Animal Power

 Yesterday, I wrote about Fire and Flower Power. Today, Animal Power, but first, a fire update. Maritimes had rain on their 🔥forest fires, which is a darn good thing. They are starting to get a handle on the Nova Scotia fires. We've a new fire, today, west of Ottawa. near Renfrew, they have evacuated people. Blogger Karen has mentioned a couple of fires in Algonquin Park that are out of control. Her family has an evacuation plan. 

Fires near Centennial Lake, Refrew

Monitoring Canadian fires

We are grateful for international help! Both Australasia, and South Africa.

#2023WoFCanadianDeployment
Song and dance from #MZANZI1 as they arrive in Edmonton, Canada.#MZANZI1@environmentza@CIFFC@epwpza@kishugu pic.twitter.com/alj2IEnkuJ

— Working on Fire (@wo_fire) June 4, 2023

🐦The birds: the males came back, and then the female hummingbirds.

The hummingbird feeder attracts other birds: the oriole, woodpecker, and rose-breasted grosbeak. Mr. Grosbeak hovers at the window, looking for fruit, perhaps. It truly is able to hover. 

 

I keep forgetting to check for fireflies in the dark. This one I found dead in the water fountain. I was so sad.

Then, there is Fred. I've decided to try gender-neutral pronouns. (It is Pride Month!) They are definitely building a cozy home (see video). They excavated in the shed floor, but focuses on their home under the lower deck. 

UPDATE: They have now dug a hole under the propane tanks. This is what surrounds the house: large stone and sand for drainage.

They have since stopped!

Fred groundhog from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The catbirds have been pretty active in the front yard this week. I have a video of them from June, 2016. This was so fun! I was out gardening, watching the traffic, and heard these three.

Gray catbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I call him Pepper, but he isn't our cat. He's been an unpredictably infrequent visitor. In order to visit us, he has to cross a highway. This is the first time I've seen him in the daytime, and I heard him yowl through open windows at 8 a.m.

pepper from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

OK, must bundle up and put out garbage. Hopefully rain later, the front from the north brought some chilly overnight temperatures.  

 

Tomorrow, I've bear and wood duck news!

Saturday's Critters

 Here we are, back to Saturday! It's been a week, all told.

My 2nd trailcam I keep moving about, but this one beside the frog pond, on a well-traveled path, and  continues to pick up critters. It helps that some of the bugs have lessened.

 

young buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The trailcam was focused on lot #2, but it only picked up said buck! I moved it. Again.

 

buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The coyote trotted on by.

 

coyote July 30 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Up at the house, I've been noticing Fred, the groundhog. 

Cinnamon discovered his recent excavations.

 

fred groundhog from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

He's dug a tunnel under the firewood. Cinnamon inspected it, after one of our walks.

 

Cinnamon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The hummingbirds are enjoying the Tiger Lillies. I sat on the front deck and watched them. You know that LUCK = PREPARATION + OPPORTUNITY. I had my zoom lens, on the monopod, my reading glasses, and sat waiting patiently. I was prepared. 

 

female hummingbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Then, there is the catbird.

catbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

She is stuffing her mouth with bugs. I think she is feeding young. In the very last few frames, I spotted the hummingbird chasing her off and landing in the pine tree. 

Saturday's Critters # 451 <= visit more critters at Eileen's blog!