Over the years we have had Eastern Bluebirds nest in our yard. What an incredible treat! In the past ten years the field nearby has been slowly taken over by trees, and we have seen less and less of them. … Continued
I came across numerous examples of these treehoppers feasting on our Redbud tree last summer. They seemed to be more abundant for some reason. My only guess is that the treehoppers liked the fresh, young growth the tree was forced to … Continued
Black-capped Chickadees are great little birds. They are probably one of the most recognizable birds in North America. I can almost imagine Black-capped Chickadees, American Robins and Cardinals arguing about who actually is the most popular. They seem too agreeable … Continued
I love Yellow Warblers. Few birds are quite as cheery as these little yellow dynamos. We have had the pleasure of having them in our yard in the spring and summer pretty regularly the past few years. We are certain … Continued
This is a sketch of a Red-brested Goose that I saw at the Toledo Zoo. It is a bird I knew nothing about before seeing it in captivity. They are endangered geese from Northern Asia. Its Latin name is Branta ruficollis. Other … Continued
This painting has been on my “to do” list for a long time. I got photos of this cooperative bird while on a photo trip to Ft. Myers, Florida with my brother Ted. We hit Little Estero Lagoon a … Continued
We’ve had no Common Redpolls yet this winter. I sure miss seeing them. This drawing was done from photos I took of Common Redpolls visiting our thistle feeder two years ago. Redpolls are fascinating birds. To me they seem kind … Continued
I had a blessed childhood for a myriad of reasons. My parents were big animal lovers, and bordering our backyard was a massive wood lot to explore. Many a summer day was spent flipping over rocks looking for salamanders, playing … Continued
This is the sixth year that I’ve made Halloween costumes for one or both kids. I guess they really haven’t been costumes so much as hats. One drawback is that the kids have to spend a lot of time explaining … Continued
“Grasshopper!” That is the usual answer that I get when people have seen sketches or photos that I’ve taken of katydids. That is a pretty reasonable guess. Katydids, grasshoppers and crickets all belong to the order Orthoptera. The katydids certainly … Continued