The first years it was sheep but for the last several years its been cattle. While cutting cedars this morning I looked up and saw cattle in my pasture. This property was purchased in1992(?) and Steve and I agreed verbally on the use of the pasture then. He may graze it from spring until the beginning of July. It works for both of us. It saves his pastures for later summer. For me, there's rent money and early summer grazing is on the invasive grasses which are first to mature. The native, late summer grasses, are just emerging when the stock are removed and I'm interested in the restoration of that grass. This is land that has never been plowed so native grasses lurk in the soil awaiting proper conditions to emerge.
What struck me, as I watched the cattle, this morning is the tradition. Steve never asks me if he can use the pasture nor when he should remove the stock. That was decided over thirty years ago. It's up to me to tell him if the arrangement is over. Sometime after he's removed the cattle he'll ask me how much rent I want.
Last year, or the year before, the cattle got out of the pasture. They walked a half a mile north to a road, a mile west on that road, at the corner then they turned south for a mile, at that corner they turned east for a half a mile, and turned north a quarter of a mile. When Steve found them they were waiting for him to open the gate to his pasture so they could enter. Cattle are smart.
Today's bird recording was taken about ten miles from yesterday's. Recorded were; Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Pheasant, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, and Orchard Oriole. Sighted but not recorded were a Red Headed Woodpecker and a Brown Thrasher.
Takk for alt,
Al
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