Crane Ranch - 2-26-23 - 3-4-23

We celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary Sunday.  When we left the Crane Ranch we had the 2022 cohorts in the backyard.

We got to Meaher State Park a couple of hours before check in time.  Not a problem, we were the only ones with a cabin reserved today.  We are staying in the Eagle's Nest cabin on Duck Bay.  It is fantastic!

We have a great view of the bay and an Osprey nest.  The ospreys were busy all day bringing sticks and snacks to the nest.

We spent most of the day walking around, checking out the campground, the fishing pier, the beach, and the boardwalk.

We ate an early dinner at The Oyster House.  We got lucky again when we were seated at a table with a pristine water view.  The food was fantastic too.

After dinner, we relaxed at the cabin, then watched the sunset from the boardwalk.  This has been a fabulous celebration!!

Sunday Pics:

We got up before 6 am to watch the sunrise from the front porch of the cabin.  Unfortunately, there were too many clouds in the way.  Not a problem, we had plenty of critters to watch as we drank our coffee.

We spent most of the day relaxing at the cabin and taking in nature.  We did leave long enough to go on a hike at 5 Rivers and go out to eat.  The hike was nice, but the food at Longhorn Steak House was fabulous.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday morning we headed toward the Ranch.  Our 45 minute trip was extended to an hour and a half when we turned around to go back for my Yeti that I left on the rail of the porch.

We spent most of the day getting caught up on our pictures.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday was another fabulous day.  The day started with an email to Lauren requesting a picture of his for the cover of the Long Leaf Alliance magazine.  He met a writer for the magazine a few months ago that was here to take pictures of the cranes that never showed up.  Lauren offered him some photos of the cranes to use in his article.  He never dreamed that this would lead to his picture on the cover of the magazine.

The day just kept getting better.  We watched the banding of the twin Eaglets at the Beasley nest.  Not only did we both get to hold the eagles, Lauren got a TV interview with WLOX!  I was totally shocked when I turned around and saw him with a camera and mic pointed at him.  He did a really good job.  That gift of gab he has, paid off.

After all that excitement, we went with Scott, Theresa, and Jake to place an artificial nest platform in Maverick Pond.  When we passed the pasture, the mated pair was there.  The male crane decided to  show off his graceful moves. 

 

We put on our hip waders, (our very first experience to wear them), then waded through the pond to the other side.  We pounded the post in the ground and secured the nest platform.  The hay we put in it, just didn't look crane worthy, so we pulled up some grasses and piled it on top.  Hopefully, the cranes will use this nest instead of building their own, since last years nest got flooded.

We came back and relaxed at Camp Crane and enjoyed watching WLOX and WXXV news report about the eagle banding.  I am surprised Lauren was able to walk in the camper door after his big day.  I figured his head would be too big.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday, we worked on Eagle pictures then made a Wally World run.  When we returned Lauren's new boat was here.  Actually, it's bio's boat, but Lauren was the one to convince them to get a bigger boat for the bird surveys.

We spent the afternoon, getting the stuff from the old boat to the new boat during off and on showers.  It was not a good day to take it out.

Thursday Pics:

Friday we were greeted by some of the HQ gang as we started our day at the visitor center.

We also had our first bloom of the year in the native plant garden, an Indian Blanket.

We piddled around most of the day, working in the visitor center, checking our fws emails, restocking brochures, and getting our new designed volunteer cards printed and laminated.  We also assisted with the gravel spreading at Camp Crane, (or rather, we mostly supervised).  Despite the obstacles Sami had with the skid steer breaking down, she did a fantastic job.  What should have been a quick job turned into most of the day.

  

Friday Pics:

We worked in the visitor center on Saturday.  Our first order of business was to fill the feeder at HQ, then we assisted Fire with media posts regarding today's prescribed burn.  The rest of the day was spent talking with the nice folks that stopped by, getting magnets done for the bookstore, and assisting our new Camp Crane residents, the Linas, get settled in.   

We had a late evening Camp Crane flyover when some the HQ gang were heading to their roost for the night.

Saturday Pics:

Crane Ranch - 2-12-23 - 2-18-23

The week started off great when the call of the elusive cranes in the backyard of HQ woke me up Sunday morning!  By the time we were out and about, there were no cranes is sight.

We took a ride to Ocean Springs to see if we could find Coconut.  Before we could get to the area where she and her mate had been sighted, 2 cranes flew from the area that we were unable to identify.  We saw several cranes while we were out and about, all of them were in pairs.  Love is in the air!!

On our way back, we saw someone at the North Gautier gate.  We turned around and found a man releasing an armadillo that he had trapped. Dang people!

The artificial nest platforms were delivered today.  The hopes are that the cranes will use them in areas that are prone to flooding. We will see how this turns out.

This afternoon we had a 13 crane flyover at Camp Crane, coming in for their afternoon snack at HQ.  It was the HQ 10, NR22, and 2 unbanded.  Three wild hatched have joined the gang!

There was a squabble between Kirby and NR22.  We thought Kirby was going to win, then he backed off.  NV11 has taught NR22 well.

Sunday Pics;

Monday morning was beautiful.  I cooked breakfast outside on this cool, crisp morning.

We picked up a bunch of plant signs along the Dees Trail  (plants that were no longer in bloom) then started working on eradicating the mean ole' Cogon that is in the native plant garden.  Sad, that an invasive has made it's way into our native plant garden. 

 

We spent the afternoon doing some spring cleaning for Rap.  By the time we finished with the spring cleaning, the wind started blowing and it was cold.  Oh well, we had a hint of spring before ole' Man winter returned.

Monday Pics:

We made a Wally World run on Tuesday morning then helped Theresa and Jake raise the water level in the DGF tanks.  We saw a few of the tadpoles while filling them.  They sure do look small in this big vat of water.

Nine of the gang got a late afternoon snack at HQ.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday we had a tour for 3 people.  The pressure was off to find cranes when 11 Sandhill Cranes were foraging, flying, and calling at HQ when the tour people arrived.

The excitement continued as we rode around seeing cranes and several other species of birds.

The Eaglets were active in the nest, fighting with each other.  We saw one adult Eagle flying in the area, but it never came to the nest.

We had so much fun that we lost track of time.  When we got back from our almost 3 hour tour, Judy and Terry were concerned that we had gotten the van stuck.

As we were walking to the camper at lunch time, two photogenic cranes flew over the flag. 

 

We also had an Osprey flyover with his lunch in his talons.

The afternoon was spent replacing some of the refuge marker signs.

When we returned the cranes were still hanging around.  Crane Lane is living up to it's name.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday we had a crane tour for Vancleave High School Life Skills class. The 2022 releases were at the feeder to entertain them before we left.  We saw plenty of cool critters and had another enjoyable tour.

The Eaglets have gotten really big and were jumping around in the the nest.

We walked the Dees Trail when we got back and placed a couple of plant markers for the Chokeberry and Round-leaved bluets.  We also found Primrose-leaved Violets.  We get so excited when we find a bloom during the winter time, being they are few and far between.

The cranes stayed around all day today.  When they finally took a short break from the feeder, Lauren checked it and saw it needed more feed.  The cranes watched him from the savanna when he checked it and came right back to it before he could fill it.  Finally around 4ish they flew toward their roost and he was able to fill it for them.  These cranes are spoiled rotten.

Thursday Pics:

Friday was a cold, windy day.  We stayed inside for most of the day.  We did get out for a bit and took care of the recycling and cut pipe for the new artificial nest structures.

We saw three of the cranes hunkered down in the savanna.  They must be avoiding the wind.

Friday Pics:

Three of the six people that signed up for the Crane Tour were no shows Saturday morning.  We had a couple that happened to be at the visitor center when we opened that joined us.  Let's just say, the no shows missed out.

Before we left, one of the ladies said she had been here several times and never has seen a crane.  She was so excited during the tour to see the Sandhill Cranes.  

Another lady on the tour has been on our tours several times and plans to come back for another one in March.  We must be doing something right.  

After the tour, we made a Sams run then relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.

Saturday Pics: