Since Retiring

Monday, October 2, 2023

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:

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Crane Ranch 9-3-23 - 9-9-23

The HQ5 flew in Sunday for their morning snack before we had a chance to bait the bownet. We walked Crane Lane to give them time to enjoy breakfast.

They had left when we returned. We got the bownet baited and headed to the trail. We saw the cranes were headed that way also. We decided to walk the trail backwards to avoid interfering with them. We thought that they would be gone by the time we made the loop, but we thought wrong. They were still hanging near the oak tree, which is where we saw them earlier. They slowly started easing away from the trail, as we slowly eased by them. Yoshi suddenly ran back and caught a grasshopper.

Squall reached down and come up with a mole in his beak. They were having a snacking good time this morning.

This afternoon we worked on getting rocks out of the underbed of the Kubota from our rock escapade last week. We washed, took off screens and panels, washed some more, and pried rocks from tiny spaces until we were wore out. At least we got the ones that we could see.

It was so nice to have a laundry to wash our dirty, sweaty clothes when we finished. The little things in life!

Sunday Pics:

Monday, when Lauren went to bait the bownet, the HQ crew started walking toward him as he was pouring his first bowl of corn. There were quite impatient this morning.

Us nature chasers had a really nice time walking Crane Lane and the Dees Trail seeing cool critters and plants.

When we returned from our walk, the HQ crew were gone, giving us the opportunity to replenish the corn. They had ate all of the corn that Lauren put out earlier.

We took a ride to Fontainebleu Trail. We finally remembered to bring the magnet to get the totals of the trail counter. Three times is a charm.

We made a tour of the North and South Gautier Units seeing lots of wading birds in Valentine Pond.

We also saw some wading cranes, Banana, Coconut, and their unbanded buddy in Valentine Pond.

We were also lucky to see the Riley Road Family, the Jabba Family and the Milhouse Family.

We had about 35 crane sightings on this 2 hour tour. This Labor Day has been like a Sunday Funday, except it is Monday!

Monday Pics:

We got up early Tuesday morning in the hopes of catching NV11 in the bownet. We knew his regular feeder was probably empty of corn and were in the hopes he would come to HQ for a snack. He and his mate 337 were there by 7:30 a.m. She stayed away from the corn, but he came and ate vigorously. Everything was perfect for the catch, except the switch was not turned on for the remote to release the net. OOPS!!

Lauren got to drive the new tractor when we replaced the leaning stop sign on Crane Lane. It sure is nice.

We helped the Lowes guys with their delivery of appliances to the bunkhouse, then installed the 2 dishwashers. It has been a long day.

Wednesday, shortly after we got the bownet set up some of the HQ gang arrived and ate most of the corn before NV11 and 337 showed up. It was entertaining watching them high step over the bownet.

The gang skedaddled when the dominate pair showed up. NV11 went to the corn and started eating, the bownet was released, and NV11 managed to escape capture. He is quick. There is a reason he has been able to survive this long.

We said hello to our resident deer on our way back to camp.

We washed and repaired 3 feeders. We took one to a sheet metal shop to see what they can manufacture for deer guards considering we cannot find the duct caps that we were using. We did a few other chores then called it, another long day.

Tuesday and Wednesday Pics:

We walked the Dees Trail and Crane Lane Thursday morning.

The HQ gang came back today, but we haven't seen hide nor feather of NV11.

We spent the rest of the day working on the new interpretive signs project.

Thursday Pics:

We got a walk in on Crane Lane then went with Scott to evaluate the acclimation pens at HQ and Fontainebleau. It is getting to be that time of year again!