Back yard drama.......

Not a lot going on in the garden but the local critters keep things interesting. We have a pair of Mallards who come every day. They wait for me to see them and expect me to provide treats. Last year they were a lot more shy, this year not so much. They have got used to me apparently. They came into the drive and up to the gate as I threw them some bread. I named them Nelly and Nigel. So yesterday I was working in the garden trying to clean up around the deck. A lot of Winter accumulation of bird seed and veggies around there now the snow has melted. Well apparently they might still want that because they both came and supervised. I left them to it and went and got some corn and seeds and put that under the bird feeder in hopes of distracting them. Nelly went in the pond and Nigel ate the corn.

Nigel is such a handsome fella and he takes good care of Nelly. She will languish in the pond or take a nap and he stands guard. Well then there's a crow, actually a couple of Crows who come around. I had thrown out some bread for them all. The Crow got a bit that was rather stale and wanted to dunk it in the pond. Nigel said no.

Its fun to watch the interaction. Crows seem to be quite timid. Nelly is very comfortable here and after her bath she takes a nap. When the coast is clear he will relax.

Just recently there seems to be little in the way of bird activity. I have no idea why except maybe nesting time. I am hoping that they come back soon. The best thing we did was moving our bird feeder and putting the Squirrel baffle on it. It has kept down the Squirrel population. Still a couple of them come around but not like before.

Today the Crow was really brave. I missed him in the bird bath but he came on the deck for bread. So then I got my camera and watched the interaction between him and Nigel. Nigel is the boss. He shood off the Crow because Nelly was in the pond again.

Can you make out Nigel with beak open wide and Crow is flying away. The Possum has changed shedule apparently. I leave food and its gone by morning but has not been around for me to see. Could be someone else but in any case I haven't seen them. The bear from last year who was visiting Meijers parking lot is back, he's running around the surrounding neighbourhoods but has elluded the live traps so far. hahahahah...........wish he would come this way. I have plenty of food for him. When they get used to people though the DNR removes them to woodlands far away from people if possible.

I wish I could say that was my picture but alas, he won't visit me.