What is Slugyard?

Slugyard is a window to the world around you. Most of these photos were taken from in or around my yard. I hope they encourage you and your family to pay more attention to the world outside your door.

NORTHWEST NATURE BLOGS

OTHER NATURE BLOGS

Canada Geese Chicks

By Mike, on May 17th, 2013
IMG_0227

Last week we saw this Canada Geese family grazing along the banks of the Willamette River. According to The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, male and female geese often stay together for life, and some one year old geese actually return to their parents after nesting season for a while. They have . . . → Read More and See Photos: Canada Geese Chicks

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New Robin Family

By Mike, on June 17th, 2011
Juvenile Robin

Robins didn’t return to nest in our yard this year, but some very young robins have been visiting our yard with their new families.

See all of the spots on its breast? They are hard to miss. Over time these spots will fade and the robin’s familiar reddish-orange color will be all that . . . → Read More and See Photos: New Robin Family

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High Water Brings Ducks

By Mike, on June 14th, 2011
Mallards

Last week, the Willamette River below our house was as high as it’s been all year. The area in the photo above was the end of a hiking trail down to the beach, but now the water, Canada Geese, and Mallards have taken over.

New logs have floated into the area where the . . . → Read More and See Photos: High Water Brings Ducks

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Pumpkin Eater Surprise

By Mike, on June 7th, 2011
Red-winged Blackbird

I spent last night in Sunriver in central Oregon. Sunriver is on the other side of the Cascade Mountains from where I live. It is in the high desert with gorgeous views and plenty of pine trees. I arrived in the dark so I had no idea what the view outside my room looked . . . → Read More and See Photos: Pumpkin Eater Surprise

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Usual Birds

By Mike, on May 27th, 2011
Chickadee

All has been quiet on the birding front in our yard. Birds must be nesting or something because they sure aren’t hanging out in our yard in large numbers. Some of the usual birds have been showing up on occasion though. Above is a Red-breasted Sapsucker looking for food on our Walnut Tree. As . . . → Read More and See Photos: Usual Birds

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Swarm of Flies

By Mike, on May 26th, 2011
Robber Fly?

There still aren’t any herons to be seen down by their rookery, but I did see this Red-tailed Hawk down there. For some reason I haven’t seen too many birds lately. Maybe they are all waiting in nests?

Insects though are everywhere, as you can tell from my latest posts. Of course, while I . . . → Read More and See Photos: Swarm of Flies

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Red-breasted Sapsucker Wells

By Mike, on May 13th, 2011
Red-breasted Sapsucker

While standing outside in my front yard this morning I heard a familiar tapping noise. A Red-breasted Sapsucker was in my neighbor’s tree!

Last year two sapsuckers spent a lot of time feeding on this tree, and by the end of the summer there was a young sapsucker following them around. See all . . . → Read More and See Photos: Red-breasted Sapsucker Wells

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Weeds for House Finches

By Mike, on May 12th, 2011
Male House Finch

This bird was foraging in my backyard this past weekend. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it seemed to be eating dandelion seeds. What was it?

It flew away into the woods in the background, and then almost immediately this more colorful version flew in. It is a House Finch which is . . . → Read More and See Photos: Weeds for House Finches

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