Category Archives: animals

Susan takes a stand for mourning doves

May 12, 2021animals, Columns, wildlife, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

In 1989 Wisconsin put their peace dove, the mourning dove, on the list of animals to hunt. I objected and wrote about my feelings.

Everyone did not agree with me. Some even wrote letters to the editor. Wow! Here’s what I wrote about the idea of hunting one of my favorite birds.

Mourning doves are fun to watch and listen to, but there’s only a bit of meat on their bones, so don’t shoot and eat them.

A small group of hunters is allowed to hunt on Sunnybook Farm. Most seek deer, some turkeys, and ducks, but no one is allowed to shoot a mourning dove. That’s the rule.

You may object to my stand on hunting these mournful little birds and that’s your right. But this is my farm and YOU SHALL NOT HUNT MOURNING DOVES HERE!

Down the lane

April 9, 2021animals, Sunnybook Farm, wildlifesusanmanzke

I had a great video of hundreds of geese flying away but it wouldn’t download. Today the geese took off before I was close enough for a good video, but other birds hung around.

Turn up volume to hear the sounds of spring on Sunnybook Farm.

It was a good walk and I managed to get back to the house with only a few raindrops hitting me.

What do you hear?

April 7, 2021animals, wildlife, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

Turn up your volume for this short video. Noting is moving, but there is an interesting sound.

At first I thought I heard birds, but as the sound changed so did my idea about the animal/s above.

Many critters stop over on Sunnybook Farm. Some settle down to have a family. I pretty sure I know what critter belongs to this sound. It must be baby raccoons.

Of course, little raccoons have to have a big mama around. Chickens beware!

To the rescue

March 25, 2021animals, walksusanmanzke

I wrote about taking a walk along my road and picking up garbage left by inconsiderate motorists. Today was different.

This time I walked after a rain, and yes, there was garbage (ugh) but there was something else. Traveling out of the grass ditch were worms.

Too bad for these worms they ventured out of their natural area and onto the shoulder and blacktop. There they would die except for my rescue.

I only walked about a mile in total and saved twenty worms and two nightcrawlers. In the grand picture, that wasn’t many but at least those few were happy not to die.

If I had been thinking about fishing, these guys might have met a different fate, that being used as bait. But fishing is far from my adventures right now so they were safe.

I felt good that I could help out a few worms today. They benefit the soil.

A look around

January 7, 2021animals, nature, Weather, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

I found beauty in my back-backyard today. This is where my family has camped on Sunnybook Farm.

Just two quick views of the farm on a cloudy day.

There are no other human footprints but mine in this section of the yard. Most footprints around belong to the cats, maybe a few came from raccoons or opossums.

Nature surrounds me.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person