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There is not a single day that I do not see something amazing out in the half acre... in the grass, in the bushes and shrubs, up in the sky.. life abounds and if I'm lucky I get photos and copy for my Backyard Universe Blog. (The link to my blog is on the tabs above.) I grew up in Southwest Florida, playing outside on dirt roads and in rainy season, fishing around in the ditches for fish and other critters. I basically do the same thing now, only in a slightly different form.
The Painted Buntings over winter with us. I use to travel to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to stake out the feeders in hope of getting Painted Bunting photos. Since I have placed feeders outside in Fall and Winter, I have Painted Buntings every year. The Bald Eagle... what a story there. I have spent years trying to get to locations all around South West Florida to obtain a good photo. Last year I went out to the Labyrinth and was looking 200' out across the mostly empty neighboring lots and there was a Bald Eagle up in the top of a tree!! I flew back in for my camera. It was getting dark, I missed dinner, who cares! right?! I staked out the bird until he flew and I got the beautiful images you see below. On another day a Juvenile flew over...
The Hummingbirds are off and on visitors all year. It was a learning curve getting the stop motion images of their wings. They are so fast! Some days the hummer will BARGE right past my face ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz with a buzzing sound.
All of these birds are around because we have created and maintain a habitat conducive for their staying, visiting and or nesting, year after year. They have food and cover, water -- even sand bathes. I have native plants that provide seed for them - like beauty berry and native Firebush.. If you provide the basics Food, Cover and Water.. you will get birds in your garden too. I hope my website will inspire you to invite wildlife into your space. If you have questions feel free to drop me a note via this link.
All images by Linda S. Jacobson.