Happy father's day to all the dads! This male red-breasted grosbeak has a distinctive and beautiful song. A metallic-like click, its melodious notes float down from the tree tops on Eighty Acres. In an attempt to mimic the grosbeak and maybe join in a duet, I pursed my lips and with gusto, whistled an ungodly rendition. The grosbeak went completely silent. No more duets! Next time I think I'll just stick to softly humming. #Menomonie #travelwisconsin #Discoverwisconsin #Ro

The Scarlet Tanager winters primarily in Columbia and Bolivia South America and is scheduled to arrive back to Eighty Acres in the next few days. Their arrival will be hard to miss. The male will dress in his usual fire red coat trimmed with jet black wings. The female will select a softer olive and yellow outfit. They will feed on insects and will build their nest, high in the forest canopy using grasses, twigs and leaves. Three to four greenish, brown spotted eggs will

Upon an trail on Eighty Acres, I discovered scattered woodpecker feathers. I stopped, knelt and tried to piece together this woodpecker's story. I wondered if the woodpecker's eyes had ever met mine? Did I hear its song? Did it taste the suet from the feeder? Did it dance in the sky above Eighty Acres? Soon the wind will blow the feathers away. Others will be covered with snow. Maybe a few will be used for nest building. For a moment I linger and ponder the sadness o

It goes by many names including: Jelly Coat, Flag Bird, Shirt Tail Bird, and the Flying Checkerboard. On Eighty Acres It is simply known as a Red-headed Woodpecker. Due to lack of dead trees to nest in, the once common Red-headed Woodpecker's numbers have declined significantly. I feel fortunate this uncommon and beautiful bird is calling Eighty Acres its home. #TravelWI #EarthMotherssecrets #Birds #Discoverwisconsin #DunnCounty #NaturePhotography #Midwest #RedHeadedWoodpec

A click of the camera. A wary look. A cock of the head. No worry. All is well on Eighty Acres. Now back to my nyjer seeds. #EarthMotherssecrets #NaturePhotography #Wisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #Discoverwisconsin #Midwest #Birds #DunnCounty #TravelWI #HouseFinch

Do you remember the 1946 Disney song Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah? The song reminds us to celebrate each day because there is "plenty of sunshine heading our way" and "mr bluebird on my shoulder." The Bluebirds are back to Eighty Acres and yes...."it's the truth. It's actual. It's satisfactual." #NaturePhotography #Wisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #Midwest #Discoverwisconsin #Birds #DunnCounty #EarthMother #Spring #Bluebirds

Before the Ring Necked Pheasant died it crawled under a brush pile on Eighty Acres. The bird's colors were a majestic collage of bright golds, fiery reds, iridescent greens and blues with a bright white collar around it's neck. How it died I do not know, but I thanked the Earth Mother for the opportunity to capture the beauty and spirit of this regal bird. As I photographed the bird I was reminded of a Japanese view of life called Wabi-Sabi. Finding beauty in nature and acce

A cold morning on Eighty Acres and this Downy woodpecker is wondering why it didn't fly south. Downy woodpeckers are the smallest woodpeckers in North America and are amazing acrobats. Being regular visitors to my suet feeders, I have watched them perform amazing gymnastic style tumbles, circus- like high wire acts, amazing spins, and death defying grabs. I believe this tiniest acrobat is ready for Las Vegas and Cirque du Soleil. #Naturephotography #dunncounty #wisconsin #