May 20, 2005
National Wildlife Federation Certified our Backyard as a
"Backyard Wildlife Habitat"
To learn more or to apply to have your backyard certified,
click the NWF logo below!

Birds found in our backyard: Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, Carolina wrens,  bluebirds, goldfinches, ruby-throated hummingbirds, red-headed woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, blue jays, mourning doves, chipping sparrows, crows, red-tailed hawks, road runners, cedar waxwings, painted buntings, robins, orioles, and black-bellied whistling ducks.

Animals:  White-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, red squirrels, gray squirrels, red fox, flying squirrels and armadillos.

Other:  Anole lizards, speckled salamanders, tree frogs, and some fancy striped toads.

"The closer man associates himself with nature,
the greater his personal, spiritual
and even physical well being grow and expand
as a direct result of that association."  -- Frank Lloyd Wright

 Photos, Photos...
Our backyard and more!

Communing with nature is stepping
into our Lord's ever changing masterpiece
 

Photos by Bari
Location:  Magnolia, TX
Camera:  Canon EOS 20D

Whatever it is that lives,
a man, a tree or a bird,
should be touched gently.
Elizabeth Goudge

Year 'round we provide black oil sunflower seed, suet, wild bird seed, corn, apple spice blocks and maintain 5 watering stations for the birds, deer, etc., and add thistle seed for the 200-300 goldfinches while they visit starting in December/January each year. 

We keep hummingbird feeders out 12 months a year.  From March to September we have around 10-12 ruby throats that visit, then in Sept/Oct, the numbers increase to 200+ as they migrate south across Texas.  At that point we have 12 feeders and go through around 40 cups of sugar water a day!  It is quite a sight.

The black-bellied whistling ducks (Photos Below) were new in 2005.  One pair arrived in May and that was all we saw for months.  Now there is a flock of about 50 that fly low over our property happily whistling at each other.  Up to 20 will land in our yard at a time and help themselves to sunflower seeds and corn, while the others stay in the tops of trees nearby. They are quite a treat to see!  And no, we've never seen them in our pool! 

Click here for pictures of our Cat Happy Pride