Daylight savings time crept in overnight. We had coffee with Anita, then she headed on her way back home.
We had a nice walk on the CL Dees Trail. Butterflies are beginning to show up along with new flower blooms.
The fog on the beach late afternoon was not conducive to shore bird watching. We stopped at Island View to play our free play and Lauren walked out with $34 of their money. Not a bad Sunday afternoon.
We rode through Gulf Islands National Seashore and saw the gators.
We took the long way home and found a couple of Sandhill Cranes at Bright's Pasture.
A look from the HQ tower, we found the 3 captive raised cranes with a couple of visitors outside the pen. Wonder what will happen when they get released from the pen the middle of this week. Hopefully, they will all stay close and make this their home.
The Brown Headed Cowbird has made his way back to our feeder.
Monday
We worked with Pat today and had a Crane Tour of 8 tourist at 10 am. We saw 5 Sandhill Cranes on this foggy morning along with a Fox Squirrel, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Blue Winged Teals, and a bunch more birds.
The Eagle activity was a great show again today. Goober was easily seen, Georgie's visibility was obstructed by the tree. BB was sitting up like he owned the nest with both parents nearby. One of the parents flew in with lunch as we were watching. As always, the eagles put on a great show.
Tuesday
We worked the VC with the Loew's and Dix today. We went to Fountainebleu Trail and checked out the recent prescribed burn and picked up trash.
We had a 12:30 pm tour with 7 tourist. We saw 8 Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, Great Egrets, Belted Kingfishers, Southern Black Racers, and an Alligator.
We saw a Bald Eagle sitting in a dead tree near the temporary pen at HQ when we returned. Castille is back.
Wednesday
We have 3 more Free Birds out and about. We released them from the temporary pen today. Crab Apple and Coconut left the pen with graceful flight. Crab Apple's landing was another thing. Poor thing crashed landed.
Banana refused to leave the pen and was walked out by Scott. Scott was one proud biologist when they all flew away.
Late afternoon, we helped biology take up the electric fence, borders, and rolled up 2 sides of the netted pen. The hopes are they will come back to roost. As of last check, they are no where in sight.
Thursday
The Free Birds stayed in the HQ savanna overnight. As we were headed out on Crane Lane to Crossroads, we saw one of them standing in the savanna. It was most likely Crab Apple, but not sure.
We managed to get the weeds mowed, some of the leaves raked up, and the pollen washed off the jeep this afternoon. The rain will move in tonight.
Friday
We went to Crosby Arboretum to get native plants for the flower beds at HQ. What an experience! People were snatching plants like crazy. I made the mistake of setting a plant down while looking at another, and a woman grabbed it. She informed me that once I took my hands off it, it became hers. Such a beautiful plant for such an ugly woman. We got a few plants and got the heck out of dodge.
Lauren tromped around in the field and confirmed it is way to wet to bush hog. He did get some pictures of some pretty flowers.
Saturday
Anita came over and spent the night. It was too cold outside, so we entertained ourselves by playing a game of Monopoly and watching a movie.
Week of pics:
Crane Release
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