On my way to the pond...

I spotted this fun pair of chickadees. They've been building a hole in a dead sumac tree trunk. Isn't it funny?



Here is the action. If you watch to the end you will hear gunfire. In the back 500 (beyond our property) is the Recertifying range for the OPP. We do our part by tolerating the noise of a dozen men and women, in uniform, being tested for the year. It goes on for a few days a week all summer.
Chickadees from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Even funnier, I saw a pair of chickadees do this in Bala, in April 2010, videotaped from my living room window. The video show Sadie cat walking along the neighbour's driveway. Then, at the end, Oliver cat watching the nesting pair. They eventually gave up and went elsewhere, thankfully!


Down at the frog pond, my Wood duck friends are wary of my daily visit. The swim to the far end of the pond, then climb up onto the land, and duck walk over and down to the more secluded wetland in the trees beyond.


The mallards take off quickly and circle around the pond, watching for me to leave. At the end of the video, theOPP  gunfire, again.
Grumpy Mallards from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Daily I visit the frog pond to check on spring's progress. The mallards take umbrage. They return, soon, however.

There is still some ice on the pond, but the wood frogs are out singing! Last night the spring peepers were peeping, as well!
Wood frogs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Wood frogs just hang around like this, croaking and getting ready for mating season. Daisy on the dock, watching the water.

And the sad news

Dorah hiding from Buster

These will be the last two photos of Buster. Scolding, time outs, Feliway, Prozac didn't work out. My blood pressure was up as he tried to attack Dorah for the last time. I woke up to let him inside, after midnight. Gave him some food and I could see his tail twitching and he was ready for attack. Right under the bed, where Dorah hides from him. It was the last straw. I put him in the dog cage to protect Dorah until we decided what to do.

We took him to the vet and had him put down. Rehoming wasn't an option, as he is a wanderer. There are a couple dozen cats at LAWS who NEED homes. We cried. The vets were amazing, especially our Dr. Sara. They could have found him a home in a local barn, with two other cats, but since even Pickles (a wandering unneutered summer cat)  chases him here, he would be a victim. It was a good death. We were with him.
 Now to help Dorah stop hiding in the bedroom, and get back to her 'normal.' It's going to take some time.