Category Archives: wildlife

Water, please!

June 21, 2021wildlife, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

I didn’t have the heart to chase this raccoon family away. A mother coon brought her young ones for a drink today. Here’s what I saw out my window.

Raccoons can be a big problem. I wish these lived in the woods. Still, I just witnessed a mother taking care of her babies by leading them to water. That is all part of nature.

These guys also cleaned up the last of the kibble the outside cats didn’t eat.

I will refill the water bowl so any critter can have a drink today. It did rain some, but it’s still pretty dry here. No puddles were left, even in my driveway.

Flutter-by

June 2, 2021wildlife, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

As I walked down my farm lane, I watched many yellow butterflies flutter-by.

I tried snapping a photo, but as soon as I zoomed in, they were gone. I finally caught these two.

Beauty is found in the littlest creatures.

Humming right along

May 31, 2021Susan, wildlifesusanmanzke

I changed the sugar water in the hummingbird feeder and had a visitor right away.

I waited for it to return, but tired, and gave up.

Look in the mirror and you’ll see me on a ladder, holding my phone, snapping my own picture. By this time the little humming bird had flitted away.

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!

Spring arrives on a wing

April 29, 2021Columns, Susan, wildlifesusanmanzke

Geese flying in from the south may mean spring to you. For me, the arrival of the red-winged blackbird heralds spring.

This column from days gone by shows how those birds bring spring to me.

It doesn’t matter the year. When red-wing blackbirds warble for the first time in April, I celebrate the birth of spring.

Wishing you days where birds brighten your life.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person