Mikes Everyday Wildlife

10/13/2026

I wanted to share an easy way to convert an area of turf grass into a native bed. I did this at my old house and it worked very well. Beats the heck out of digging out the sod.

Pictures may be out of order but still paints the picture.

1. Pick a spot
2. Mow the area as low as you can. This isn’t necessary but it does help.
3. Find brown cardboard and remove any tape/staples that may be on it.
4. Place the cardboard down and overlap it so grass doesn't grow through those spots.
5. Once the cardboard is down, place 3-4 inches of mulch on top.
6. Wait
7. You can plant now or wait. If you intend to put in plugs, you will have to cut a hole in the cardboard and dig through the sod. I did this no issues!
8. If you are direct sewing native seed, you can do that now also. Just do it now or before first measurable snow.
9. Next year you reap the rewards!

Something to note: If you're doing in this in a HOA, giving it intentional borders like I have here is a good way to keep HOA off your back.

I hope this helps! If this is something you intend to do for natives, please reach out to me or share photos below of you using this process!

10/10/2026

Birding is why I got so into native plants and eventually to restoring ecosystems.

10/04/2026

Rock Wren - Larimer Co, Colorado

I saw some small birds rustling around in the flowers snagging tiny bugs. I say tight and there were about 10 rock wrens hunting. Since I was sitting still, they kept getting closer to me allowing me for a pretty good shot.

10/03/2026

Osprey - Polk Co, Iowa

We stopped in Iowa on our way to Colorado and I was able to get a hike in. We get Osprey here (listed as a state endangered bird) but I will never pass up the opportunity to photograph one. One day I will get one hunting, but today was not that day.

10/02/2026

Pine Grosbeak - Larimer Co, Colorado

10,000 feet up where I also got green-tailed towhee and the Canada Jay near that lake with the endangered fish. I'm pretty sure this is a female. The males look like they've been dipped in a cranberry juice and I didn't see any males, at least adult ones. Was still a lifer and a target lifer for my trip.

10/01/2026

Black-throated Green Warbler - Whitley Co, Indiana

Another shot of the same species from this morning. This one was much less obstructed than the other one was.

10/01/2026

Black-throated Green Warbler - Whitley Co, Indiana

Another warbler I was in the prairie - it was a pretty insane day. There are so many plants in the way that I struggled to get shots even though they were so dang close.

09/30/2026

09/30/2026

Northern Parula - Whitely Co, Indiana

Was the first time I saw a parula on my property. The exciting part was it was in my first year prairie eating flies off native horsetail. Horsetail is considered "weedy" to most but it's a pioneer native species. It specializes in taking hold in disturbed soil. It slowly gets out competed with perennials. And since I killed 1/2 acre of my lawn, it was a perfect storm for horsetail to take over.

09/27/2026

Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)