6/29/12

We are back from Wazee.  It was hot so we were in the water a lot.  We had 26 kids and we found a new place to do cliff jumping.  It was awesome.  Some of the nature sights:  a blue tailed skink, a big water snake, lots of fish that ate out of our hands--we were feeding them peas, worms, and bread.
Back at home, the first pumpkin has appeared on a vine.  I did water them again, it has just been so hot.  I also moved a dead mama Raccoon from the middle of the road to the Decomposition, Observation area.  We shall see if it gets taken away this time.
Gary

6/23/12

Our trip to Mirror Lake was awesome but also filled with heat problems.  Our bodies are so interesting in so many ways--drink enough to stay healthy and avoid heat problems but don't drink too much and get stomach aches.  How do you know what is enough and what is too much? 
Some neat nature things we saw:  The first and most amazing was a climb to a lofty cave.  The cave went back about 20 ft, narrowing as it went in, and way in the back were two, white, baby Turkey Vultures hissing at us in a way that sounded like Darth Vader.  We did not go in because we didn't want to disturb them and we also did not want Mama coming and attacking us or upchucking on us.  We also saw a doe and two fawns frolicking in the water at the end of the lake.  We found a dead snapper and picked up some bones for the nature table (that will be in construction soon for Hartje).  Finally on our night hike we saw lots of fire flies and one glowing in the weeds and when we turned on our flash lights we saw that it was a daddy Long legs eating a fire fly.
Gary

6/13/12

Babies!  Babies! Babies!   Earlier in the Spring the geese made nests, all in their separate areas, they hatched and then the babies followed mom and dad followed the group.  Now, however several families have grouped together, seemingly in an effort to work together for better child care.  I have also witnessed baby Cranes in the field learning how to pilfer corn seed and the other day I came across a Doe in the woods but as I watched a fawn moved about and pretty soon a second fawn moved into view.  Mom stayed there for a short time while I tried to talk to her and reasure her that I was not about to hurt her or her babies.  Soon, her tail went up and she moved her and her babies off but only a little so I continued to talk to her--she stayed and I think we are now friends,  I hope to see her and the babies again.
Gary