..Or, alternatively titled, "How I dig dead critters". XP

In the past two weeks, it seems that our pond has something going on with it - either a hypoxic event (lack of sufficient oxygen), pollution, or a bacterial or fungal infection that is impacting the fish population. In the past two weeks, I counted 12 dead juvenile Bluegill (a species of fish prevalent in our pond here in TN) dead on the edges of the pond while I've been out fishing and exploring. Just two days ago I have counted around 42 individual juvenile Bluegill fish, in one afternoon. Out of all of these encounters, I came across three fish in the process of dying (poor little guys). Throughout most of these fish, I've noticed asymmetric red discoloration in the body and gills (usually a single area on each fish), with one displaying a fungal infection on its tail, and another (a dying juvenile) with a shallow sore.

I have been told that it most likely is just a natural 'turn-over' event from a person familiar with the area, and is nothing to be worried about. Reading up into springtime turn-over events, where temperature distributes itself more evenly through the water, I have not come up with any correlations to fish kills. I'll have to continue my research. In any case, that doesn't flag my amateur taxidermist/dead-things-collector propensity for collection and preservation.

When I first came upon the first few dead fish, I collected them and have them partially covered by a piece of shallow tupperware held in place by a sturdy vine, to allow for decomposition without allowing larger predators to scatter the bones. My major plan for these fish is to allow them to decompose or dehydrate enough to then figure out how to procure the bones for complete skeletons. Unfortunately, but also to my macabre interest, a larger, palm-sized Bluegill had passed away as well. What did I do with it? It's stuffed under the tupperware as well, and I'll deal with it once most of its moisture content is gone.

On a similar note, and also disturbing, my friend had found a dead bird (which I found today to be a Field Sparrow) next to the tool barn in the backyard, which looked like it may have died from collision with the barn, as its head was literally in a hole in the ground, tail and feet up in the air. I'm thankful that I got a photograph of it, as it really has to be seen to be believed. The next day, however, she came across a Carolina Chickadee dead in the front yard, away from any buildings or large trees (though might have fallen from a branch if it was in a tree upon expiring). Having two birds freshly dead in two days is a little disconcerting, but I'll certainly be keeping an eye and ear out for further observations.

Nevertheless, leave it to me to take photos, and do sketches of the birds. I've drawn up two images of the Field Sparrow with a feather detail, and plan to sketch up the Carolina Chickadee sooner or later.

All in all, call me morose or morbid, but I just can't help myself from getting a pang of childlike excitement upon hearing of a freshly deceased animal, or bones, or remains of other sorts that aren't pure hamburger on the side of the road. Brings me back to my childhood when I shoved a dead mouse down into a hollow Anatosaurus toy of mine, pretending that the dinosaur 'ate' it. It also reminds me of when I saw my first ever gannet on a bird tour, dead and nothing but feathers and bones, and I was nearly jumping up and down in excitement and awe of how beautiful it was. Same with the little feathered pancake of a Saw-Whet Owl that I noticed first thing as we got out of the vans for that same tour. XD I am slowly amassing a collection of bones and other animal bits, and I just wish I knew how to preserve those birds to get their skeletons for articulation.

I just had to share my naturalist ponderings somewhere, and share my excitement. Thanks for reading! : D