We were ready for a refuge tour when we returned on Sunday. It was a very enjoyable tour seeing nearly 20 cranes in our three hour tour.
We also enjoyed the pretty blooms, butterflies, and caterpillars.
The native plant garden, (aka Pon's weed patch), was buzzing with bees this afternoon.
We watched the birds enjoying their buffet at Camp Crane when we returned.
We hung around HQ Monday, opening the building for a group that are using the auditorium for a workshop. While we were waiting around, we were entertained by the critters in Pon's weed patch.
Tuesday, we went to Bon Secour NWR. We figured the campground would need a little TLC. We were wrong, it needed a lot of TLC. The grass was so tall, it could have been used for hay. We got some limbs cut, grass cut, and weed-eating done. Camp Secour is ready for our arrival.
We cut grass around the maintenance shed until we were rained out. The rain continued for our ride across the bay on the ferry.
We weren't the only ones taking advantage of the ferry. A seagull hitched a ride as well.
Wednesday, we went with the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation to Helena Gopher Tortoise Preserve. There were about 20 Gopher Tortoise living on this property with about 50 more living in the power line right of way across the road. A contraption was used to go inside the burrows revealing the depth of the burrow as well as the tortoises and other critters that were cohabitating in the burrow. It was a fascinating place.
We took a stroll along the Dees Trail this afternoon.
We made another prototype to try and outsmart the fox squirrel that has eaten the side of one of the crane feeders. It is an ongoing battle.
Thursday, we tagged and released a DGF dragon and a DGF tadpole that never morphed. They were in 2 different tanks. Tadpole snatching is quite a challenge.
After we tagged them, we hiked a little over a mile to the second release pond to release them. 2022 DGF release season is a wrap!!
Friday, we went to Escatawpa Trail and cut grass and loped limbs while repairs were being done on the HQ sewer system.
After lunch, we were back in full operation and manned the visitor center. The only visitors we had were 4 of the HQ crew and a Ribbon Snake that was in the employee restroom.
Saturday we worked in the visitors center then packed up getting ready for our first vacation in over a year and a half.
The visitor center was much more popular than yesterday. We had 40 people and 9 cranes visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment