EDITION 9 |  2:10 read time

A Wildlife Champion generally refers to a designation given to a donor supporting a zoo, nature reserve or wildlife project.  I do that too, but for me being a Wildlife Champion also happens much closer to home. Our backyard, for instance! We have our own little ecosystem going. From feeding the birds (Blue Jays, Northern Mocking birds, Carolina Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, House Sparrows and the occasional Downey Woodpecker) and of course those escaped acrobats from Cirque du Soleil, aka the Eastern Gray Squirrels. They are fun to watch! The star of the show is the Bald Eagle pictured above (notice the Mocking bird harassing him, that takes guts!) This is the third year they are nesting in our neighborhood. They lost their nest during Hurricane Zeta when the eye of the storm came right over our house (that was earie, scary and exhilarating... all at the same time). It didn't take the eagles long to rebuild. We're hoping for another brood this year.

I've also decided to expand my Wildlife Champion status this year by attracting more butterflies, bees and moths to our garden by planting as many flowing plants as possible.  Everything from Dahlias to Poppies, Cosmos, Snapdragons, Hollyhocks, Nasturtium, Zinnia, Sunflowers, Peonies, Daffodils and many more. A wildflower meadow with a wildflower mix specifically formulated for the hot and humid Gulf Coast region is also going in. While still working from home, I'm doing my part attracting wildlife to my 'home office'.

I'm working on my second photography book about the little lizards known as Green and Brown Anoles that will be a testament to the wildlife habitat we created in the middle of our residential neighborhood in New Orleans!