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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ðŸ˜ðŸ˜.
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.
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