Earthy Girl

They’re packing their bags, and they are hungry! 🎒🌸

This morning’s visit in Connecticut was a total wake-up call, this little hummingbird literally circled our camera feeder to remind us that it’s time for a fresh refill! This feeder is for seed so I feel she was really sending a message.

Right now, these tiny travelers are preparing for an incredible journey south. Some hummingbirds fly up to 2,000 miles, including a nonstop, 18-to-22-hour flight across the Gulf of Mexico! To survive, they need to nearly double their body weight, relying heavily on reliable feeders along their route to fuel up.

How to prep your feeder for migration season:

Clean it right: Scrub with a clean brush using a mix of warm water, a little baking soda, and a splash of mild detergent. Rinse completely until it’s squeaky clean!

Mix the perfect nectar: Use 1 part plain white store-bought sugar to 4 parts water.
Keep it simple: Never use organic or raw sugar (the iron content can be harmful) or red dye. Simple plain sugar mimics natural flower nectar best!

Let’s help our feathery friends make it to their winter homes strong and nourished! 💚

Is your feeder prepped for migration season yet? Let us know in the comments! 👇

ConnecticutWildlife HummingbirdFeeders NatureLover

That patch of green grass might look nice, but high-maintenance lawns offer almost zero ecological value. Swapping even a small portion of your lawn for a regionally beneficial, native garden transforms wasted space into a thriving sanctuary! 🌿🌸

Here is why making the switch is a game-changer:

Attracts Natural Pest Control: Beneficial insects like ladybugs, hoverflies, and praying mantises feast on garden pests, reducing your need for chemical pesticides.

Supports Native Pollinators: Regional plants provide the exact nectar and pollen local bees, butterflies, and birds need to survive.

Saves Water & Time: Once established, native species are adapted to your local climate, requiring significantly less water and fertilizer than standard turf grass.

Builds Healthy Soil: Deep-rooted native plants prevent erosion, improve soil health, and absorb stormwater runoff far better than shallow grass roots.

Ready to turn your yard into an ecosystem? Start small, plant local, and watch the beneficial bugs move right in! 🐝✨

GardenInspiration Biodiversity

Downy Woodpecker are surprisingly fond of hummingbird nectar, especially during the warmer months.

Here’s why they visit:

* Quick energy: The sugar in hummingbird nectar provides a fast source of calories, much like it does for hummingbirds.
* Easy food: If the feeder is readily accessible, it’s an effortless snack compared with searching tree bark for insects.
* Seasonal needs: During nesting season, adult woodpeckers need lots of energy. They’ll often eat insects for protein but may supplement with nectar.

This behavior is common enough that many people report seeing downy woodpeckers, as well as Hairy Woodpecker and even Red-bellied Woodpecker, visiting hummingbird feeders.

A few things to keep in mind:

* Continue using the standard recipe: 1 part white granulated sugar to 4 parts water. Don’t add honey, artificial sweeteners, or red dye.
* Clean the feeder every 2–3 days in hot weather (or more often if it’s very warm) since woodpeckers can introduce bacteria with their beaks.
* If the woodpeckers are drinking so much nectar that your hummingbirds can’t feed, consider adding a second feeder or placing one in a location that’s easier for hummingbirds to access.

It’s actually a fun sign that your yard is supporting a diverse group of birds. Many bird enthusiasts enjoy watching woodpeckers stop by for a “sweet drink” before returning to their usual diet of insects, seeds, and suet.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of human-made chemicals known for being extremely resistant to breaking down. They’ve been used for decades in products like nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and firefighting foam. Because they don’t degrade easily, PFAS can accumulate in the environment and in our bodies, which is why they’re often called “forever chemicals.” Among the major global producers of PFAS chemicals are: 
• 3M
• DuPont (through its PFAS spin-off The Chemours Company)
• BASF
• Arkema
• Daikin
• Solvay
• AGC
• Dongyue

Because these companies produce PFAS, any pesticide manufacturer that purchases PFAS-rich chemicals or “wetting agents / surfactants / adjuvants” from global chemical suppliers could—especially historically—have applied PFAS in their pesticide formulations. Here are the major investment firms that repeatedly show up as large institutional shareholders across the PFAS-producing companies you mentioned (3M, DuPont/Chemours, BASF, etc.). I’ve listed each firm with a short note and a citation showing them as a top holder in one or more of those companies.
1. The Vanguard Group — one of the largest shareholders of 3M, DuPont and other major chemical companies. 
2. BlackRock, Inc. — a top institutional holder across 3M, Chemours, BASF and others. 
3. State Street / State Street Global Advisors — large holder in 3M, DuPont and multiple European chemical firms. 
4. J.P. Morgan Asset Management — appears among the biggest institutional owners for 3M and other large chemical names. 
5. Capital Research & Management (Capital Group) — a meaningful institutional holder in BASF and other chemical companies. 
6. Fidelity / Franklin Resources (FMR, Franklin) — shows up among top institutional holders for DuPont/Chemours and peers. 
7. Norges Bank Investment Management (Norway’s sovereign wealth fund) — a notable holder in BASF and other European chemicals. 
8. Amundi (European asset manager) — a recurring institutional holder in large European chemical firms such as BASF.