Gray Catbird (Dumetella Carolinensis), Taken April 27, 2024, In Georgia, US

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), female, taken January 23, 2025, in Georgia, US

One of the only cardinals brave enough to come down to the feeders while I was out today! The red-winged blackbirds are coming through right now, so I sat for an hour in the cold weather only for them to keep just enough distance to make okay-ish—but not good—pictures!! All of the male cardinals were skittish today because of the wind, but this pretty lady posed nicely!

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), taken April 24, 2025, in Georgia, US

What I believe is my first butterfly of the year, at least that I've been able to photograph! I saw what I think was a Blue Morpho in early, early spring, before almost anything was awake, but it flew off before I could get a picture. Since then, it's been some skippers and a few Tiger Swallowtails, but never when I have my camera on me! This guy was touched down because of a storm. I went out right after the rain, when many flying insects are still reluctant to fly, and was able to get a couple decent pictures!

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), taken October 29, 2024, in Georgia, US

There is a thriving squirrel army in my backyard. On the days leading up to winter, there can sometimes be over a dozen inside the fence at once. This one stopped for a drink!

Conifer Bark Beetles (Boros unicolor), larvae, taken February 26, 2025, in Georgia, US

I spent like two hours running around peeling the bark off of fallen pine trunks and found tons of these bad boys. I had no idea that they existed or what they were until I found them, but they're kind of epic! They remind me of if a beetle and an earwig had a child, but a termite became involved somewhere along the way. Just a weird mixture of morphological traits, though they're perfectly adapted for life under pine bark!

You can see the individual in the video almost snag the smaller insect as a snack. I came across one shortly after this eating a potworm!

Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), males, taken April 30, 2024, in Georgia, US

These cardinals dressed appropriately for the scenery! The japanese maple is exactly the same color as them, which comes out looking very cool in shots like these. Soon, the maple will be filled back out, and I'll have a nice red background to take pictures on again!

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), male, taken February 11, 2025, in Georgia, US

Cardinals have been pretty shy at the feeders as of late. They all show up and just sit in the trees, too nervous to come down. Even a red-winged blackbird came down before them, and they've been horribly difficult for me to photograph! This guy came down to pose for me, though! He seems to be starting his spring molt, poor guy lol.

Probably already been added by someone but I'm making this addition for the pair in my backyard specifically.

Northern Mockingbird, 9/10

I have allowed 1 point for the times they are nice, but 90% of the time this mf spends the whole day bullying everyone else off the feeders and not eating anything himself. WHAT is the POINT if you don't EAT.

Rating the birds in my backyard by tendency toward violence

Northern Cardinal, 4/10

I'm sometimes worried the male is sexually harassing the female but I'm pretty sure they're just doing some elaborate public pickup roleplay. The rest of us didn't agree to participate in your kink, guys.

American Robin, 1/10

Literally just some dude hanging out. Never bothered anyone but worms. Big fan of the way you just stand there in the middle of the grass like you forgot what you were supposed to be doing.

House Sparrow, 10/10

You're a gang. You're participating in gang violence. There's ten billion of you living in a single wood pile and it's been civil war for three years now. When will the bloodshed end?

Tufted Titmouse, 1/10

A shy baby. A pretty little guy. I saw you on the neighbor's garage roof and time stopped. There were anime sparkles around you. Come back.

European Starling, 9/10

Why is it always you? Listen, I know, I KNOW the sparrows are the problem, and YET. When the fighting starts, it's always you in the middle of it, provoking them and then screaming like you're an innocent bystander defending yourself. I'm onto you.

Carolina Wren, 3/10

This rating is not for physical violence, which you don't engage in, but for your role as an incurable narc. A tattle tale. I know they're fighting again, okay? I see it. Our yard has been a warzone for years, you don't have to make a big announcement every time someone misbehaves.

Eastern Wood-Peewee, 0/10

If this were "birds who think they're better than everyone else," you'd get 10/10.

Red-bellied Woodpecker, 6/10

It's a utility pole. It's not a tree. You're surrounded by trees that are full of bugs. But there you are, on the utility pole. Committing vandalism.

American Crow, unrated

For who am I to cast judgment on the actions of La Famiglia? I assume you are doing what is best for the neighborhood. If I could, though, without criticism, make a single observation. That when large numbers of you gather in the ominous dead cottonwood - no? No, you're right. None of my business.

Great Crested Flycatcher, 5/10

Frankly, I think you could be doing more. I think your name implies a great potential. I think you should massacre the insects. I think your beak should drip with viscera.

Stay tuned for more criminal activity!

Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata), female, taken March 28, 2025, in Georgia, US

Behold: my first dragonfly of the year! This lady landed right in front of me on the creek bank, and who am I to say no to a dragonfly, especially one I didn't recognize? I would love to see more of these—the shade of brown on her is absolutely gorgeous! I presume that since mosquitoes aren't out much yet, she's eating other midges and the small caddisflies that are currently abundant here. Now that I know there are dragonflies out and about, I'll have to start checking all their favorite perching spots again!

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), juvenile, taken May 9, 2025, in Georgia, US

A disheveled young cardinal stopping for a few sips! Someone had been in the bath prior and made it absolutely filthy with dirt, but this guy didn't really seem to mind. The bath water is replaced daily, but it tends to get dirty pretty fast if there are lots of baths in a day. The birds could just go to the koi pond literally 5 feet away, but I guess it's too scary for everyone but the song sparrows!

Stink Lacewing (Genus Chrysopa), taken April 2, 2025, in Georgia, US

A fresh new adult lacewing has graced this Earth! I almost walked right past him since he was at foot level on my boardwalk, hanging off an outlet box. As you can see, his wings are still drying and aren't fully expanded. Soon, they'll round out, harden, and he'll fly away in search of a mate!