We had a Pileated Woodpecker eating grub in Camp Crane Sunday morning. We helped Erin check the DGF traps and got 3 more frogs. The rest of the day was a laid back kind of day with a walk along Crane Lane and the Dees Trail.
We mowed at headquarters, Crane Lane, Camp Crane, and the bunkhouse then helped Erin with the DGF trap check. After sitting on the zero turn lawnmower for hours, I am a lot more proficient with operating it.
Tuesday was Dusky Gopher Frog day. We met Erin at the rearing tanks at 8 am. We checked the square traps then placed the round traps in the tanks.
We processed the 22 frogs that we have removed from the tanks over the last few days. We watched Angie's demonstration video that was only a couple of minutes long several times before attempting to inject those tiny little tags in those tiny little legs, while hanging on to this slippery little critter. I chickened out, but Lauren and Erin bit the bullet and did an awesome job. This is one of those things, Lauren said he would never do. Never say never.
We walked a mile through the muck to the release pond, checked for snakes, then released the DGF's in the pond. (Thankfully, we did not find any snakes). This is our 3rd season of releasing one of the most endangered amphibian's in North America.
When we got back to the truck, Erin had lost her keys. We trudged the again, one mile, (one way), thinking it was a slim to none chance of finding them. We got lucky; Lauren happened to kick them near the drift fence. Whew! It has been a day!!
We met Erin at 8 am on Wednesday for the DGF trap checks. The trappers that we are, collected 16 more. Which, so far, is our daily record. (Although, I am sure, that our record will be broken on a daily basis).
We spent the afternoon getting the VC truck tire fixed, then riding to Grand Bay Shop and Oak Grove Trail. We didn't even attempt to get out of the truck at the trail after the truck was bombarded with deer flies. We took a short stroll on the boardwalk at Grand Bay NWR before making our way to the North Gautier Unit to lop some limbs.
The tagging process went much faster today. We still have the 16 to process from yesterday and whatever we get tomorrow, before releasing tomorrow evening. I suspect, tomorrow is going to be a busy day.
The Chuck Will's Widow has been calling at night and keeping us awake. Today, Lauren went for a walk along the edge of the trees at Camp Crane and got his picture when he got too close to his roost spot and flushed him. What goes around, comes around!
Friday, we checked the traps, processed 38 DGF's, (22 caught today), and released them at sunset. The weekly release count is 84 DGF's.
While I was napping, Lauren took a walk on the C.L. Dees trail and took some more pics of flowers, critters etc.
We were not as lucky on our snake search tonight. We found a Cottonmouth at the drift fence. Erin caught it with the snake snatcher and relocated it on the walk back to the trucks.
Crane 337 came by for some grub this morning. On the way to check the frog traps, Canada Geese were waiting for their snack. We caught 23 DGF's on our trap check Saturday.
We visited Carol and Charley in the afternoon. We had a great meal and a great time catching up on things.
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