April 14, 2025 – Nature for my Soul

14Apr, 2025

CategoriesAnimals Birds What?! I Had No Idea!

What?! I Had No Idea: Hummingbird Migration

Now that I’ve been seeing male ruby-throated hummingbirds again, I’m just waiting for the females. They usually arrive within one to two weeks after the males. These tiny birds bringContinue readingWhat?! I Had No Idea: Hummingbird Migration

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Meet Photographer & Naturalist

Sharon Mammoser

Hello and welcome! I'm glad you're here! I love nature and photography and sharing what I've learned about the natural world. With my blog posts I like to show some of what's going on outside of our doors--whether that's what's in bloom, what wildlife I've encountered or what interesting things I've discovered. I hope you'll join me!

Sharon Mammoser

@natureformysoul

Vegan

Naturalist

Nemophilist & animal lover

Macro lover

AT Thru-hiker

Beauty seeker

visit my blog/website

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@natureformysoul

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Happy weekend! Let this serve as a reminder to get outside and discover something new. @natureformysoul #natureformysoul #natureismytherapy #naturetherapy #beautyiseverywhere #naturelover #reels #natureismychurch #natureismyhome

1 day ago

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1/10

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First time seeing a female hummingbird!! The males returned earlier this month. Woo hoo! I’m so happy to see her! @natureformysoul #natureformysoul #naturetherapy #natureismytherapy #naturelover #reels #natureismychurch #hummingbirds

2 days ago

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2/10

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Here’s what you need to know about these tents. These tents are made by eastern tent caterpillars, which are a native species to eastern North America. Their white nests are always in a crotch or fork of trees— never on the ends, and not in the fall. (Those are made by another species of caterpillar— the fall webworm.) Unlike many other species of caterpillars that have multiple generations per summer, the eastern tent caterpillar has only ONE. The eggs have been there all winter, and now, in early spring, the tiny caterpillars hatch out and begin feeding. Each egg mass has between 150-350 caterpillars. They are particularly fond of cherry, crabapple, apple, plum and chokecherry leaves. They will exit the tent to feed, leaving a trail of silk to help them find their way back. They return to the tent at night for safety from predators, although some birds are onto the game and dig into the tent to snag lots of tasty treats all at once. In general, these caterpillars and their very obvious tents do not affect tree health. Most mature, established trees will recover from the voracious feeders munching on their fresh green leaves, able to produce another set of leaves to replace those that were eaten. According to Penn State Extension, “The caterpillars are a native species that are attacked by a plethora of natural enemies, including birds and various insect predators and parasitoids. So outbreaks are periodic and short-lived and damage is generally considered aesthetic rather than a health threat to most trees.” Let’s put the poisons away and learn to embrace imperfections in our yards. Insects, and especially caterpillars, are essential to a healthy ecosystem. @natureformysoul #natureformysoul #natureismytherapy #naturetherapy #reels #easterntentcaterpillar #habitatoverlawn #caterpillars #lepidoptera

2 days ago

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Birds are loving my homemade water park! I’ll be sharing details on how to make this in a post next week on my blog— NatureForMySoul.com. Link above in my profile. @natureformysoul #natureformysoul #natureismytherapy #naturetherapy #beautyiseverywhere #naturelover #natureismychurch #reels #natureismyhome #outdoorsessions #hummingbirds #waterfountainforbirds

2 days ago

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4/10

@natureformysoul

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Happy International Bat Awareness Day!! What? You didn't know about this special day? It's not surprising, but really, we should all be celebrating bats given all the amazing, free services bats provide for us--like pest control, pollination and seed dispersal. Our planet would be very different if not for bats. So, happy International Bat Awareness Day!! Did you know that one out of every five mammals is a bat? There are more than 1,400 species of bats in the world which is a fifth of all mammal species. They range in size from tiny bumblebee bats, weighing less than a U.S. penny to giant flying foxes with nearly six-foot wingspans. For those who look a little deeper, bats are fascinating creatures with some astonishing adaptations. For instance, did you know the Brazilian free-tailed bat can fly 100 miles per hour, or reach heights of 10,000 feet? Did you know bats have great memories and are fast learners? For example, frog-eating bats learn the calls of resident frogs in mere minutes and can then remember them for at least two years without further repetition. There are bats that sing during courtship, bats immune to the stings of scorpions, bats that use their teeth to drill into termite nests, bats that adopt orphans and bats that live in pitcher plants high in the forest canopy of Borneo. To learn more about bats including resources on how to choose the right bat box, visit MerlinTuttle.org or go to @merlintutlesbats. Bats are not blind! They don't all have rabies. They don't get stuck in your hair. They don't all live in caves. So much about what we think we know about bats is fiction, not fact! I hope you'll join me in celebrating these fascinating, and essential animals. Happy International Bat Appreciation Day! Longer article about bats on my website link above in profile @natureformysoul, #bats #batappreciation @merlintuttlesbats

3 days ago

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5/10

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This is version number three of my hummingbird water theme park. I think I finally got all the kinks worked out, and it runs smoothly!! This male hummingbird who returned a few days ago from his southern migration loves it! Looking forward to having the ‘girls’ back too! @natureformysoul #natureismytherapy #natureformysoul #naturetherapy #beautyiseverywhere #naturelover #natureismychurch #reels #birds #birdfountain #hummingbirds

1 week ago

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6/10

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The hummers are back from Mexico and South America!! Woo hoo! They bring me such joy. And remind me I must clean the windows!!

. @natureformysoul #natureismytherapy #naturetherapy #beautyiseverywhere #naturelover #natureismychurch #reels #hummingbirds

1 week ago

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7/10

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The spring chorus is going loud and strong in our Enchanted Forest! Just a reminder to nurture your soul with the peace and beauty Mother Nature offers daily. @natureformysoul #natureformysoul #natureismytherapy #naturetherapy #beautyiseverywhere #naturelover #natureismychurch #reels #natureismyhome #outdoorsessions #enchantedforest

2 weeks ago

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@natureformysoul

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Some calming energy to start your day. May the forest be with you. @natureformysoul #natureformysoul #reels #natureismytherapy #naturetherapy #beautyiseverywhere #naturelover #natureismychurch #natureismyhome #fiftyshades_of_nature

2 weeks ago

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9/10

@natureformysoul

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Listen for a moment to the dawn chorus! @natureformysoul #natureformysoul #natureismytherapy #naturetherapy #beautyiseverywhere #naturelover #natureismychurch #reels #natureismyhome

2 weeks ago

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10/10

Calendar of my Posts

April 2025
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