Critter Watch

The bird feeders are getting some activity, I've seen a black capped chickadee flitting around a bit, and a Steller's Jay washed up in the bird bath this morning. Moving them may have disoriented the birds a bit, or they don't like the plain black finch food in the one feeder. Maybe there is something about the non-weed-growing seed mix that they don't like? Perhaps I'll call the bird feeding store and see what they think.

We have about 100 tadpoles in our pond. Last year we had a few that didn't survive, I believe they were either eaten or died off from lack of food. I didn't know until this year that they eat algea, so this year I've left the floating stringers in the pond. It smells a little, but it saves me from attempting to clean around tadpoles, and they seem to love the stuff. I noticed another new bunch of eggs this morning, so it looks like either another pair of frogs is visiting our, the Permanent Resident has found another girlfriend. I tried taking a picture of the tadpoles with a closeup filter, but I can't get close enough to focus. I might try pulling one out into a clear plastic cup for a quick photo.

My seedlings are starting to break the surface... I have some beets coming up and a bunch of green onions that have made it. I need to be sure to thin those out, otherwise I'll just have a tanlge of chive-like greenery again. Thus far the fishing line around the garden plot seems to have kept the deer out (that's why there are fence posts in the corners of the garden plot... see the last update for photo) I'll need to put some around the other box to keep them from stomping my squash.