Crane Ranch 5-7-23 - 5-13-23

We helped Jake check the tanks Sunday morning and got 33 DGF's.  We met Anita at Island View and had another great couple of days in our adjoining rooms.  Lauren and Anita both got an upgrade on their players card.  Me on the other hand, enjoyed spending the free play I won the last time I was here. 

We took a break from the casino and did a little bit of shore bird watching on Monday .  We were hoping to find Least Tern babies. There were nest with eggs, but no chicks found. We will check back in a few weeks.  

Casino Trip: 

Tuesday we made it back to the Ranch.  Lauren worked on his online Tractor Training.  I worked on orders for the bookstore.

Wednesday morning, Lauren got out and about getting a few pictures while I lounged around.  Wednesday afternoon, we packed up and headed to Natchez to deliver Jr. Duck Stamp prizes before the end of their school year.  It definitely was an unexpected trip.  We got settled in our room then sat outside and did a little bit of bird watching from the porch of our room.

After we delivered the prizes Thursday, we took a ride through St. Catherine National Wildlife Refuge.  We saw lots of different species of birds, including Painted Buntings, one of our favorites.  Although, they were not very photogenic, staying in the brush singing their pretty songs.

The Prothonotary Warblers, on the other hand, were very photogenic as they had their disputes. 

We were able to travel on roads that had been flooded in the past.  We had a great few hours watching turtles, birds, snakes, butterflies, and just taking in nature.  We made our 4 hour trip back to the Ranch around 6 pm.  It has been a long, but fun day.  

Natchez Trip:

Friday morning, we checked out the Dees Trail post burn.  The Fire Center burned the interior section while we were gone yesterday.  We saw a little bit of life, and an unfortunate death of a Corn Snake.

We did a little bit of piddling around the visitor center then went on an orchid road survey in the South Gautier Unit.  We didn't find any calopogon multiflorus, but did confirm that the Unbanded  Pair's nest is still active in Firetower Pond.

We also saw Snipe, aka Scoundrel, and General Plantain together.  Looks like they may have a chick or two.  

While we were resting at Camp Crane we did a little bit of armchair birding.

Friday Pics:

Saturday, we picked up the plant markers that were along the Dees Trail.  While on the trail, we ran into Theresa.  She found a gorgeous Speckled King Snake.  For some reason, I decided I wanted to hold the snake.  I was rather surprised to find out how soft they are.  Who would have ever thought I would hold a snake.  The Crane Ranch must have placed a spell on me.

We saw an American Racer going under Jeff's camper when we returned to Camp Crane.  The snakes were out and about on this pretty morning.

We did a stroll along Crane Lane and enjoyed the few blooms and critters that we saw along the way.

On our way back from Fontainebleau Trail, we stopped and admired the Widower and his chick.  It took a while, but we finally got a visual of it in the tall grass.

We enjoyed a drive through the North Gautier Unit seeing several cranes, including Banana and Coconut.  We also saw Magma, the traveler.  She is rewriting history with her long travels to Alabama and Louisiana that are being seen from her gps tracker.   Technology is awesome.

Saturday Pics:

Crane Ranch - 4-30-23 - 5-6-23

Our plans for Sunday, was to go looking for calopogon multiflorus in G-04 , a new area for the orchids.  That changed when Sami ask us to do smoke patrol for the prescribed burn at Little German in the North Gautier Unit.  It was kind of fun, riding up, down, and around Gautier Vancleave Road looking for smoke.  We even had a few side trips looking for smoke on Hwy 57 and I10.  I10 and Hwy. 57 had no issues. But while we were out and about, we got to see Crane #731 and his chick alive and well, walking along the tree line east of Hwy. 57.  So sad that mom, crane #1408, is not with them.

After 6 hours of smoke patrol, where we got to ride up and down Gautier Vancleave Road with the lights blaring on the Fire Truck, we are relaxing at Camp Crane.  The Crane Ranch is always an unpredictable adventure.  We can't wait until tomorrow.

Sunday Pics:

Monday, Lauren got a walk in on the Dees Trail while I eased into the day.

We helped Theresa and Jake remove 27 DGFs then processed 94.  They have some local volunteers that will help them release tonight.

We went on an Orchid Safari in the South Gautier Unit hoping to find a new location, (G15C), for the calipogon multiflorus, but did not find any.  We did however, see the unbanded pair's renest in the Firetower pond.

The Beasley Brothers and one of their parents were hanging around the nesting area.

Monday Pics:

We went on another Orchid Safari on Tuesday.  We were hoping to find our favorites in G-04, which would have been a new location.  We didn't find any of the many flowered grass pinks, but did find a lot of other pretties while walking in a savanna that we had never walked before.  It was a nice, beautiful, secluded savanna.

We weren't the only ones enjoying this area.  Squall, Link, and Thunder were in the fire break, which redirected our walk.

We stopped and admired the Sunplex chick and Dad on our way back from getting the Fontainebleau Trail counter totals.  They were at the feeder in the power line right of way.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday we did a Wally World run then went to work on the Fontainebleau Trail signage project.  We cleared the underbrush that was encroaching the signs and the trail.  After a few hours of doing this, we are worn out.  All of this was done on our day off.  Needless to say, we are planning on taking off for the next few days, or at least take off from manual labor.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday, we moved lumber and put together 3 picnic tables.  I never knew that putting together picnic tables could be so time consuming.

The afternoon was spent getting the Jr. Duck Stamp prizes organized.  Needless to say, working a 7 hour day is not what we planned.

Friday, Lauren and I were exhausted and took a much needed day off, until around 3 pm when the Interns requested our help with the DGF tank check.  We removed 43 frogs which is a record for a day this season.  On a sad note, Ember, Crane 2209, has been predated.  Most likely by an alligator in Firetower Pond.  This is the 2nd crane that has died this week.  This has not been a good week for the Mississippi Sandhill Cranes 😭😭.

We helped Jake check the DGF tanks and removed 34 more frogs.  We were surprised that we got this many considering we did a late check yesterday, a morning check today, and it has been rainy.  Nature is unpredictable.

We spent a couple of hours completing the prizes for the Jr. Duck Stamp participates then went home and hunkered down out of the rain. 

Crane Ranch - 4-23-23 - 4-29-23

Sunday we packed up and went home to cut grass for a couple of days.  Lauren got the yard cut Sunday and the field bushhogged Monday.  He saw all kinds of critters as he was cutting the field.  Near the end he had 9 Mississippi Kites bombing down around him catching grasshoppers.  A pretty spectacular sight.

As we were sitting around relaxing this afternoon, a Red-shouldered Hawk came down and missed his supper.  He should have some easy pickings with all the grass cut.

Sunday/Monday Pics:

Tuesday we made it back to Camp Crane, unpacked, then went on a road orchid safari.  We were pleasantly surprised to find one in the North Valentine Savanna in an 8 week old burn, well out of the  4-6 week after a burn window.

As an added bonus, we saw plenty of cranes, including our favorites Banana and Coconut.

We checked on the recent burn at the South Gautier Unit and saw the Beasley Brothers hanging out near the nest.

We spent the afternoon doing some armchair birding at Camp Crane.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday, we did a little bit of piddling around the visitor center then went to Fontainebleu Trail to work on our directional sign project.  We have been seeing an alligator at the overlook.  Today we saw two of them, both were pretty good size.

When we returned we completed the DGF tank checks for the Interns, while they were in ATV/UTV class.

We weren't the only bird watchers at Camp Crane this afternoon, we had a Broad-winged Hawk gawking as well.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday was a rainy day.  We hung around the visitor center for a while then helped the Interns check the tanks when there was a break in the rain.  That break in the rain didn't last very long.  We came back with frogs and were soaking wet.

On our way to release 61 frogs, we placed a stick with a flag in a hole that was in the road.

While we were looking for snakes at the drift fence, we found one of the mets that Lauren tagged last week.  Very cool!

We released Tortellini, one of the DGF's from the aquarium.  He was very photogenic, resting on a log, before he jumped in the pond. 

On our way back, I saw an American Racer and told Jake to catch him.  Surprisingly he jumped from the other side of the road and swooped him up.  The snake was not happy and bit him several times. 

Thursday Pics: 

Friday I spent several hours in the bookstore getting it organized and placing orders.  While I was tied up with this, Lauren worked on the native plant garden and walked the Dees Trail and Crane Lane. 

This afternoon, we helped Theresa and Jake run the traps and came back with 36 frogs.

An afternoon of armchair birding at Camp Crane was very rewarding.  We saw several different species of birds competing for the feeders.  Lauren even captured a picture of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird peeing.  He is quite talented with that camera, and very lucky.

Friday Pics:

Saturday was our day off.  We helped Theresa check the traps and came back with 28 frogs.  About lunch time, a lady showed up at the visitor center with an injured crane.  She had picked it up after it had been struck by a car.  It was crane #1408.  We took the crane to the vet at the Audubon Zoo, but sadly she died enroute.  She leaves behind her mate #731 and her 2 week old chick.  😭

On a happy note while we were at the zoo, Rachel the vet tech, gave us a tour of the hospital then rode us around in a golf cart in the rain for a zoo tour.  We got to see some cool stuff and got to hold a 7 week old otter they are raising.  Rachel was very enthusiastic about her place of work and gave us an amazing tour.  On the way home, we stopped and ate at Middendorf's.  The seafood platter that we shared was fabulous.

Saturday Pics: