One More For Steve

This photo is from last summer - I went out one morning and this poor little guy got stuck in the chain link fence. He was about three rungs up off the ground - tiny legs flipping around.....just frantic. Obviously, he was freed and went straight for the canal. Hope he found da Mama! 

Ok, I will give ya'll a break on turtles for a bit! :) BTW, I have not seen Mama Soft Shell for a day and a half. Maybe all the eggs have been laid? 

One Mean Mutha!

This post is for you Steve K! I mentioned on FB that I have a problem with a Florida Soft Shell Turtle in my yard. It first surfaced last summer and I got it out of the yard. This year it has been here almost daily and has ripped my yard to frickin shreds. My yard looks like hammered sh*t in a sack! 

This is not a nice turtle. Their teeth are gnarly. I would hate to be bitten by it. And, it is quite a sizable turtle. She has got to be over 24 inches across.  (They are also known as pancake turtles because they are one of the flattest species). 

In Memoriam - Zoe, Simon & Jack

As mentioned during my "meet Mert & Gert post, there have been lots of goings on.

My three cats passed away. Zoe, Simon and Jack all succumbed to old age. Zoe passed 2 years ago March, Simon that May and Jack made it until the following February. Various illnesses from cancer to diabetes claimed them.

I miss them every day.

RIP Boyz~

WOW! It's Been A LOOOONG Time

My gosh, I had no idea it has been this long since I have posted anything. So many animals have come and gone! To make a long story short, the reason I am back at this, DUCKS! ;) I had a friend who lived across the street. She adopted two Pekin Ducks, a male and a female. Mert & Gert. Well, she moved to Colorado. The new home owners were taking care of the ducks. They moved after a year. The realtor, a lovely woman named Karen and I have been taking care of feeding. She buys the food, and I do the physical work of feeding them. That is enough for now........but please meet Mert & Gert....

Happy Birthday Peepers

I accidently deleted a post showing Porsche on the nest. No matter - I have pictures....See below the post here for a pictorial of the last few days.

Things have been kinda crazy around here. MORE DUCKS! Well, not as many as I hoped. Here is the readers digest version for the last 3 days.

• Horrible rain storms here-cold, cold, cold, particularly for a little soul that weighs an ounce!
• Start hearing peeping Saturday - hatching has begun
• Put a plastic bag over the chimenea to try and keep the rain and cold out
• Left the duck alone, but kept checking on her from the back door - she is shivering. What?
• Monday 4/30 - I came out and she is out of the nest and there are three peepers in the fireplace staring up at me!
• Leave her alone - she goes back in and sits
• Later that day, she leaves the nest with three peepers following. I look in the chimenea and there are three hatched babies that look like she may have walked on them - they are not alive. *sniff*
• Porsche is in and out of the nest for most of the morning. After 1pm she abandons the nest, and she and the three babies sit under a bush with her wings over them - it's cold and very windy.
• Around 3pm, I donned gloves and removed the three dead babies and buried them. I have to get the eggs out so I don't have a raccoon invasion. Will wait until I'm positive she isn't going back in (the eggs are cold - they aren't going to be with us)
• Porsche takes the babies for a swim in the pool.
• 6pm - take the eggs and all of the "debris" away. Put the eggs in a plastic bag in the garage. Too stormy to bury them.
• 5/1 - she is just sitting in the yard, preening & walking around. Been in the yard all night it appears.
• 2:30pm - it's much nicer this afternoon - photos of them being out and getting a lesson follow
• 3pm - I bury the eggs  :(

If I can stand to post my videos with my awful screechy voice, I may add that later. O_o

Here she is before they started to hatch...

The Snapping Turtle I found deceased on Saturday. No longer a predator. Sad though, he's been around since we moved here.

 The Hatching Begins.....

See the little wing?

Trying to keep the rain out....so chilly!

 Out & About!

Duck School :) 

Brrrrrrr.......

 May 1, 2012 Getting a lesson...Can you see the baby on Mom's Back below?

CLASSIC! I have never seen this! Talk about baby on board! LOL!

That's all for now! Quack!

Certified Wildlife Habitat! My Yard!!!

How freakin COOL is this??? Sooo proud!

Blue Jay

When I got to the gym this morning, this little guy was in the shrub in front of my usual parking space. Of course when I pulled in, further into the shrub he went. I don't know if you can see him...I tried to outline him.

December 1st Revisited~

I didn't have the heart to update the post about Porsche being "on the nest". Raccoons! Ugh! No new babies here. :(

In other news; December 1st. I am reminded of my first December post:

http://mymuscovyduckstale.blogspot.com/2009/12/d-day-operation-december-duck.html

Oh how I wanted to ducks to fly and be free, and get my lawn back. I have regretted it ever since. Live and learn.

December 1st will always be a little sad for me. Oh well, I will go out and feed Porsche and Ellen (and the boys), maybe that will boost my spirits! After all, Merry Merry! :)

Porsche's On The Nest!!!

Well, bad foot or not, Porsche has been playing with boys and she's out back sitting on eggs! When I went to take this shot, she got very angry and started after me! Peeping and flapping her wings!

Mama Elsa lives on!!! Funnily enough, she built her nest in the exact same spot where Elsa did....

It's a really safe spot, having the pool wall on one side. Too bad its not the side that faces east - better hurrican coverage. Irene hits today! Eeek! O_o