Fawn

Took this little guy in today. I'm turning him over to another rehabber that has two other fawns so he has a fighting chance at growing up to be a normal deer. Someone basically stole him from his mom. They kept him for five days and finally turned him over to my humane society. He is on Lactated Ringers for the next 24 hours because he has diarrhea. Tomorrow afternoon I will start him on a Goat Milk re-placer. What an amazing little creature, I'm completely smitten, I could see becoming a vegetarian again.

Letter to the Editor

Please think of the animals.

Over the last couple of weeks, several sad incidents have come to my attention. Some citizens are apparently taking in wild animal babies and trying to raise them, instead of contacting a Wildlife Rehabilitator. In New York State It is illegal for anyone to process Native wild mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians with out a valid Wildlife Rehabilitators license. Wild animals deserve to live out their birth right, free and wild out in nature, not ever kept as pets in cages.

When wild animal babies are raised by inexperienced humans, they imprint on them. This creates an animal who will have a very hard time surviving out in nature. Those who try to keep wild animals as pets, soon find out that the once cuddly baby becomes a nasty adult who bites, scratches or kicks, and they need to release them. Most will now be very ill equipped to find food and survive for very long on their own and are doomed to suffer a horrible death.

Please, before you touch any baby animal, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have as to weather or not it really needs your help. Their young innocent lives depend on you to make a good decision on their behalf.

The animals thank you, as do I.

Bull Frog

Our pond is doing really well. Both my turtles look very healthy and happy. I'm glad that I can put them outside in such a large pond for the entire Summer. The Bull Frogs are huge. Both spent the Winter in the house after we accidental dislodged them from their hibernation spot.

Wood Thrush

Is there any song more beautiful then that of the Wood Thrush? If there is I haven't heard it yet. Petey and I had an amazing 2 hour hike up in the County Park. The forest was full of bird song. I was enjoying it so much I could have stayed out there for more hours. I had so many good looks at birds, very happy I brought my good binoculars.

Something inside of me feels like it's woken up again. The world looked so beautiful and my heart felt so happy. Petey and I really enjoyed our time together. Each moment with my boy is magical.

I've decided that I've wasted far too much precious time online in forums. I need to get back to the things I used to do and love, one being spending much more time out in nature, another is writing and reading. Sitting behind the computer for hours on end has helped keep me in depression and get completely out of shape. If I want to be able to be out there hiking into my golden years I really need to get back into shape.

Warbling

Petey and I went up to Cascade Lake Park today. It was a gorgeous morning. We had near perfect temperatures, crisp and clear out. The forest was full of bird song, the Spring migration in full swing. Warblers were everywhere along with orioles, Tanagers, Thrush, Grosbeaks, Buntings. Highlights include an awesome sighting of a Pileated Woodpecker soon as I arrived at the park. Scarlet Tanagers are truly our most stunning neotropical visitor. The trees are fully popped.

On the home front, lots of squirrels are still nursing, still haven't seen any of their babies. The ones I helped raise were let go yesterday. The Phoebes nest has three eggs in it, and it looks like she might be incubating them. I hope so. RB Grosbeaks continue at the feeder. RT Hummingbirds are hanging around. I put up a feeder for the Orioles but I can't seem to lure them into the yard.

Spring Birding

I've been really bad about getting out birding and writing down what I've seen so far this year. Today I went up to the property, I so enjoy exploring the place, it is such a unique piece of land. I still can't believe it is ours.

I planted all my pots and window boxes today. I need to get some new perennials to fill in the front gardens. Everything looks incredible. I love gardening now.

YES I Got It!

I've spent the last five months going deep into my soul trying to figure out this thing called life. Trying to figure out the lessons that are given to each of us and how we are suppose to be getting them, so that we don't have to repeat them over and over again. So we don't have to feel the gut retching pain of loss again and again. My most difficult lesson reared it's ugly head again. Days before my fiftieth birthday, my beautiful boy Petey was diagnosed with DCM, a fatal heart ailment which takes Doberman's lives very quickly. Shock, sadness, and complete disbelief has again filled my days. Why me? Why my beautiful baby? Haven't I suffered enough? But this was no accident, no cruel joke on me, it was another message from the universe, will I finally get it? Five years ago I lost my Dad suddenly. I spent the eighteen months following his death, deep in grief over not seeing him one last time, not getting to say goodbye to him. I was full of regrets. Should haves, could haves and would haves, filled my every waking moment. This time around...I've been given the gift of time....the gift of saying goodbye....the gift of no regrets, no should haves, no could haves and no would haves. Once again, I've missed seeing the gifts I've been given, blinded by my grief over the *thought* of losing my boy,cringing away from the pain that is headed my way....Once again I have stopped taking this thing called life ONE DAY AT A TIME. Everyone dies, everyone feels pain, everyone has loss, it IS life. It's how we live each precious day we are given that makes for a happy full life. There are no guarantees in this life, anyone can leave us at any given moment. If someone is precious to you, celebrate them every time you are together. We only have today to live, celebrate every waking moment.

All is right in my world today. I have a hubby that I cherish, four amazing sons, my beautiful mom is still alive and healthy, I have lots of extended family and friends that I love, I have my health, a home, food on the table, and my PETEY IS ALIVE. He hasn't left me yet, we have lots more adventures awaiting us, and I aim to make each day we are given together here on this beautiful planet the best day ever! When his number is up, he will leave me and I will be broken and sad, but I will have no regrets, his life will have been a great one, filled with adventure and my love. My heart is full, I thank the universe for clarity. I do think that this time I've GOT IT!

AT

Gorgeous cool day. Perfect hiking weather for Petey, and I was feeling a bit better after being sick for the last month, so we went up to the top of Cascade Park to the AT. Beautiful view of the lake on a crystal clear day. A Raven was soaring over when we arrived. Lots of birds in the woods, many Bluebirds. A couple species of Warblers, Warblers, Wood Ducks, Red Tails, Vireos.

A Faithful Dog

A FAITHFUL DOG

A Faithful Dog Will Play With You

And Laugh With You -Or Cry-

He'll Gladly Starve To Stay With You

Nor Ever Reason Why,

And When You're Feeling Out Of Sorts

Somehow He'll Understand

He'll Watch You With His Shining Eyes

And Try To Lick Your Hand.

His Blind, Implicit Faith In You

Is Matched By His Great Love -

The Kind That All Of Us Should Have

In The Master, Up Above.

When Everything Is Said And Done

I Guess This Isn't Odd

For When You Spell "Dog" Backwards

You Get The Name Of God.


Cascade Lake Park again with my sweetie Petey. Still very windy, chilly because of it. Lots of turtles out sunning, only notable bird was a Grey-Blue Gnatcatcher.

Mothers Day

Today it was again, very windy, not good for Warbler watching so instead of heading up the the Basherkill for some birding we decided to stick close to home. We went up to Cascade Lake Park. Had a few nice birds that appear to be staying and nesting. Red-start, Scarlet Tanager, Pileated, Waterthrush and Ovenbird. On the way home we had a nice sighting of a Raccoon running down the side of the road. Petey had a nice run. Going to be cold tonight, looking at freezing temps, so glad I held off from planting annuals.

Bear track

Took my sweet boy up to the property this afternoon for a little walk. He had a great time as usual. Found that a bear had been down by the river a little while before we got there. I love that bears up on the property are foraging for their natural foods. When you see bears near humans it's only because they are looking for something to eat like bird seed and garbage. Had a Solitary Sandpiper and the Blue bird continues. Phoebe nest above our front door is almost complete.

Cascade Park

Took Petey to the Humane Society to feed the baby squirrels. They got 3 more in, poor little guys had their tails all intertwined, must have gotten something on them in the nest. They were able to separate them, but their tails are not able to move yet, hopefully with a bit of time they will regain some movement, enough so they can go free.

Petey and I went for a beautiful walk up at Cascade Lake Park, we had the entire place to ourselves. I've been feeling so down in the dumps and getting out on such an incredibly gorgeous evening made me think about how lucky I really am. In a couple of days I've known about Petey's DCM for 5 months. That is far longer then many people get to have their DCM diagnosed dogs still by their side healthy. I've been enjoying every moment with my beautiful boy. He is such a sweetheart, so much fun and such a great companion.

Notable birds tonight, Hummingbird at home, Phoebe building a nest over our front door on the frat sign. Carolina Wren babies in our shed almost ready to fledge. Yesterday a bluebird at our property. Today Redstarts and Water Thrush up at Cascade Lake.

Beautiful!

Busy morning had to pick up another little bunny and head on over to the animal shelter to check on and feed the baby squirrels. As I was about to turn on to the road leading to the animal shelter a family of Canada Geese stepped into the road and began crossing, I stopped my car, put my flashers on and started flashing on coming cars. Mom, Dad and four brand new babies crossed the road with out incident to the pond.

Later on at home first Rose-breasted Grosbeak showed up and also a Hummingbird. Life is good here in Warwick!