting on the porch yesterday and told me to look at that baby hummingbird. I took a picture and videoed it the best I could but was moving just like a hummingbird. It was on my hanging petunias. Today we told our son and he kept saying it was a moth. It kept bothering me the design on it’s wings so googled a moth that looks like a hummingbird and low and behold there it was a hummingbird moth. The one we saw was red. I had saw one a couple weeks ago in the grass when mowing and it was the spotted one but at the time had no idea what it was and didn’t see it flying. Then I found this article and had to share my experience. Sure hated to admit to my son I was wrong lol.

I recently moved to the California foothills. I have one wild turkey that hangs around. I haven’t seen any others, but yesterday, she had a little chick following her. I had no idea there were any other turkeys around. Needless to say, it was the most awesome site to see! I’m hoping there won’t be any hunting around here, but as long she stays on my property she’ll be safe! (I can’t believe someone would kill these awesome animals! )

i had one bite my arm. felt much worse than a bee string. left a 1/4 inch hole that swelled up and my whole arm hurt

I now have a skunk living in my garage wall. The door is next to the den and when I leave, I open the door a crack and if it’s there, I tell it to “go hide in your den” and it does. So then I can leave w/o fearing to surprise it and risk being sprayed. Ha! I fear it won’t be able to stay there this winter though, it’s too cold. Chipmunks have tried last year and didn’t make it.

Someone mentioned Amber lensed bee glasses earlier?  There is something to that I believe.  Wear a polarized set of sunglasses/goggles and look up.  Bee lines begin to appear as if by magic as do many other types of flying insects The old readers on the subject described squinting techniques and facing towards the sun while squinting.

I was introduced to horn pouting on Sebago Lake, My grandfather - a French-Canadian millworker - took 15 or so people out on his restored Coast Guard lifeboat at night. By gas lantern, we’d pull up dozens of horn pout. Back home in NH, I would have my mom or dad drop me off at a local pond at dusk and they’d pick me up around 10-11. I’d sit there with a flashlight, bucket, and fishing rod getting even alive by mosquitos and catch horn pout. Good memories.