Grassland Birds!

       When I left The Little House for the OFH last fall I gave KK permission to hunt on my land. In thanks for being allowed to hunt she's been trapping pocket gophers there. Perhaps that's why I didn't find any today. which is good news.

      Pausing to take in the view 

I was serenaded by many birds. Can you guess what came next? Yup, I activated the Merlin Bird App recorder and in 20 minutes recorded 20 varieties of birds. 

    This is what I heard: Goldfinch, Northern Yellow Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, Crow, Marsh Wren, Brown-headed Cowbird, Grasshopper Sparrow, Canada Goose, Eastern Kingbird, Barn Swallow, Mallard, Common Yellowthroat, Dickcissel, Sora, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Bobolink, Song Sparrow and Pheasant.  It was an ideal spot to find grassland birds with over 600 acres of contiguous grass. Squared off it would be a mile on each side.  600 is very conservative estimate of its reach. 

Takk for alt,

Al

When I was a boy we called Bobolinks 'skunk birds' because of their color.

 

• The Bobolink is one of the world’s most impressive songbird migrants, traveling some 12,500 miles (20,000 kilometers) to and from southern South America every year. Throughout its lifetime, it may travel the equivalent of 4 or 5 times around the circumference of the earth.
• The species name of the Bobolink, oryzivorus means “rice eating” and refers to this bird’s appetite for rice and other grains, especially during migration and in winter.

• It may not seem like it, because seeing a Sora takes some effort, but the Sora is the most abundant and widespread rail in North America.

Furnace to A/C

       While enjoying some nice hot weather sitting on the front steps the rooster  across the street serenaded. That made me wonder what the Merlin Bird App would do with a chicken. Nothing, as it turns out because it kept crowing while I recorded and the App didn't register it. There was a number of birds calling so I kept the App open for six minutes.

     These are the birds recorded: Pheasant, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, House Sparrow, Chimney Swift, Song Sparrow, Grackle, Eurasian Collard-Dove, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, and Common Yellowthroat. A nice feature of the App is that it plays back the bird songs. Press on American Goldfinch, e.g., and it plays the Goldfinch recording, while showing a file video of the bird.

Takk for alt,

Al

A bird best identified by silhouette, the smudge-gray Chimney Swift nimbly maneuvers over rooftops, fields, and rivers to catch insects. Its tiny body, curving wings, and stiff, shallow wingbeats give it a flight style as distinctive as its fluid, chattering call. This enigmatic little bird spends almost its entire life airborne. When it lands, it can’t perch—it clings to vertical walls inside chimneys or in hollow trees or caves. This species has suffered sharp declines as chimneys fall into disuse across the continent.

Lucky Ones!

         On the eve of Memorial Day, it's a reminder that Ed and I were lucky ones who completed our enlistments unscathed. On frequent visits to the VA Hospital I encounter many with permanent disabilities, that I assume are service related. Then, too, are the myriad who died serving the country. Too those in both categories I tender deep gratitude for their sacrifice.    

Takk for alt,

Al

Ed and I posing at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, 1962, when we were promoted to corporal.

Rain report!

      What's more exciting than checking rain gauges after a much needed rain? So, that's what we did, Kaia and I. So what did the gauges reveal you ask?  They received .7", which effect was amplified by the gentle, slow nature of the rain. Hard rain on dry surfaces can run off.  Yesterday's gradual rain over several hours all soaked in. The previously dry surface now is saturated to compliment the sub-soil moisture. Yes, it's a gift for which I'm grateful.

    Pretty much summarizes the excitement here!

Takk for alt,MI uni

Al

This commercial sewing man a spot on Bangkok, sidewalk.

The Gift Of Rain

      Actually The Gift Of Rain is the name of a book that I enjoyed. It's set in a city in Malaysia, Penang, where I spent some time. But, the title of this post refers to today's rain. The rain began at 6:00 am as forecast and it been raining all day. No storm, just a gentle rain over several hours. Excavating rocks a few weeks ago demonstrated good subsoil moisture. The rain will moisturize the surface which is very helpful. The first crop of alfalfa has not yet been cut. This will boost that cutting and energize the plants for the second cutting. Corn, soybeans, if they didn't freeze, pastures and trees all benefit.

     With the rain falling it was a good day to work in the shop. Kaia sat in the truck and watched me. She's resting today and, with a call to her, she joined me in the shower. Pretty much what passes for excitement here.

Takk for alt,

Al

Think I'll buy another Cornish Game hen for the air fryer.

Cumulative

      Kaia is tired and so am I. Several days in a row of cutting cedars has tired my body, though my back is fine. With time in the field Kaia makes up for her shortened winter runs. From the time we arrive until we leave she runs vigorously. It's as if she thinks, "free at last, free at last." Most of the time she keeps me in sight. If she runs out of sight of me she soon returns to see where I am. As long as I am moving she runs. If I stop for awhile she comes over. When I head for the truck she beats me to it, the door opens and she leaps in. 

     Should I trust tomorrow's forecast? The prediction is for rain most of the day! Here's hoping. There is a project awaiting the shop. That would be a good rainy day activity. Well, rain or no, it would be a welcome respite from cutting cedars.

Takk for alt,

Al

The scenery is good while I hunt cedars. After purchasing this 160 acres (a quarter section it's a half mile square) I constructed five dams to hold water for wildlife. This is the largest. Muskrats tunneled through the dam and it washed out. Two years ago it was repaired and now there's this nice pond.

No gym membership!

      A few days ago while I was cutting cedars out of the pasture fence when a neighbor stopped to chat. "Cedars and pocket gophers, never ending." he said. I replied "Yes, and I'd add rocks to that."  With the tree swallows nesting in the boxes by the pasture fence, not wanting to disturb them, I've move on.

     That moving on is to cedars in a different venue. Now it's cedars in open grassland. With something like 300 acres in grass there is a lot of ground to cover. Tuesday a heavy Carhart jacket was swell, and even wearing leather gloves, my hands got cold. Today, I quickly shed the light jacket, and then the outer shirt, wearing no gloves, I still got warm. 

   There was frost here last night. The low registered on my thermometer was 34. Brookings, 15 miles away, announced 28. The dry pond across the street was very frosty this morning. Corn is probably OK but soybeans are a question.

Takk for alt,

Al

I have extra pruning shears if anyone wants to volunteer to accompany me searching for cedars.