12/25/11

It is Christmas day and while testing our my new GPS in the Woods I came across a flock of Robins!  There are probably about 50-100 of them in the woods and I did notice them several days ago but today I had my binoculars with me and it was for sure--they are Robins.  In December!  What are they doing here yet?

Also I have been seeing deer in the same places but they have been running away very soon after they hear me.  I guess we are not becoming friends yet.
Gary

12/19/11

I have been in Popple Nature Area several times and I think I have seen the same 3 or 4 deer each time.  This last time they were about 30-50 yds away, they stopped and looked at me and just stayed there.  I did the same except I would move my arms a little and talk to them.  They just looked,  and I think listened.  I felt more like the deer whisperer than ever before.  They began to walk with their tail down.  If I looked away I could almost not find them they blended in so well.  I would wave and talk.  Finally I left and said I would see them again--I hope they recognize me next time and we can continue our relationship.
Gary

12/13/11

Many things have been happening, one of them is not snow!  I have been to Popple Nature Center several times lately and each time I see three deer--two does and one fawn.  They seem to be in the same place but get spooked easily.
The other day the ice was close to two inches thick but then it turned warm again.  I did not see anything moving under the ice--disappointing.
We went in the Girl Scout Woods with a very quiet group of Kindergartners and we were rewarded with sightings of deer and the fox!  Awesome.

11/11/11 later

Perhaps if I had grown up around here instead of Chicago I would not be in awe so much when I see a deer in the woods.  Tonight at sunset I was walking in the woods and saw a beautiful doe cross a stream, get out on the other side and shake off just like a dog.  You'd think it was something great to watch--it was.  Shortly after that I saw a beautiful buck, strong, arogent, powerful, struting his stuff in the woods--what a sight!
Gary

11/11/11

What a surprise this morning while driving the school bus out in the country--a coyote running across the field and then stopping to look at us.  I know that lots of people think they are a nuisance but I think they are beautiful and the kids on the bus were excited to see it.

11/3/11

11/3/11

At Hartje School forest we explored dirt, not just any dirt but dirt that has come from a pile of wood chips.  This early Fall we found Stink Horn mushrooms and now we found particles shaped and with the consistency of styrofoam.  They did have rhysomes and smelled like mushrooms but I have never seen these things before.
Gary

10/6/11

Oct 6th 2011

It has been a long time.  Sorry.  I was on an overnight with Sacred Heart 6-8th graders.  We canoed the back waters of the Mississippi at Wyalusing State Park.  It was a beautiful two days, calm, warm and clear.  We saw a few water snakes, one really nice big one, a few bald eagles, a turtle and lots of clam shells along the shore.
More later.

7/3/11

7/3/11

It has been way too long since I posted.
On a trip with kids to Wazee Recreation area in Norther Wisconsin (Clearest, deepest lake in Wis) I saw a school of Trout while I was snorkeling--the first time I have ever seen trout.
The next thing I saw and I say it twice in two different areas, was a large small-mouth bass and lots of little fish, all the same kind, swimming around.  The next time I saw it, it was another large small-mouth bass and the same kind of babies swimming around.  So here is what i thought:  the big one was the mother and she was watching over her brood.  This is just one more example of animals caring and having feelings.
the final thing that I saw were two loons but this time I was snorkeling again and as I approached them they didn't seem to notice me so I got close enough to see them swimming underwater and ducking their heads and then as they swam away under water I could see that they were doing a frog kick rather than a duck paddle--this was awesome to see.
Gary

5/11/11

5/11/11

Two things: a sight and a sound.   The Orioles have been flitting around the yard.  They are so beautiful, their bright orange is so noticeable.  I have not heard their distinctive calls yet.   The sound?  The trilling of hundreds of toads at the pond at Hartje.  What a sound and sight--all those toads looking for mates and calling.  It is mesmerizing.
Gary

4/21/11

4/21/11

On Monday, while exploring with kindergartners in Smith Conservancy we found a beautiful (one of the most beautiful critters in the world) baby tree frog, under bark on an old log on the ground--we left it there.
Today while walking through Webb Forest I say ducks in trees!  I didn't know ducks were perchers--I couldn't see them well but I am guessing they were Wood ducks--they seemed to be backlit so I couldn't make out the coloring very well.  On the ground side of things there were wonderfully clear raccoon tracks because we had just had a very wet snow and then a freeze last night.  The tracks were made before the freeze.  Finally, I scared two geese.  I checked their tracks and they were amazingly like turkey tracks.  It was hard to see the web marks or other distinctions.
Gary

4/9/11

4/9/11

Another great Spring day:  watching a snapper cross the bike trail, seeing two pairs of Cranes on nests, all the frog sounds.  a Pair of Merganzers, Wood Ducks, a snake. two muskrats, Bared owl hoots, and a turkey taking off from a tree.
It was beautiful
Gary

4/8/11

4/8/11

It was a wonderful spring day today.  lots of bird calls.  Lots of frog calls:  Peepers, Leopards, Chorus and Wood Frogs.  We saw several Leopard frogs while we were walking along the river.  And, best of all we found a living garter snake today.  The first one of the season.  He was a very small one, perhaps 7-8 inches but very feisty and beautiful.
It was wonderful to be surrounded by the calls of the frogs.
Gary