mhalsted's Favorites

Talk about putting a guilt trip on this old caretaker. She sat in this position (pic 1) looking pitiful for about 15 minutes. When I finally went in the house and came back out with a bag of peanuts she jumped down and moved about 20 feet away from the empty ring. Pics- 2-4 are after I had filled it and went back and sat down in my porch chair.

This individual was with Red-eared Sliders and seemed much more yellow. than I am used to seeing in the area. It was sunning on a mound and both the first and last photos were taken from a distance. At one point when I approached, I was detected and the turtles all went for a swim. They resurfaced and rearranged on the mound again. I cannot be sure that the very yellow turtle in the last photo was the same individual after rearrangement, but I think so. This individual may have been a release as it seems out of area. Help needed please.

If anyone is missing their goldfinches I think I know where they are. Put the numbers together from the feeders shot and the shot of the ground beneath them together and it's still not half of the total goldfinches I have right now. goldfinch crazy town it be around here.

Mouthing off at me in #6. I was less than 1 foot away from her before she finally left, swearing at me from a nearby tree!!!She has destroyed 2 plastic feeders, and one new metal one....THIS one is an old one & she can't chew it! :)

A bit of a story about this turtle. We originally spotted her the previous day, in about the same precarious position. Feeling that she may have something wrong with her, we examined her more carefully. She was lopsided and did not swim well.
We contacted the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC) and explained her condition. They asked for her to be brought in.
She is currently in care of the TWC. Leeches have been removed from her neck but it has not helped her issues. She has swelling in her right eye and fluid in her lungs. She flips over when put in water, so is currently in very shallow water so she will not drown.
TWC does not yet know if the turtle's problems are neurological, viral, or bacterial. She is on anti-parasitic medication and her weight being monitored to see if she is eating.
I'm hoping that she has a full recovery and can be returned to her home in the pond.