Backyard Wildlife

[Deadwood Dutch]

Thanks for the photo and the information. I knew that there was a decline in the honey bee population but I have seen more here in south central Pennsylvania in the last year than I have in the past. But nothing like I had seen years ago.

[PT7]

I've tried for four years to keep a honeybee hive, but I finally gave up. Mine is what's known as a Topbar hive, one of the most natural of hive types and used worldwide; I built it myself using well established plans and materials. Each year the bees go into the winter with the hive full of honeycombs and brood and each year they're all dead in the spring. Once, they all died in late November inside of a single week. I've never taken more than a taste of their honey, leaving it for them to survive the winter. I also feed them sugar in the late fall. When I bring them to the hive in spring, they build ten to fifteen combs in just a few weeks, then begin to fill them with honey, pollen, and brood. I've read everything there is to know about caring for them, but each year more than 50% of all honeybee hives in the U.S. die. It breaks my heart that mine is among that sad statistic. Pesticides, especially systemic types that are in genetically modified crops, are a part of the problem. There are mites that can also destroy hives, but that's mostly controllable. There's nothing one can do about pesticides that end up in the pollen and honey. I may try again, but I'm leaving the hive empty for now, hoping a swarm will find it and move in.
honeybee_on_clover.jpg

The close-up of your honeybee is exceptionally sweet, CT.
Beautiful details and especially beautiful colors!

And thanks also for your efforts to maintain the bee population. We who buy their products in the store surely take it for granted at times. So hopefully a swarm of new residents will move in, and you can become a "hive landlord" once again.

[CT_Shooter]

Just outside of our laundry room window, only three or four feet away, is a Robin Nest with four little, rapidly growing baby birds. I set up the trail cam to get some pics. This one is representative. I think I'll leave them alone from now on.

Robin Nest.jpg

[Deadwood Dutch]

Awesome!

[Whaler]

Here are a couple from last summer in our backyard.
A Western Toad


Pacific Blacktail Young Buck


Pacific Blacktail Mom & Kids


Another Pacific Blacktail


Another Pacific Blacktail Mom & Fawn

[Deadwood Dutch]

Great photos and how wonderful to have the deer so close!

[RanchRoper]

Great photos. Colors are so rich in them. Thks.

[CT_Shooter]

One bright morning in the backyard. We've only seen Pheasants occasionally, but Mourning Doves live here year round.

Pheasant_Dove_800x600.jpg

[Deadwood Dutch]

That is a nice photo of the pheasant. The native pheasants have been gone from this area for years but the state game commission stocks them from the pheasant farms for hunting on the state game lands. Doves are everywhere here, in the bird bath and cooing up on the roof and in the pine trees.

[CT_Shooter]

Dragonfly.jpg