May Monthly Post

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is the May community post for birdfeeding. Which birds did you see this month? What were your wildlife activities during February? What are your plans for March?


May anchor posts include:

Garden for Wildlife Month

Poem: "Birdsong" by Matt Merritt

Photos: House Yard

Photos: Prairie Garden

Baseball birds

Birdfeeding

[ysabetwordsmith]

Today is partly sunny and mild.

I haven't fed the birds yet. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches. Recently the house finches have been all over the thistle feeder.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I fed the birds. I've seen a grackle and a robin.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I pulled and trimmed weeds around the purple-and-white garden.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I pulled and trimmed more weeds around the purple-and-white garden.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I pulled and trimmed more weeds around the purple-and-white garden. I am most of the way around the outside now.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I finished trimming weeds around the outside of the purple-and-white garden.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I started trimming weeds inside of the purple-and-white garden.

I've seen a male cardinal and a male fox squirrel. Several sparrows were splashing in the red birdbath. I've seen a skunk on the patio.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I started trimming weeds inside of the purple-and-white garden. \o/

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I watered the patio plants.

Privet is blooming, with a heavy, honeyed scent, a little salty.

I've seen two bats flying around the edges of the yard, and the first several fireflies. :D

Climate Change

[ysabetwordsmith]

Scientists believe penguin poop might be cooling Antarctica — here's how

In a paper published on Thursday in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, they describe how ammonia wafting off the droppings of 60,000 birds contributed to the formation of clouds that might be insulating Antarctica, helping cool down an otherwise rapidly warming continent.