Crane Ranch - 9-17-23 - 9-23-23

Lauren walked the trail and Crane Lane Sunday morning.  I lounged around and started working on last week's blog.  We were way too busy last week to blog on a daily basis. 

As he walked out of Camp Crane, he talked to 3 deer that were near the road.

  

He saw a few critters and blooms that caught his attention, but did not see any Crane Critters.  Wonder where the HQ Crew are on this lower humidity day.

We took a tour of the North and Gautier Units.  When we got to Valentine Pond we saw a Red-shouldered Hawk and a Bald Eagle fly away.  We also so numerous water fowl and wading birds that were taking advantage of the low water levels to catch their meal.

We saw a total of 11 Sandhill Cranes while we were out and about.  Three of them were the Milhouse Family.  Three of them were Banana, Coconut, and their unbanded buddy.  The other cranes did not stay around for a photo shot.

Each time we drove near the feeder at the North Gautier Pasture, we saw the Milhouse Family.  We just happened to have extra corn and stopped on our way out and put them a little bit in their feeder.  These cranes know the white trucks bring their corn.

Sunday Pics:

Monday, the drought conditions continue in South Mississippi.  There are a lot of extra fire personal stationed at the Fire Center to respond to fires.  This is the first time we have ever seen a helicopter on the helipad.  It sure needs to rain.

We spent the day blowing off the road, getting packages, cleaning up some feeders that we will repair, and installing an a/c in Camp Crane's laundry building.

Monday Pics: 

Tuesday, we were joined by some of the Fire crew at the Fontainebleau Pen.  By noon, we had the place almost Crane ready.   There is only a few last minute things left to do.

This afternoon, we headed to the casino for an overnight stay.  We had a good time gambling on their money and a nice beach view from our room.  Lauren made it to Ultimate status.  The perks of gambling.

Tuesday Pics:

We lounged around Wednesday morning drinking our coffee, had a nice breakfast buffet, and played a little bit of slots.  It sure was nice to leave the casino with $40 of their money.  We stopped by Sam's on our way back to the Ranch then got a little bit of work in.

Some of the HQ crew were in the back yard as we were leaving HQ.  We spent a leisurely afternoon watching the critters at Camp Crane.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday we attended Jake and Theresa's 2023 DGF presentation.  Their presentation was quite impressive.

The afternoon was spent adjusting the Bownet netting.

Thursday Pics:

Friday, we built another Bownet with Jake and Theresa.

We stopped for a bit and filled up the new 6x6 water containers in the backyard of HQ.  These are the containers that will be used for the captive reared acclimation pens.  Nothing like a crane swimming pool.

Friday Pics:

While we were out baiting the bownet Saturday morning, we saw a crane with an injured wing.  We reported our findings to Scott and we will try to catch it tomorrow.

We also saw plenty of wading birds at the almost dried up Valentine Pond, over 20 Sandhill Cranes, a few hawks, an Eagle, and a bunch of other pretties along the way.

The afternoon was spent at the Mississippi Songwriters Festival in Ocean Springs. We went to Knuckleheads Bar and Grill to see our friend Tom perform, along with quite a few others.

Saturday Pics:

Crane Ranch - 9-10-23 - 9-16-23

Sunday, we got back to the Ranch after spending Saturday night at Crossroads. When we went to bait the bownet, the HQ Crew were in the savanna watching.   As Lauren was putting the corn on the ground, the Gang were trotting to the feeder.

While I worked on bookstore stuff, Lauren was out and about taking pictures of pollinators.

This afternoon, there was a standoff at the feeder between a deer, Tsunami, and Thunder. Tsunami and Thunder were standbackish at first, but finally decided to give it a try, reaching way out to grab a piece of corn.  The deer on the other hand was not bothered at all.

Sunday Pics:

We stayed busy all day working on feeders and the sign project on Monday.  We made a new prototype by grinding the outside of the feeder down so the new style duct cap would fit over it.

 

We also engineered a repair on a feeder that the fox squirrel had chewed on, by using a coffee can to cover the damage.  Sometimes we amaze ourselves!!

The HQ Gang were in the yard when Lauren placed corn in the bownet.  As soon as they saw him pour it on the ground, they started heading his way.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday was another workday, making a Lowes shopping trip, and working on the sign project.  

While we were evaluating signage at the Escatawpa Trail, we heard it thundering.  This put us in high gear to make it back to the truck before it rained.  We were glad we did because it started flooding shortly after getting on the interstate.

We were entertained at Camp Crane this afternoon with Hummingbirds competing at the feeder.  There was a brief moment when they actually allowed each other to sip at the same time.  Looks like it is time to fill the second feeder.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday was another full day of working on the sign project and cutting grass.  After Lauren got the outside of the HQ pen mowed, he joined me for a mowing excursion around HQ and Crane Lane.  This place is looking good.

Thursday, Jake, D'Angelo, Lauren and I weedeated the inside of the HQ pen in record time.  It only took us 2 hours to get it done once we got all the equipment ready. 

 

Friday morning, we worked with Jake and Theresa replacing zip ties and patching holes at the HQ pen.  

This afternoon we took a tour of the North and Gautier Units.  We finally got a visual on the Dikkop Family.  We are so honored to have been allowed to participate with his release in 2019.  This is one of the reason's why we love this place!

Valentine Pond is one of the few water sources left in this drought.  There were a variety of birds foraging about in the shallow water.  It really needs to rain.

Friday Pics:

Saturday morning we got a walk in on the Dees Trail and Crane Lane seeing lots of pollinators enjoying the blooms.  This is the first time this week that we have got our morning walk in, which is very unusual for us.  

After we walked the Dees Trail, three of the HQ Gang were walking tall in the HQ savanna toothache grass.

We saw the unbanded crane pair at Firetower Pond when we went to bait the bownet.  Although, it is not much of a pond with the drought conditions that we are in.

An Immature Eagle flushed when we went to put corn in the bownet at the Ben William pen. It is nice to see the Eagles back.

It has been a busy, but productive week.

Saturday Pics: