Of Foul Beaks & Bot Sleuths: Beneath the Cage Grate

Morty’s latest Beneath the Cage Grate column finds him wondering about the status of a flock of African Grey parrots in Lincolnshire Park who recently added some shock ‘n awe to their adoring onlookers by sharing some rather off-color language. In his November column, Morty tries to track these characters down to see how they’re faring since their ‘relocation’ due to bad behavior.

While bemusing the antics of his Grey cousins, Morty is at the same time somewhat enjoying the ongoing shenanigans of his crazy bot housemates. Alexa and Roomba are determined to apprehend the tomato thief that continues to terrorize the garden patch, but their detective skills and actions leave Morty both laughing and also trying to defend himself to mum against unfounded accusations of complicity.

A must read!

Alert Systems: Feathered Frenzy

In Sherri’s October 2020 Feathered Frenzy article, she explores how our feathered companions not only provide us with emotional support and comfort, but they also act as important alert systems, warning us of incoming weather, or dangers lurking outside our windows.

Read Sherri’s full article to learn more about how our feathered companions help keep us safe and connected with them, our home environment, and the outside world.

Boxing Alexa: Beneath the Cage Grate

Oh dear, it seems Morty’s efforts to finally rid his household of his arch nemesis Alexa was thwarted yet again.

A new apartment, packing boxes, and the prospect of shipping the dreaded bot off to the second-hand store was just too good to be true, much to Morty’s chagrin.

Catch up on this month’s issue of Beneath the Cage Grate to find out the lengths, and depths, Morty attempted to finally bid farewell to his annoying roommate.

Emotional Support Animals

In her September Feathered Frenzy column, Sherri explores the situations, needs and conditions in which a companion animal becomes an ’emotional support animal’.

Human stress and grief are powerful emotions, and those of us who live with companion birds know that our birds react in a myriad of ways to our emotions.

Read Sherri’s full article to find out more about what constitutes an emotional support animal and how, despite often not formally acknowledged as such, our feathered companions provide us with the solace and comfort we so desperately need in times of grief and stress.

Glorious Garden Guests: Gulf Fritillary — Backyard Bird Nerd

Gulf Fritillaries are another of the glorious garden guests that add an extra dose of beauty to the summer season. The designs and patterns on these butterflies are absolutely mesmerizing, right down to their speckled eyes! These Zinnia lovers flit from flower… …to flower…steadily slurping up nectar. By themselves, Zinnias are lovely flowers, but when […]

Glorious Garden Guests: Gulf Fritillary — Backyard Bird Nerd

Harris’s Antelope Squirrel — What’s For Breakfast? — Sonoran Images

You may enlarge any image in this blog by clicking on it. Click again for a detailed view. At least one or two Harris’s Antelope Squirrels appear to have taken up residence in our backyard. These little squirrels — which superficially resemble eastern Chipmunks — are burrow dwellers. They are prodigious diggers, excavating burrows with openings […]

Harris’s Antelope Squirrel — What’s For Breakfast? — Sonoran Images
Wickersham's Conscience

Commentary, Reviews and Nature Photography

For Dragonflies And Me

Weekly tips & tricks for your garden and home!

WildScot Photography

by Michael Cook

Twin Lakes Images

Photography by Mark Pouley

Seagroves Walks

Notes and photographs of my morning walks at Seagroves Farm Park in Apex, NC.