trying to learn to allow myself to be fully human

My favorite cape from my last collection. Dripping in black onyx and made with boiled wool, antique velvet and luxe petersham. This piece has sold 🖤

Heads up pet keepers: zebra mussels have been spotted in Petco Betta Buddy brand moss balls.

If you don't know what zebra mussels are, they're an invasive aquatic species that reproduces incredibly quickly, to the point where it can damage power plant equipment and pipes, and also is a major threat to native mussels as it rapidly outcompetes them. They are a scourge on lakes across the midwest and spread easily on boats or other watercraft thats been exposed to them.

Finding one in a chain pet store item is BAD NEWS. These items are sold across the entire country and this has the potential to be a major spreader event. If you spot a zebra mussel on marimo or on any other aquarium plant please make a report to the relevant wildlife officials so they can be controlled. Do not dispose of any aquarium animal or plant in a waterway.

februrary 14 2021 – western WA they should stay down until march; if you live in eastern WA, keep them down until april. this includes hummingbird feeders! it’s not dangerous to humans, just birds. thanks for doing ur part to keep birds safe :)

oregon california nevada

I work in the industry (yes, backyard naturalists have an industry) and avian salmonella and avian conjunctivitis are currently a huge issue right now and it is affecting more than just the American west coast.

Both illnesses have the following symptoms:

Birds are lethargic

Birds do not fly away when approached

Birds may sit on a feeder but not eat

Birds die shortly after exhibiting this behavior

In the case of conjunctivitis birds will also have “goop” around their eyes.

Birds gathering in groups are more likely to transfer and contract these illnesses, therefore to discourage gathering (birds need to social distance too) we’re asking people to stop feeding them.

Also, if you’re thinking “well, I only have a few birds/a small feeder” I’d like to remind you that all it takes in one infected bird to cause an outbreak which can kill hundreds of birds which disrupts the local bird populations which disrupts the local ecosystem which disrupts the foodweb and so on and this is happening right now (Feb 2021).

If that isn’t enough of a deterrent for you consider the following:

Avian salmonella is transferable to pets and people.

What You Can Do:

1. If you have any bird feeders or bird baths or anywhere else wild birds gather, take them down and throughly clean and disinfect them.

2. If you are in an area where there is an outbreak leave your bird feeders etc down. Birds eat from many sources, they are not dependent on your bird feeder, they will be alright.

3. If you see birds exhibiting the previously mentioned behavior or see dead birds in your yard etc carefully dispose of them, disinfect yourself and anything non-disposable that came in contact with the bird, and repeat steps 1 and 2.

4. If you have pets, monitor them. If they came in contact with an infected bird they may have contracted salmonella and will have the corresponding symptoms. Take them to a veterinarian if you suspect they have contracted the illness.

5. If you think contact with the birds or other infected animal, such as your pet, may have infected you then please see a doctor as soon as possible to recieve treatment. (I have had a woman who contracted salmonella from her dogs after they were around the dead birds who didn’t get treatment for two weeks.)

6. Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and anyone else you know who enjoys backyard birding or who has mentioned seeing sick or dead birds.

7. In the future, clean your bird feeders etc regularly.

If you’re feeding bird seed, you should be able to smell when your seed has gone off before you can see it and should replace it accordingly. Take down and clean your feeders monthly, if you are able.

If you are feeding nectar, do not use nectar that has any kind of coloring or dye in it, only use nectar made from white table sugar, not stevia, not honey, not brown sugar, etc. If you live in an area that is 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit change your nectar every three days or so, if you live in an area that is 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit change it every two days or so, if you live in an area that is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit change your nectar daily.

Keep in mind, this goes for all feeders, you only have to fill it as much as you think your birds will eat. If you have a feeder that will hold 3lbs of food but your birds only eat 1lb before it goes bad then only put in 1lb (or get a smaller feeder).

This rather ghastly opossu.m washed up during the flood. Conveniently a perfectly-sized bucket also washed up nearby so I was able to bring it home to clean it up!