Category Archives: wildlife

Canada Geese in the sky

October 9, 2020nature, wildlife, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

It’s always a good show each spring and fall when Canada geese fly through the sky. One day, when a few flocks merged and flew over Seymour, people came out of shops and homes to watch.

Everyone had their heads craned skyward as the geese honked past. I was amazed at how many people came outside. They were quite a sight, too.

Here’s my video of a column I wrote in 1981.

Things really don’t change.

Sometimes I’m stuck in the kitchen waiting for something to finish baking when there’s a sight to see outside. Foos can get burnt when this happens.

I’ve been taking photos of sunsets. The shortened time to this daily event can catch me off guard. I almost missed one this week because it came so soon, or at least seemed to come early. My seat by the kitchen window doesn’t always mean I’m attentive to what is happening outside.

May you experience the beauty of the changing seasons today.

Fast flyer

June 25, 2020wildlifesusanmanzke

I filmed a short video of this hummingbird before, but I had trouble getting a still photo.

This is what I was able to get today.

This bird is so fast I usually end up with empty air when snapping a photo.

It’s here and then it’s gone.

I’ll probably try again and see if I can get better coloring. The bright green just doesn’t show up well in this photo.

Still, I’m happy I finally got a shot. I hope I didn’t disturb its breakfast.

Sandhill cranes down the farm lane

June 16, 2020wildlifesusanmanzke

Here’s another wildlife video.

I hid behind a tree so I wouldn’t scare the sandhill cranes dancing on our lane.

It was a lovely evening and I’m happy with the video.

I do enjoy watching them.

They weren’t talking but their call sounds prehistoric.

Hummingbird video

June 13, 2020wildlifesusanmanzke

I was heading out to get the hummingbird feeder to refresh it’s sugar water when one buzzed right by me.

I thought it was a good time to try for a video.

My first video was from below, just standing on the porch with my camera, but the angle was all wrong.

Out came my ladder and I took up a silent, statue-like vigil and waited for the bird’s return.

I was happy that when it came back it stayed on a side where I could video it. Sorry, the noise in the background is my radio inside the house.

Hummingbirds fascinate me.

Multiplying neighbors

June 11, 2020wildlifesusanmanzke

I’ve known for a long time that a raccoon has come to finish the food I leave for the outside cats. I’ve caught her on our critter camera coming onto the porch.

I call her a female, but I really didn’t know for sure, until last night.

Mrs. Raccoon brought out the family just before dark last night–because of the poor lighting, the photos are not the best.

At first, I thought I saw a cat by our maple tree, but then there was another. All the kits were having a ball climbing up and down the tree while their mother came for her evening snack–not much was left, but she ate any crumb she found.

It was hard to count all the kits. At first, I saw three, then four and then five!

I didn’t get a photo of it, but a sixth baby raccoon joined its siblings and mother just as the scurried away into the darkness.

That mother has her hands full. I’m just happy that raccoons only have one litter a year.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person