iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Hi. Hope you are all doing well! Just popping in for a sec. As I mentioned, busy with life until mid-Nov or early Dec. I am just flat out busy and birding and soc media isn't really happening for me ATM. I wanted to thank my new followers. Your interest in nature and birds is much appreciated!

A monarch butterfly on a thistle flower at Trempealeau Natl Wildlife Refuge.

A monarch butterfly on a thistle flower at Trempealeau Natl Wildlife Refuge. Wings wide open. I have not had a capture like this before with the wings spread wide apart. Fun!

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

No birding this weekend as it has rained all weekend. 4" total so far. #BirdOfTheDay #CaptionThatPhoto Searched the archives. Here's a few that need captions. Sandhill and RWBB. Love-Hate relationship. RWBB trying to control a crane. Greenie and RWBB chatting. Dis is how you fish youngster!

Red-winged Blackbird harassing a Sandhill Crane.

Red-winged Blackbird harassing a Sandhill Crane and has landed on it's back.

Green Heron and Red-winged Blackbird having a chat at a pond.

Belted Kingfisher mother and child. The adult is teaching the youngster how to fish.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Saw a neat exoskeleton at Trempealeau. I think it may have been a dragonfly exoskeleton? There are many undisturbed areas to explore there. #dragonfly

A dragonfly exoskeleton hanging from a stick at Trempealeau Natl Wildlife Refuge.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Got a good look at this Meadowhawk Dragonfly at Trempeleau Natl Refuge. #Dragonfly

A Meadowhawk Dragonfly is perched on a plant stalk. It's very small, about 1.5 inches. It has red on the top of it's abdomen and is mostly shades of brown elsewhere on it's body. Such a delicate creature.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

On first visits to a new nature place the intention is to simply scope it out for future visits and take it all in. Wished I had more time for this first visit, but that's ok, I got a good look around. This was one of my greeters at the visitor center. Ground squirrel.

Ground squirrel at Trempeleau Natl Refuge.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Not here much this wk and that may be for the rest of the yr. Very busy right now. However, I AM making quality time for myself outdoors. We have a Natl Refuge in Wisconsin at Trempeleau on the Mississippi and I went for a few hours on Thurs. 3hr drive, birds were distant. Soaked up all the beauty!

This was a brief visit to Trempeleau, WI on the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. Nice to have multiple National Refuges in Wisconsin. The drive was long for a day trip, 2.5 - 3hrs each way, but the drive and nature were fabulous.

Trempeleau is a small town right on the river, it's beautifully situated and quaint.

The ppl who greeted me at the visitor center were outstanding and the nature did not disappoint. The bird photography was mostly not happening because the birds were far away and I did not have enough daylight to go exploring paths much. Sad I did not see so many birds for photos, but I could hear them all and it was a glorious day in nature.

This is one of the views near the entrance at Trempeleau Natl Refuge.

Another view as I made my way into the river delta to the visitor center.

This is the a street in the town of Trempeleau just outside the Natl Refuge.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

No time for edits tonight. Got a few images Saturday, not too many, but will post when I can. Don't know how much I will be online this week. #BirdOfTheDay #Herons&Egrets, any of the species. #birds Some of my favorites....

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Hope to get out in nature tomorrow, it's been a while. Have a beautiful weekend everyone! 🌿💛

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Reposted by Mary Gemignani

Janet Hill @saskajanet.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Flooftactular Friday Blue Jay #birds

Close-up of very floofy bird with silver belly and blue crest. Bird is perched on diagonal, copper-coloured twig with soft focus green in the background. It’s expression is very calm, with crest relaxed.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ItsAllWhite, birds main colour is White. The Alt theme is #RedHeads, birds with heads that are any shade of Red. The last image meets both themes, a Trumpeter Swan with a red-stained head from iron-rich water.

A Great Egret is fishing at a conservancy.

A Trumpeter Swan has a red iron-stained head. The bird is trolling the waters for food at a very large marsh.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Bee friend on some nice looking Thistle. 🐝

A bee is shown on a purple thistle flower.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

As I was leaving the Great Blue Herons and getting in my vehicle, I thought it would have been nice to see some cranes that day. Low and behold, there was a pair in a yard right across the street. The lady of the house was out and told me this pair has been here several years. #birds

Head shot of a Sandhill Crane looking right.

Head shot of a Sandhill Crane looking left.

A pair of Sandhill Cranes eating cracked corn in a residential driveway in the city.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Great Blue Heron from last outing. They were very far away, but 3 of the family of 4 were present and it was great to see them. Hoping the other, 4th bird, is doing OK. The fam. Dad on a branch. Junior in flight. Dad preening with a small bird friend nearby.

Three Great Blue Herons at an arboretum marsh. Mom, Dad, and Junior.

The male Great Blue Heron is navigating a large branch of a downed tree in a marsh.

A young Great Blue Heron is flying in to be near his parents at a marsh.

A male Great Blue Heron is preening on a large branch with a small bird friend in the frame perched nearby.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Last time I got out birding I did see a few different species when I got home from Horicon. There were abt 20 Wild Turkeys of various sizes from most likely different broods. Fun to see them. #birds

A young wild turkey is crossing the road, right to left.

A younger wild turkey is crossing the road, right to left.

A young wild turkey is at the edge of a yard near a marsh.

A young wild turkey. Image is of the head and neck showing the smallest of snoods.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

It's raining already today. Starting with a light rain. Since it's the end of flower season, I should post some flowers during the next eight days of rain. Here's a beautiful bloom to beat the rainy gloom today. Taken at Horicon last week. Not sure what this bloom is. 🌸

A bright pink stalk of blooms at Horicon Marsh.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Saw this little Goldfinch last weekend sporting his colors at the end of summer here. #birds

A yellow and black male Goldfinch sporting his colors in late summer. He's perched on a leafy branch and looking to his right.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Well, we are in for rain tomorrow and the next eight days at least. Hope to sneak in a walk in the morning. Wish we would just get a good soaker and then sunshine, but we tend to sink into grey nimbus skies in stretches like this. Have a beautiful weekend everyone! Compass plant at Horicon Marsh.🌿

A Compass plant flower, bright yellow and the plant stands at least six feet tall.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

There were alot of Turtles out of the water and sunning themselves last weekend at Horicon Marsh. So many turtles. #Turtles

Painted Turtles sunning themselves on a log along with about 12 others on this log.

Painted Turtles sunning themselves on a stump all by himself. Perhaps that's the LazyBoy recliner for turtles. Feet hanging free and his neck well supported.

Painted Turtles sunning themselves on a log. This was a small log with four turtles.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

#BirdOfTheDay theme of #Coastal&River here's a family of Trumpeter Swans in 2012 on the Wisconsin River. This was LONG before I started birding, but I have always cherished nature my entire life. Photo properties say it was taken with an Olympus camera. #birds

A Trumpeter Swan family on the Wisconsin River with parents and three juveniles.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

We lost a great American yesterday. She exhibited kindness and generosity like they were power tools. So many talents. RIP Dolly Parton. Loved her song "Butterflies" and did you know she kept (until this yr) a Bald Eagle sanctuary at DollyWood for Bald Eagles that could not be released to the wild?

A Monarch Butterfly in remembrance of Dolly Parton's song "Butterflies".

A Bald Eagle in remembrance of Dolly Parton's dedication and kindness to birds. She funded an Eagle sanctuary called Eagle Mountain Sanctuary at Dollywood. Non-releasable birds stayed for life and some were released back to the wild. Earlier this year in 2026 the sanctuary was hit with a terrible storm and damaged the grounds. Three eagles escaped. The grounds were not in good condition after the storm and another sanctuary, The Eagle Foundation's Kodak campus. Dolly was so, so kind!

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Here was one of the beautiful views at Horicon Marsh. The weather was just awesome here this weekend. Mid 70s and great sun (and clouds). What a habitat this place is.

Horicon National Marsh is a beautiful marsh in Wisconsin that spans 30,000 acres. This is a typical view. I am standing on a small hill. There is a marsh water feature with varied marshland grasses and reeds with a deciduous woods in the far background.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

What a beautiful weekend we had! I traveled up to Horicon Marsh, but did not see many birds. Eerily quiet there, but a beautiful day out. Got to see one of the smallest butterflies I have ever seen. Barely 1/2". The Least Skipper is a #lifer for me.

A Least Skipper butterfly is perched on a flower. One of the smallest butterflies I have ever seen. It measured in at barely 1/2". It was a treat to see this little friend.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #RainyDayBirds Here is a Belted Kingfisher in some light rain. #birds

A Belted Kingfisher is perched on a bare branch in light rain.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

No birds on my last two morning walks, so one from the archives for #birdoftheday #birdInABush. #birds #DownyWoodpecker

A Downy Woodpecker nabs a white berry from a bush while hanging horizontally on a branch.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

This Chicory flower had an interesting little insect on it. 🌿

The image is of a chicory flower with a small insect on one of it's petals.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Well, I settled for a walk near home on Saturday. Pretty slim pickins in the photo roll. However, I was pleasantly surprised by a warbler, there was a pair of them. Hoping for some fruitful morning walks this week. I think this was a yellow-rumped warbler #birds #warbler

A small bird, a warbler is perched in a tree. I think migration has started through our area already. I don't see them so easily most days. Bright yellow shoulder spots as well as a yellow spot on it's rump. These two markings indicate a yellow-rumped warbler.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

It was a slow, long week of on-call at work and I can't wait to get back out into the sunshine. However we are in for rain this weekend. Again. #PaintedTurtle

A painted turtle is basking in the sun on a rock.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

This thistle flower was quite beautiful this week!🌿

An open thistle flower seen on my walk this week.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Queen Anne's lace. Nature is amazing.🌿 Have a great new week everyone. See you in about a week.

Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota), wild carrot. Standing tall about to open it's bloom. It's the ancestor of the cultivated carrot.

Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota), wild carrot. A closed bloom close-up. It's the ancestor of the cultivated carrot. How it holds all it's blossoms tightly until they are ready is quite an interesting form.

Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota), wild carrot. Standing with an open bloom. It's the ancestor of the cultivated carrot.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Saw these two cuties on my morning walks this week too. Song Sparrow and Goldfinch. #birds

A male Goldfinch is perched high up in a tree and singing it's song.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

A few little friends from my morning walks. #nature

A Cabbage White butterfly perched on a leaf.

A Skimmer dragonfly perched on a plant stem.

A Tarantula Hawk Wasp getting some nectar on a small Thistle flower.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Compass plant and a whole lot of Coneflowers. 🌿

A very tall yellow flowering plant called the Compass plant.

A field of Coneflowers. These are narrow leafed coneflowers which are very common around here (WI).

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Rained out today. That's OK. I relaxed and made this short vid of the ICF to remember my 2026 visits so far. It starts with the portrait I donated, a Blue Crane, and shows one click for every species of crane in the world. They are all being conserved and protected at ICF. #birds #ICF

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

It has rained all day, will rain all day tomorrow, some storms possible, but not yet. Will be an indoor weekend most likely. A little down time to get other things done hopefully. I think this may be Joe-Pye weed, but not 100% sure. Have a beautiful weekend everyone!

A beautiful pink flower. A single stalk with several flower heads starting to bud out.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Sandhill Crane at a marsh, in it's habitat. Unfortunately they (the city) killed off a large reed bed this year, but it will come back. Their habitat is a small park on the back of a marsh. #SandhillCrane #birds

A Sandhill Crane is foraging around it's habitat. There are many dead reeds, a lush green carpet of weeds, and some new reeds coming up.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

This little dude, a House Sparrow, is the top monk at the local monastery. He took this nesting box this year and has been atop it in the same darn spot every time I drive through. He's sweet looking. He owns his space like a master. #birds

A male House Sparrow is perched atop a nesting box at a local monastery, Holy Wisdom Monastery.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

That hawk that I called a red-tailed from this week, I don't think she was a red-tailed. After looking at the not-so-great shots, I would ID her as a Broad-winged Hawk. If that's true, she's a #lifer for me. No red tail, and chk out the wingspread and alula. Let me know what u think. Thx. #birds

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Have a great new week everyone! 🌿

Blackeyed Susan flower (i think) looking pretty. It's petals are curled under. Seen at a local pond.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I did get out on Sat, but only for a few short hours. Saw a doe and fawn at the pond (in the city). Mama was eating water lilies and the fawn was doing zoomies every few minutes with rests in between. It was like taking your kid to the park I think. #WhitetailedDeer

A Whitetailed doe and her fawn at a city pond. The pod is near our conservancy, so it's kind of explainable. They were cooling off on a warm day.

A Whitetailed fawn at a city pond. It's standing in the pond resting for a brief moment.

The fawn was all about playing in the water and mostly was doing zoomies every chance it got. The water must have felt refreshing.

Mama doe was enjoying eating water lilies while the fawn was looking adorable.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

What I learned about Robins this week. Unedited pic of that cute fledgling American Robin Lessons learned in ALT text. #birds #Robins

This week was insightful observing my Robin friends. There are two ornamental Dogwood trees by my front windows. This year they were chocked full of nice ripe berries (purple). I always hope the berries will attract them. This year, perhaps two broods with 4 or 5 fledglings came everyday all day to eat the berries. I was thrilled to watch them. Today, one week later, the trees are picked clean, not a ripe berry on them.

Here's what learned.
1) Robins use their crop for eating these berries and after the berry is consumed, the seeds remain. I saw both adults and fledglings horking out seeds from their crop. I had NEVER seen this before. No pellet (like owls) just the little berry seeds and they would eject several inches away from the bird. Cool to see. Since I saw the fledglings also do this, perhaps they inherently use their crop just like adults!

2) When most of the berrries were gone already, the adults spent less time here. But Friday night it was getting late and only two of the newest fledglings remained. One could fly up to the tree, one kept trying and was wasting all it's precious energy, but couldn't get on the tree. No parents, I got worried for them. The more agile one stood on my porch looking in at me, the littlest one stood under the tree and just looked at me. Both staring at me like,...are you my mother? help!

This went on for almost an hour. No parents around! I can't whistle very well, so I made chirping sounds because they weren't chirping either. When they heard me through the window, they started chirping up a storm. In the distance a parent heard and started calling them, then came closer. All ended well. They went with mom or dad. Lesson, if you think a baby bird is abandoned, see if you can get them to chirp. If the parent is anywhere near, they will call and come to the sound of their baby's chirps!

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Talking about the weather today! It could be alot nicer, might rain, warm, dark and very cloudy. Hoping to get out a little this afternoon after errands. If I complain a little, perhaps it will improve, but no sun forecast until after 4pm. Great Blue Heron wants to see the sun too! #birds

Great Blue Heron at an urban marsh. It's a warm day and he's panting a little. The bird has it's mouth open showing it's remarkable tongue.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

The highlight of my morning walk today was a complete surprise. She was a stunning beauty. A Red-Tailed Hawk graced my walk with her presence this morning. She was looking dark morph, big (that's why I say female), and gorgeous. #bird

A red-tailed hawk lifting into fight from a tree in the woods.

A red-tailed hawk flies past some apartments. She appeared to be looking in the windows of the building as she flew by.

A red-tailed hawk in flight in a residential area.

A red-tailed hawk is perched atop a light pole and getting ready to launch again.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Here's the young Great Blue heron in flight. #birds

A young Great Blue Heron in flight at a local urban marsh.

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Mary Gemignani @marygemignani.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Saw this Green Heron at the Arboretum. Always fun to see a "Greeny". #GreenHeron #birds

A green heron on a log in an urban marsh. He's standing up fairly straight navigating o his next spot. Green Heron's have many different colored feathers, yellow legs and eyes and quite beautiful birds.

A green heron walks across a branch at an urban marsh showing agility where there are many small branches.

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