At a pond with a crossing bridge. Someone is feeding the turtles. When we stopped on the bridge over 20 turtles swam over to us. Shell size was about 12 inches.
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Iāve never seen a groundhog climb into my apple, pear, or peach tree. I did not know they could get their bodies up off the ground enough to eat off of trees. Interesting to know that. Now I have to watch for them UP in my fruit trees, ugggg.
Thanks for the info.
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just witnesses several hummingbirds feeding on my still flowering candy roaster squash. didnt think they were still here. also a ton of robins the the yard on their way down from n. Canada heading south. almost like early spring in reverse. very cool.
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We still have our hummingbird feeders up here. They tell us to keep the feeders up for two weeks after you seem to not see hummingbirds at the feeders for the stragglers migrating to the south.
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I just bought feeders cause they keep getting in my face seemingly trying to tell me something when Iām in the backyard.
Also i realized that theyāre the ones eating my strawberries so Iāve left some out for them on the plants. Only issue i have is that they all just peck a few and then move onto another 
wish they would take the whole thing instead
We have some likely older and younger birds over winter here. But I stopped putting out feeders a few years ago (8) we had a snow and 20s for a couple days and the two ruby throated females that I had frequenting my feeders all winter disappeared. Likely froze to death on whatever branch they slept on. I just have enough stuff blooming to not try to upkeep the feeders from collecting mold and ants.
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Do you have problems with Raccoons and hawks eating your koi fish?
Tony
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So far so good, havenāt lost one that I know of since putting them in last year, knock on wood.
I grew them out from 4" to 12" in cages then released them in the pond. Figured by the time they were 12"+ long at least the catfish and turtles wouldnāt get them. Iāve seen some Hawks, Osprey, Anhinga, Giant Blue Herring and a Little Blue Herring around all summer but I guess I have enough bream/bluegill, frogs and other critters they go after them instead of the bigger koi? I have a bunch of raccoons also but donāt think they are a problem. YET!!! I even saw a Bald Eagle 3 years ago so Iām sure itās only time till I might have problems but I feed them twice a day to get them bigger faster.
I have about 40 in the pond now and will be releasing another 40 which are my better quality this week from the remaining cage. Most of them are 12"-24" but I do have some smaller then 12" but I figure they better off in the pond now then staying in the cage over the winter or I might just sell them. When I go though the cage Iāll post some picās, I havent really seen them for over a year so Iām looking forward to sorting them out.
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I have a few Herons and some Kingfishers coming in to get some of the fish and frogs in my pond. The raccoons tend to eat what, if any, fish leftovers the birds leave. The raccoons like to eat the Canadian geese eggs in the spring time.
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Yeah I know some people have to net their ponds because they are just feeding the herons. Iād like to put a tiny pond in one day but the wife opposes it due to space but I think I could fit a little fish pond in to enjoy a tiny bit of aquaculture
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You can easily throw a pump in the pond with a garden hose attached to water your plants occasionally or even better hook it up to your irrigation. Free fertilizer.
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I forgot to mention you can feed Koi leftovers. They like watermelon, corn, peas, cabbage and lettuce to list a few. I havenāt tried any since I donāt have much leftovers.
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