Back in 1973 a movie came out that scared the bejesus out of me... The Exorcist. I went with a friend to see the show and that night, when I went to bed, I heard sounds in the attic and the basement. Every time the house creaked I freaked. I knew it was silly to be scared... geez, it was only a movie. I wanted my friend by my side but that wasn't happening. The damn (pun intended) movie wasn't real for crying out loud. So I went outside and got my dog and made him sleep in my bedroom. That helped.
Then, in 1976, the first of the Omen series had it's debut. Yep, all the accumulated bejesus, 3 years of it, was again scared out of me. Since seeing this show I've avoided rottweilers and young boys in suits. I've avoided them like the plague.
The Poltergeist series were not so bad but I think I'm more of an E.T. kinda guy. I did enjoy John Denver and George Burns in Oh, God. George Burns was much nicer than the unseen devil that was invading Regan (played by Linda Blair) in the Exorcist.
But I didn't bring all this up just so everyone would know what a scaredy-cat I was and that I had lost all my bejesus twice over movies. I brought this up because I'm starting to see a trend in my back yard. Maybe it's an OMEN. As you now know OMEN's are very scary.
I didn't write about it but last week Ginger found a dead bird next to the fence in the back yard. She told me about it and a few hours later I went out to "dispose" of the creature lest my granddaughter find it. Not that she would be shocked or anything like that... it's just that if she found it we would have to have another funeral and burial. I searched for the bird but it was gone. Ginger came out and searched. It was still gone.
Then Joe disappeared last Thursday. She hasn't been seen for 6 days now.
Then just yesterday on two different occasions a dead toadlet was seen floating slowly toward the skimmer. It's easy to assume the toadlets were killed taking their joy ride through the pump impeller followed by the water pipe and the big finale of the waterfalls. I made just that assumption when I first saw the deceased toadlets.
But now that I consider all the events together I may have stumbled on a demonic plot. Maybe my dopey neighbors are conjuring up spirits. Maybe my house was built on a long abandoned Boot Hill or Indian Burial Ground.
Whatever the case, that bird was dead and then vanished. Joe hasn't been seen lately. Dead toadlets have been observed floating in the pond. Even the rescued toad has not been seen for 3 days!
Go ahead and laugh. When you go to bed tonight take a moment and listen. Do you hear that? I think it's coming from the attic? What the hell is that? I hope you have a dog...
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Joe is MIA AGAIN!!!
On Thursday morning Joe was sunning herself in the Bridge Pond. I took that opportunity to introduce Joe to the lady who cleans our house. I don't think either one of them were impressed.
It must have pissed Joe off that I was bringing a strange woman around because I haven't seen Joe since then.
Of course she has done this in the past...Joe, not the cleaning woman... just a few weeks ago was the last time. I'm still holding out that she will return but as more and more time passes more and more of my optimism leaks out of my belly button leaving what looks like a snail trail. Not pretty... not pretty at all.
In the mean time I did capture a Batch I toadpole and inspected it's rear for legs. Yep, they be grow'n. Probably about 1/8th of an inch now. Still looks like a thin straight tube growing from right next to the tail. No sign of feet yet... or knees for that matter. These little guys have become very paranoid in their old age.. what, maybe 6, 7 weeks? They are getting hard to catch.
We also started using the "NEW" and cheaper bird seed this morning. The birdies seemed to love it. I hope it stays that way as it's cheaper than what we were using.
That's the news direct from my backyard.
It must have pissed Joe off that I was bringing a strange woman around because I haven't seen Joe since then.
Of course she has done this in the past...Joe, not the cleaning woman... just a few weeks ago was the last time. I'm still holding out that she will return but as more and more time passes more and more of my optimism leaks out of my belly button leaving what looks like a snail trail. Not pretty... not pretty at all.
In the mean time I did capture a Batch I toadpole and inspected it's rear for legs. Yep, they be grow'n. Probably about 1/8th of an inch now. Still looks like a thin straight tube growing from right next to the tail. No sign of feet yet... or knees for that matter. These little guys have become very paranoid in their old age.. what, maybe 6, 7 weeks? They are getting hard to catch.
We also started using the "NEW" and cheaper bird seed this morning. The birdies seemed to love it. I hope it stays that way as it's cheaper than what we were using.
That's the news direct from my backyard.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Nice Gams Woodlet!
Woodhouse Toadlet Update:
The oldest toadpoles or pollywog's or toadlets or, my new term, woodlets are developing legs. I caught a few this afternoon and, upon close inspection, find there are little nubs sticking out from each side of their tails. I believe these to be future legs.
Toadlet batches II and III have moved to every pond. There are literally thousands of them. Easily 2000 but probably 3 to 4 thousand. You can't tell any difference between the batches as they are all pretty much the same size. Two days doesn't make much difference after a week or so.
I was looking at the Bio Container at the top of the ponds. This is where the first waterfall originates. The little Woodlets were popping up from their thrill ride through the pump and water pipe so they can take the plunge over the falls. I was seeing probably two dozen every minute appear and then almost immediately take the waterfall ride. There were a few that had found safe refuge in the mesh bags of rocks kept in the Bio Container to help grow beneficial bacteria.
Rescued Toad Still Here:
That male toad that I rescued from the skimmer on Wednesday of last week is still hanging around. He has remained in his burrow most of the time. Yesterday he was sleeping on his right side. That looked odd. Usually he has his legs folded up next to his body, his fore legs or arms (if you will) are also tucked in close.
Every now and then he disappears but always has found his way back to the burrow sooner or later.
There has been no sight or sound of any of the other Woodhouse's Toads.
Joe Update:
Joe must have found a new safe haven. I'm pretty sure she still hangs out under the bridge but no one can find her when she goes under there. We have looked high and low but her safe haven is safe from our prying eyes.
This afternoon she was out sunning herself in the Bridge Pond. She pulls up to the edge of the pond with her back to the sun and just sits there. I took a pretty good look at her and she is fat. Compared to what she looked like when she arrived this spring she is immense. Sorry no picture.
I'm think'n Joe has a pretty sweet life in my pond.
The oldest toadpoles or pollywog's or toadlets or, my new term, woodlets are developing legs. I caught a few this afternoon and, upon close inspection, find there are little nubs sticking out from each side of their tails. I believe these to be future legs.
Toadlet batches II and III have moved to every pond. There are literally thousands of them. Easily 2000 but probably 3 to 4 thousand. You can't tell any difference between the batches as they are all pretty much the same size. Two days doesn't make much difference after a week or so.
I was looking at the Bio Container at the top of the ponds. This is where the first waterfall originates. The little Woodlets were popping up from their thrill ride through the pump and water pipe so they can take the plunge over the falls. I was seeing probably two dozen every minute appear and then almost immediately take the waterfall ride. There were a few that had found safe refuge in the mesh bags of rocks kept in the Bio Container to help grow beneficial bacteria.
Rescued Toad Still Here:
That male toad that I rescued from the skimmer on Wednesday of last week is still hanging around. He has remained in his burrow most of the time. Yesterday he was sleeping on his right side. That looked odd. Usually he has his legs folded up next to his body, his fore legs or arms (if you will) are also tucked in close.
Every now and then he disappears but always has found his way back to the burrow sooner or later.
There has been no sight or sound of any of the other Woodhouse's Toads.
Joe Update:
Joe must have found a new safe haven. I'm pretty sure she still hangs out under the bridge but no one can find her when she goes under there. We have looked high and low but her safe haven is safe from our prying eyes.
This afternoon she was out sunning herself in the Bridge Pond. She pulls up to the edge of the pond with her back to the sun and just sits there. I took a pretty good look at her and she is fat. Compared to what she looked like when she arrived this spring she is immense. Sorry no picture.
I'm think'n Joe has a pretty sweet life in my pond.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Summer Solstice & Fathers Day
Summer Solstice & Fathers Day on the same day. The solstice is celebrated all over the place. In many circles it is considered a "pagan" holiday. I don't know about that but for the folks living at the greater longitude like Alaska and Siberia and points north will experience very long days and short nights. Now the days will begin to get shorter until we reach the winter solstice in December. This 'ol world just keeps rock'n along.
I've decided the best thing that a father can get for Fathers Day is a hug or an "I love you," or both from any of his kids or grand kids. Don't need that new tool or BBQ or computer game. Just a hug. Just an "I love you." What could be better than that?
Not a lot of news in the frog, toad or pond arena. Joe was hunting this morning and did get breakfast. I have slowed my reporting of her hunting successes as it can get redundant. She has perfected her hunting style and pretty much does the same thing. It's when she misses that it gets interesting and sometimes comical.
The drama is still there but your ever so humble author isn't talented enough to relate that drama to this blog.
So happy Fathers Day to all you Dad's out there. I hope you get your love hug. May the sun shine on you and warm your spirit.
I've decided the best thing that a father can get for Fathers Day is a hug or an "I love you," or both from any of his kids or grand kids. Don't need that new tool or BBQ or computer game. Just a hug. Just an "I love you." What could be better than that?
Not a lot of news in the frog, toad or pond arena. Joe was hunting this morning and did get breakfast. I have slowed my reporting of her hunting successes as it can get redundant. She has perfected her hunting style and pretty much does the same thing. It's when she misses that it gets interesting and sometimes comical.
The drama is still there but your ever so humble author isn't talented enough to relate that drama to this blog.
So happy Fathers Day to all you Dad's out there. I hope you get your love hug. May the sun shine on you and warm your spirit.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
New Pump Working ~ Joe on Vacation?
My pond guy said I would have the new pump on Friday. He was correct. I just love it when things go like you planned. Thank you Lilly Pad ~
Friday morning I gave the skimmer pond the last once-over to remove what remained of the black stinky goo that had settled on the bottom over the past couple of years. Nasty job. I'm still Thor. After removing my bucket and tools I opened the 3/4 inch filler pipe and let the water run. It took almost 4 hours to fill the pond.
The picture on the left is the deepest part of the skimmer pond. To the right of the bucket is the 10,000 GPH pump and plumbing. To clean it I shoveled out most of the rocks and underlying crud. Then I added water until the pump was submerged and ran the pump. Add water (that stirred up the crud I couldn't shovel) and run the pump. Repeat as required.
Once the shoveling and hauling and water pumping was complete it was just a matter of filling the pond, installing the new pump in the skimmer and watching the water flow again.
One interesting event happened while I was cleaning in the Skimmer Pond. Mama Mallard and Daddy Duck were coming in for a landing while I was cleaning the deep end of the pond. I stood up. I guess it scared them because I heard all the flapping and looked up to see them aborting the landing and heading out at top speed. Kinda funny.
The new pump, like the old pump, sits on the bottom of the skimmer. Here is a picture of the skimmer with everything removed. The pump connects to the white PVC pipe. Just above that is the 3/4 inch filler pipe and that little black thing on the lower left is the overflow. At the top of the picture is the hole where the water enters the skimmer. Not shown is the skimmer basket and filter mat.
Probably a bit too much info here.
The toadpoles didn't mind the pump being out of commission and took advantage to rest on rocks and soak up the warm rays.
It was probably a rude awakening for them when the water started to flow as some immediately got washed over the falls at Joe's Station and became the first inhabitants of the Skimmer Pond in it's new pristine condition. Of course the pristine conditions lasted about 3 minutes as the "seasoned" water flowed into the pond.
In the meantime I've lost Joe. Well, I didn't lose her it's just that I can't find her. The last I saw of her she was under the bridge recuperating from her ordeal of being trapped in the Skimmer Pond. I couldn't find her on Thursday afternoon and she was not to be seen at all on Friday. Maybe she went to visit a cousin or uncle in Schenectady.
I'm having flash-backs of last year when I drained the Bridge Pond and Joe was gone until this spring. Hopefully she will hear the sounds of the waterfalls and return home.
The pictures to the left are the oldest toadpoles. These guys are now about 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 inches long. Considering they were only about 1/8th of an inch long a month ago speaks well of them doing their current job... growing.
Joe Update: When I went out Saturday morning to feed the birds I looked high and low for Joe. Nothing. Then, as I sat at my station having my morning java fix, these two eyes appear at Humpty Dumpty Falls. IT'S JOE! Whew, I'm glad she is back... I wonder where she was. Our gain and Schenectady's loss.... of course the birds don't see it that way.
Friday morning I gave the skimmer pond the last once-over to remove what remained of the black stinky goo that had settled on the bottom over the past couple of years. Nasty job. I'm still Thor. After removing my bucket and tools I opened the 3/4 inch filler pipe and let the water run. It took almost 4 hours to fill the pond.The picture on the left is the deepest part of the skimmer pond. To the right of the bucket is the 10,000 GPH pump and plumbing. To clean it I shoveled out most of the rocks and underlying crud. Then I added water until the pump was submerged and ran the pump. Add water (that stirred up the crud I couldn't shovel) and run the pump. Repeat as required.
Once the shoveling and hauling and water pumping was complete it was just a matter of filling the pond, installing the new pump in the skimmer and watching the water flow again.
One interesting event happened while I was cleaning in the Skimmer Pond. Mama Mallard and Daddy Duck were coming in for a landing while I was cleaning the deep end of the pond. I stood up. I guess it scared them because I heard all the flapping and looked up to see them aborting the landing and heading out at top speed. Kinda funny.
The new pump, like the old pump, sits on the bottom of the skimmer. Here is a picture of the skimmer with everything removed. The pump connects to the white PVC pipe. Just above that is the 3/4 inch filler pipe and that little black thing on the lower left is the overflow. At the top of the picture is the hole where the water enters the skimmer. Not shown is the skimmer basket and filter mat.Probably a bit too much info here.
The toadpoles didn't mind the pump being out of commission and took advantage to rest on rocks and soak up the warm rays.
It was probably a rude awakening for them when the water started to flow as some immediately got washed over the falls at Joe's Station and became the first inhabitants of the Skimmer Pond in it's new pristine condition. Of course the pristine conditions lasted about 3 minutes as the "seasoned" water flowed into the pond.
In the meantime I've lost Joe. Well, I didn't lose her it's just that I can't find her. The last I saw of her she was under the bridge recuperating from her ordeal of being trapped in the Skimmer Pond. I couldn't find her on Thursday afternoon and she was not to be seen at all on Friday. Maybe she went to visit a cousin or uncle in Schenectady.
I'm having flash-backs of last year when I drained the Bridge Pond and Joe was gone until this spring. Hopefully she will hear the sounds of the waterfalls and return home.
The pictures to the left are the oldest toadpoles. These guys are now about 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 inches long. Considering they were only about 1/8th of an inch long a month ago speaks well of them doing their current job... growing.Joe Update: When I went out Saturday morning to feed the birds I looked high and low for Joe. Nothing. Then, as I sat at my station having my morning java fix, these two eyes appear at Humpty Dumpty Falls. IT'S JOE! Whew, I'm glad she is back... I wonder where she was. Our gain and Schenectady's loss.... of course the birds don't see it that way.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Joe Trapped ~ Pond Leak ~ I am THOR
Before I tell you about Thursday there is something I wanted to share that I saw Wednesday and forgot to put in the previous post. A black bird showed up and had something in it's mouth. I put the binoculars on him and saw he was carrying around a dragon fly. Apparently he was having a problem eating it so was doing what I consider either odd or possibly ingenious. The black bird was dipping the dragon fly in the water (do you think they learn this from watching hot dog eating contests?). The bird hopped down to the water, dipped the dragon fly and then tried to get in into it's mouth. Back to the water, try to eat, back to the water.... It finally flew away with it's prize firmly in beak.
Thursday:
As you know from my previous post the 7500 GPH pond pump died. I fired up the 10,000 GPH pump to keep most of the water moving while awaiting the delivery of the replacement pump scheduled for Friday AM.
When I got up Thursday morning I found the skimmer pond had lost more than half of it's water! That's around 1000 gallons of water. HOLY MOLY!!! Of course I turned the pump off and easily found a trail of water leading from the far side of the bridge.
My theory is the 10,000 GPH pump raises the water level in the bridge pond about 2 or 3 inches higher than when the 7500 GPH pump is in service. This increase in water level reached someplace that either has a hole or the liner has slipped down below this "new" water level. I'm not going to get excited about finding and fixing it right now but will put it on my "to do" list.
I also found our heroine Joe trapped in the skimmer pond. With the water level so low she couldn't crawl out. I took my hoe and gently slid it under her and she just sat on it while I played elevator and moved her to the rim of the pond and she slowly moved into her pond. It was almost like she expected me to rescue her. Later that morning she was resting under the bridge no doubt a little put our with me for scaring all the birds away. WOW, two rescues in two days.
The Woody that was rescued Wednesday is still in it's burrow.
Since the skimmer pond was now close to empty I decided this was a prefect time to clean it. Well, actually not perfect but an opportune time since I had lost so much water. The down side to doing this now was the toadpoles living in the skimmer pond. I didn't want to wash them away.
I finished draining the skimmer pond and in the 6 inch deep puddle that was left were about 75 toadpoles. I got a bucket and started catching them. I caught most before I moved ahead with the cleaning.
The pond was in need of cleaning... really needy. It stunk down there. There were inches of black muck that had built up over time and lots of rock, my screwdriver.. a bit rusty now, the remains of the original waterfall that fell off two winters ago and some of the dead mats of string algae.
So I got the hose and buckets and shovels and rakes and hoes and jumped in. I squirted and shoveled muck into the buckets. Hauled it away. Shoveled rocks into buckets. Hauled it away. I squirted some more and pumped out the crud. I worked at this for about 6 or 7 hours. I finally quit as the pond was looking pretty good and I was tired and Thor.
Yes, Thor was the intended word. Back when frogs had tails and ruled the world, Thor, the God of Thunder, went to a party. At the party Thor got hooked up with Venus, the Goddess of Beauty and Love and Fertility. They danced and drank and had a great time at the party. About 2 o'clock in the morning they left the party headed for Thor's pad. Once there one thing lead to another and they wound up making mad passionate love until the sun had risen. Thor gets out of bed and as he passes a mirror he looks at his muscular body. He flexes his muscles and admires his physique. Consumed with narcissism he roars, "I AM THOR!" This of course gets Venuses attention and she peak out from under the covers. She says, "Your Thor, I can hardly walk!"
That's what I meant when I said I was tired and Thor... what she said.
Thursday:
As you know from my previous post the 7500 GPH pond pump died. I fired up the 10,000 GPH pump to keep most of the water moving while awaiting the delivery of the replacement pump scheduled for Friday AM.
When I got up Thursday morning I found the skimmer pond had lost more than half of it's water! That's around 1000 gallons of water. HOLY MOLY!!! Of course I turned the pump off and easily found a trail of water leading from the far side of the bridge.
My theory is the 10,000 GPH pump raises the water level in the bridge pond about 2 or 3 inches higher than when the 7500 GPH pump is in service. This increase in water level reached someplace that either has a hole or the liner has slipped down below this "new" water level. I'm not going to get excited about finding and fixing it right now but will put it on my "to do" list.
I also found our heroine Joe trapped in the skimmer pond. With the water level so low she couldn't crawl out. I took my hoe and gently slid it under her and she just sat on it while I played elevator and moved her to the rim of the pond and she slowly moved into her pond. It was almost like she expected me to rescue her. Later that morning she was resting under the bridge no doubt a little put our with me for scaring all the birds away. WOW, two rescues in two days.
The Woody that was rescued Wednesday is still in it's burrow.
Since the skimmer pond was now close to empty I decided this was a prefect time to clean it. Well, actually not perfect but an opportune time since I had lost so much water. The down side to doing this now was the toadpoles living in the skimmer pond. I didn't want to wash them away.
I finished draining the skimmer pond and in the 6 inch deep puddle that was left were about 75 toadpoles. I got a bucket and started catching them. I caught most before I moved ahead with the cleaning.
The pond was in need of cleaning... really needy. It stunk down there. There were inches of black muck that had built up over time and lots of rock, my screwdriver.. a bit rusty now, the remains of the original waterfall that fell off two winters ago and some of the dead mats of string algae.
So I got the hose and buckets and shovels and rakes and hoes and jumped in. I squirted and shoveled muck into the buckets. Hauled it away. Shoveled rocks into buckets. Hauled it away. I squirted some more and pumped out the crud. I worked at this for about 6 or 7 hours. I finally quit as the pond was looking pretty good and I was tired and Thor.
Yes, Thor was the intended word. Back when frogs had tails and ruled the world, Thor, the God of Thunder, went to a party. At the party Thor got hooked up with Venus, the Goddess of Beauty and Love and Fertility. They danced and drank and had a great time at the party. About 2 o'clock in the morning they left the party headed for Thor's pad. Once there one thing lead to another and they wound up making mad passionate love until the sun had risen. Thor gets out of bed and as he passes a mirror he looks at his muscular body. He flexes his muscles and admires his physique. Consumed with narcissism he roars, "I AM THOR!" This of course gets Venuses attention and she peak out from under the covers. She says, "Your Thor, I can hardly walk!"
That's what I meant when I said I was tired and Thor... what she said.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Trapped Woody Freed ~ Pump Dead
Wednesday my 7500 GPH pump died. No fanfare or noise. It just quit. The motor wouldn't turn... probably a bearing froze up. In my mind I keep hearing "Bones" from Star Trek fame saying, "She's dead Jim... she's dead." OK, maybe your aren't a S.T. fan... how about this: Did you hear about the woman who backed into an airplane propeller? Disaster... Queue the drum roll. Moving right along... no more groaners.
This could have been a disaster but it turns out to be good news in more ways than one. The first good news is the pump is under warranty and will cost me nothing (they are expensive too) but time to replace. Since I have plenty of time I consider this good news. February 9, 2009 was the installation date. Can you believe it? That was only 4 months ago! The replacement pump has to ship from Denver so I won't have normal water flow until Friday.
In the meantime I'm using my 10,000 GPH pump that sits at the bottom of the skimmer pond to circulate water from the skimmer pond to the bridge pond. This is not ideal but a lot better than letting the pond water sit stagnant. The bio-falls and no-name pond have no circulation since they are above the bridge pond.
More good news. When the water suddenly quit flowing Wednesday afternoon I had to get into the strainer to remove the pump. After removing the strainer I discovered one of the male Woody's trapped. He was holding onto a PVC pipe and looked pretty spent. No telling how long he had been in there. I surmise he got trapped in the strainer and crawled up the side in a effort to get out. He then fell behind the strainer, winding up trapped with no chance of escape. If the pump had not died I probably would not have found him in time for him to recover from his entrapment. I guess the Toad Gods were look'n out for this guy.
I picked him up and placed him in the skimmer pond and proceeded to remove the pump from the bottom of the skimmer. After testing the pump and assuring myself there was nothing that I could do to save it I went to cleanup my mess at the strainer. That Woody was back in there again! Maybe it's the dark hole that attracts him... Anyway I removed him again and we kept an eye on him until it looked like he was going to crawl out of the pond. We left for the pond store to get the replacement pump ordered.
After returning from the pond store Ginger looked around for the Woody. She found him in the burrow as pictured in this post. Hopefully he will recover and move on to where the others have gone.
I'm a happy camper for saving the Woody from certain death. I'm happy I'll get a new pump at no charge. I'm also laughing about the lady who backed into an airplane propeller. I haven't thought about that story for many years. Humm, maybe I should share some of my "Little Johnny" jokes....
This could have been a disaster but it turns out to be good news in more ways than one. The first good news is the pump is under warranty and will cost me nothing (they are expensive too) but time to replace. Since I have plenty of time I consider this good news. February 9, 2009 was the installation date. Can you believe it? That was only 4 months ago! The replacement pump has to ship from Denver so I won't have normal water flow until Friday.
In the meantime I'm using my 10,000 GPH pump that sits at the bottom of the skimmer pond to circulate water from the skimmer pond to the bridge pond. This is not ideal but a lot better than letting the pond water sit stagnant. The bio-falls and no-name pond have no circulation since they are above the bridge pond.
More good news. When the water suddenly quit flowing Wednesday afternoon I had to get into the strainer to remove the pump. After removing the strainer I discovered one of the male Woody's trapped. He was holding onto a PVC pipe and looked pretty spent. No telling how long he had been in there. I surmise he got trapped in the strainer and crawled up the side in a effort to get out. He then fell behind the strainer, winding up trapped with no chance of escape. If the pump had not died I probably would not have found him in time for him to recover from his entrapment. I guess the Toad Gods were look'n out for this guy.
I picked him up and placed him in the skimmer pond and proceeded to remove the pump from the bottom of the skimmer. After testing the pump and assuring myself there was nothing that I could do to save it I went to cleanup my mess at the strainer. That Woody was back in there again! Maybe it's the dark hole that attracts him... Anyway I removed him again and we kept an eye on him until it looked like he was going to crawl out of the pond. We left for the pond store to get the replacement pump ordered.
After returning from the pond store Ginger looked around for the Woody. She found him in the burrow as pictured in this post. Hopefully he will recover and move on to where the others have gone.
I'm a happy camper for saving the Woody from certain death. I'm happy I'll get a new pump at no charge. I'm also laughing about the lady who backed into an airplane propeller. I haven't thought about that story for many years. Humm, maybe I should share some of my "Little Johnny" jokes....
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Toadpoles Batch III Hatched
What hopefully is the last batch of toadppoles has hatched. Just before adding this post to the blog I checked on them and about half are free swimming. The rest will be out and about within a few hours.
After hatching they don't really do much. Swim a little but mostly stick to the rocks. I was reading about toadpoles just this morning and the article said their mouths don't open right away. For a day or two after hatching they sustained by their "yoke sac" and once their mouths open they will start to eat algae. Apparently they have a special "tooth" that is used to scrape algae from stones.
One thing in the favor of those born in batch II and III are their size. Being small they will be able to get to algae that their older cousins can't access. That may be their saving grace as there are a lot of mouths to feed and only the pond to provide the food.
I received the following comment/question in the previous post: How many tadpoles do you estimate there to be from the first batch? What percent actually have made it so far? Answering this question reminds me of the huge jar of jellybeans and you have to guess how many there are. My estimate of survivors from batch I would be about 150 to 250. They are spread out over all the ponds and some days they seem to be appreciating the sun and others they must be hiding so it's hard to guesstimate. The number that hatched from the eggs has to be over 1000... maybe over 1500. I've read that Mama Toad will lay in excess of 3000 eggs but I don't think I saw that many.
While checking the new toadpoles I spotted a bird I haven't seen in our yard before. A Downy Woodpecker was eating seeds from the sunflowers. A petite looking bird with nice black and white colors and she(?) did in fact look downy or some might say fluffy.
Joe didn't make an appearance this morning until well after sunrise. I had errands to run so wasn't home to observe what was going on in the pond. She did score a meal Tuesday morning so I wouldn't be surprised if she just wasn't that hungry. When I got home Joe was once again cooling her heels under the bridge which is her safe haven. At least I think that was Joe... it's kinda dark under there.
Still no sightings or sounds of the (adult) Woodhouse's Toads.
After hatching they don't really do much. Swim a little but mostly stick to the rocks. I was reading about toadpoles just this morning and the article said their mouths don't open right away. For a day or two after hatching they sustained by their "yoke sac" and once their mouths open they will start to eat algae. Apparently they have a special "tooth" that is used to scrape algae from stones.
One thing in the favor of those born in batch II and III are their size. Being small they will be able to get to algae that their older cousins can't access. That may be their saving grace as there are a lot of mouths to feed and only the pond to provide the food.
I received the following comment/question in the previous post: How many tadpoles do you estimate there to be from the first batch? What percent actually have made it so far? Answering this question reminds me of the huge jar of jellybeans and you have to guess how many there are. My estimate of survivors from batch I would be about 150 to 250. They are spread out over all the ponds and some days they seem to be appreciating the sun and others they must be hiding so it's hard to guesstimate. The number that hatched from the eggs has to be over 1000... maybe over 1500. I've read that Mama Toad will lay in excess of 3000 eggs but I don't think I saw that many.
While checking the new toadpoles I spotted a bird I haven't seen in our yard before. A Downy Woodpecker was eating seeds from the sunflowers. A petite looking bird with nice black and white colors and she(?) did in fact look downy or some might say fluffy.
Joe didn't make an appearance this morning until well after sunrise. I had errands to run so wasn't home to observe what was going on in the pond. She did score a meal Tuesday morning so I wouldn't be surprised if she just wasn't that hungry. When I got home Joe was once again cooling her heels under the bridge which is her safe haven. At least I think that was Joe... it's kinda dark under there.
Still no sightings or sounds of the (adult) Woodhouse's Toads.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Toadpoles Hatched ~ Ma & Pa Woody's Missing
Yesterday, Monday June 15, 2009: It's official, the second batch of Woodhouse's Toad eggs has hatched. As of the afternoon they are free swimming and able to move about the pond. Compared to their month old cousins they are tiny.
So 2 batches hatched and 1 batch to go. The third batch should be along about Wednesday or Thursday.
Again Monday night the pond was quiet. No Woody's singing their off key songs. No more wooing and courting the Big Mama Toad. It is probably a good thing they aren't laying more eggs in the pond. While interesting to watch I doubt if the pond can support all the toadpoles, current and pre-hatched.
I've watched closely for signs of predation by Joe and the older toadpoles. I've seen nothing that would indicate that is happening.... so far. I see the toadpoles swimming around Joe like she was a magnet to them. Joe of aloof and pays them no mind. I see the older toadpoles resting, the small newly hatched swimming around them and like Joe they ignore them.
The picture to the right is the third batch of future toadpoles. The eggs are still round but will become oblong as they mature. Once they hatch everything disappears except, hopefully, the new toadlets.
So 2 batches hatched and 1 batch to go. The third batch should be along about Wednesday or Thursday.
Again Monday night the pond was quiet. No Woody's singing their off key songs. No more wooing and courting the Big Mama Toad. It is probably a good thing they aren't laying more eggs in the pond. While interesting to watch I doubt if the pond can support all the toadpoles, current and pre-hatched.
I've watched closely for signs of predation by Joe and the older toadpoles. I've seen nothing that would indicate that is happening.... so far. I see the toadpoles swimming around Joe like she was a magnet to them. Joe of aloof and pays them no mind. I see the older toadpoles resting, the small newly hatched swimming around them and like Joe they ignore them.
The picture to the right is the third batch of future toadpoles. The eggs are still round but will become oblong as they mature. Once they hatch everything disappears except, hopefully, the new toadlets.Monday, June 15, 2009
Humming Bird ~ Bath or Breakfast
It's a beautiful morning. The temperature is almost 60, the sky is mostly clear, a slight breeze from the southwest. The coffee smells good and the birds are sing'n. I've already filled the bird feeder. I said good morning to Joe who is scouting the flat stones for breakfast from her station. I'm at my station having some coffee.
I notice a humming bird flying close to Joe's station. I've never seen a hummer approach any portion of the pond in the past so I'm curious as to what this little guy is up to. The hummer comes close to the waterfall and then zooms away only to return a few minutes later. Once again the hummer comes close to the waterfall and once again zooms away. Joe turns toward the place the hummer was hovering.
A few minutes later the hummer returns. This time the hummer lands in the water just about 4 or 5 inches from the edge of the waterfall. It's taking a bath! WOW! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the hummer likes to bathe like the other birds, but I've never seen it actually happen before.
This little guy is having a good time and fluttering away making the water fly. This, of course, has put Joe on high alert and she is slowly approaching the hummer. It wouldn't be much of a meal for Joe as the hummer is about a 100th the size of Joe... not even close to Joe's usual meal be it finch or sparrow.
The hummer continues to bathe and Joe is about a foot away. POW! Joe springs from the water with her mouth wide-open. Now airborne, Joe is committed. The hummer zooms back and to the right. Man oh man those hummers are fast. Joe misses by feet and is still flying through the air as the hummer vanishes in the distance. Joe flies over the edge of the falls never touching the water or stone. SPLASH... ripples in the skimmer pond radiate out from the landing zone. It was a belly flop. If this were the frog Olympics I would have given her 2 points... only because of the size of the splash.
Joe crawled out of the skimmer pond and was back on station within a few minutes. She's no quitter... of course she doesn't have much choice but to keep hunting or starve.
I notice a humming bird flying close to Joe's station. I've never seen a hummer approach any portion of the pond in the past so I'm curious as to what this little guy is up to. The hummer comes close to the waterfall and then zooms away only to return a few minutes later. Once again the hummer comes close to the waterfall and once again zooms away. Joe turns toward the place the hummer was hovering.
A few minutes later the hummer returns. This time the hummer lands in the water just about 4 or 5 inches from the edge of the waterfall. It's taking a bath! WOW! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the hummer likes to bathe like the other birds, but I've never seen it actually happen before.
This little guy is having a good time and fluttering away making the water fly. This, of course, has put Joe on high alert and she is slowly approaching the hummer. It wouldn't be much of a meal for Joe as the hummer is about a 100th the size of Joe... not even close to Joe's usual meal be it finch or sparrow.
The hummer continues to bathe and Joe is about a foot away. POW! Joe springs from the water with her mouth wide-open. Now airborne, Joe is committed. The hummer zooms back and to the right. Man oh man those hummers are fast. Joe misses by feet and is still flying through the air as the hummer vanishes in the distance. Joe flies over the edge of the falls never touching the water or stone. SPLASH... ripples in the skimmer pond radiate out from the landing zone. It was a belly flop. If this were the frog Olympics I would have given her 2 points... only because of the size of the splash.
Joe crawled out of the skimmer pond and was back on station within a few minutes. She's no quitter... of course she doesn't have much choice but to keep hunting or starve.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Toadlet's, Batch II are Hatching
I don't know if "hatching" is the correct terminology for toadlet's emerging from the strings of toad eggs. I'm thinking that if they are eggs and if toadlet's come out of them they had to hatch. In any case, I was looking at some of the eggs that were laid on June 10... that was my post about "8 legged toads". The eggs have changed from round "beads" on a string to small oblong shapes and still attached to the string. I noted that some of the "eggs" are moving and I'm sure I could detect a tail wiggling. If you recall the first batch of eggs took 5 days from when they were laid until the toadlets were free swimming. I expect to see a plethora of toadlets on Monday and will consider the toadlets "hatched" when they can swim free.
I was looking around the Internet and reading about toads. I found a new term for toadlets that I thought was pretty neat... toadpoles. I like it. It belongs to Robyn who hosts http://www.fishpondinfo.com/. So thank you Robyn... cool name.
I've been researching what may happen to all the toadpoles that are here and on the way. I've read conflicting things about toadpoles eating each other. Some articles indicate the toadlets will eat only algae and detris. Other articles say they will eat their brothers and sisters. Yet other articles say they will die if there are too many in the pond because they will run out of algae. So many conflicting stories...
I must say these little algae eaters have made a difference in my pond by reducing the algae. They don't seem to like the string algae very well but even that has been reduced significantly. I don't know if all this can be attributed to the toadpoles but there is no doubt in my mind that the pond is nicer looking since they hatched.
The last two nights have been silent. None of the Woody's have screeched and once again I'm tempted to tell you they have left. I don't think I'll go on record as saying they have left the pond but I will listen for them and report back what I hear or don't hear.
I was looking around the Internet and reading about toads. I found a new term for toadlets that I thought was pretty neat... toadpoles. I like it. It belongs to Robyn who hosts http://www.fishpondinfo.com/. So thank you Robyn... cool name.
I've been researching what may happen to all the toadpoles that are here and on the way. I've read conflicting things about toadpoles eating each other. Some articles indicate the toadlets will eat only algae and detris. Other articles say they will eat their brothers and sisters. Yet other articles say they will die if there are too many in the pond because they will run out of algae. So many conflicting stories...
I must say these little algae eaters have made a difference in my pond by reducing the algae. They don't seem to like the string algae very well but even that has been reduced significantly. I don't know if all this can be attributed to the toadpoles but there is no doubt in my mind that the pond is nicer looking since they hatched.
The last two nights have been silent. None of the Woody's have screeched and once again I'm tempted to tell you they have left. I don't think I'll go on record as saying they have left the pond but I will listen for them and report back what I hear or don't hear.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Prolific Woody's are Make'n More Toadlets!!!
Prolific is the word that comes to mind when I think about the Woodhouse's Toads. It took most of the day but we now have more egg strings along the edge of the pond. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? I have to assume this isn't the same female that was laying eggs just 2 days ago.... I can't imagine.
There were 2 male Woody's that were "sing'n" all night long and past sunrise. This morning I discovered them along with the female. Of course it was odd toad out. This couple laid the eggs about the same place as the first pair way back in May.
I was wondering about the consequences of this population explosion when the second batch of eggs hatched and now we have a third batch. Still have no idea how this will resolve itself as the toadlets grow.
New subject. Joe was up early and on station when the sun came up. She apparently didn't eat on Thursday so was attentive to the birds this morning. She did eventually ambush one and retired for the rest of the day. This was after a failed attempt where she sprung out of the water onto the flat stones, missing her target (well, it moved... no fair) and doing a nose dive into the rocks. OOF! It's the sudden stop that gets ya. She's a tough one. No blood. She just crawled back into the pond and started to hunt again.
Earlier she was trying to stalk a pair of Who-Who Birdies, it was very amusing to watch. They caught her attention by drinking in Joe's Pond. Then they moved to the top of the rocks between the pond and the bird feeder. Joe ever so slowly crawled up the rocks until the toes on her hind leg just left the water. She wouldn't go any farther and the birds were far enough away so as not to feel threatened.
Even more news. The bird seed I buy is called "No Mess" which is pretty expensive... about $1.75/lb. It is mostly shelled sunflower seeds and millet. The idea is the birds will eat everything with no waste (like shells) and thus leaving no mess. It works fairly well but not a great as they lead you to believe. It is better than the feed with husks and shells and stuff these species don't eat.
I decided to check out a feed store here in town to see if I could find a better deal. I waited in a short line and when it was my turn the woman at the counter asked what I wanted. I explained about what I had been using and that I was shopping for a like product hoping to save some money. She informed me that they had a similar product but I should just go back to the other store as their product was very expensive. I appreciated the honesty. I also asked what the cost was. It turned out the cost was $9.00 cheaper and the bag held 5 additional pounds of seed! Cost is less than $1.00/lb. I left with seed and the feeling that the sales lady thought I was nuts to spend so much money just to feed wild birds.
Now to find out if the birds like it. If they come across seeds in the feeder they don't like they just dump that stuff on the ground as they search for seeds they do like. That is what makes the mess and the mess draws other creatures besides looking terrible after a while. Cleanup is tough and more of a job for Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame.
So a busy day.
There were 2 male Woody's that were "sing'n" all night long and past sunrise. This morning I discovered them along with the female. Of course it was odd toad out. This couple laid the eggs about the same place as the first pair way back in May.
I was wondering about the consequences of this population explosion when the second batch of eggs hatched and now we have a third batch. Still have no idea how this will resolve itself as the toadlets grow.
New subject. Joe was up early and on station when the sun came up. She apparently didn't eat on Thursday so was attentive to the birds this morning. She did eventually ambush one and retired for the rest of the day. This was after a failed attempt where she sprung out of the water onto the flat stones, missing her target (well, it moved... no fair) and doing a nose dive into the rocks. OOF! It's the sudden stop that gets ya. She's a tough one. No blood. She just crawled back into the pond and started to hunt again.
Earlier she was trying to stalk a pair of Who-Who Birdies, it was very amusing to watch. They caught her attention by drinking in Joe's Pond. Then they moved to the top of the rocks between the pond and the bird feeder. Joe ever so slowly crawled up the rocks until the toes on her hind leg just left the water. She wouldn't go any farther and the birds were far enough away so as not to feel threatened.
Even more news. The bird seed I buy is called "No Mess" which is pretty expensive... about $1.75/lb. It is mostly shelled sunflower seeds and millet. The idea is the birds will eat everything with no waste (like shells) and thus leaving no mess. It works fairly well but not a great as they lead you to believe. It is better than the feed with husks and shells and stuff these species don't eat.
I decided to check out a feed store here in town to see if I could find a better deal. I waited in a short line and when it was my turn the woman at the counter asked what I wanted. I explained about what I had been using and that I was shopping for a like product hoping to save some money. She informed me that they had a similar product but I should just go back to the other store as their product was very expensive. I appreciated the honesty. I also asked what the cost was. It turned out the cost was $9.00 cheaper and the bag held 5 additional pounds of seed! Cost is less than $1.00/lb. I left with seed and the feeling that the sales lady thought I was nuts to spend so much money just to feed wild birds.
Now to find out if the birds like it. If they come across seeds in the feeder they don't like they just dump that stuff on the ground as they search for seeds they do like. That is what makes the mess and the mess draws other creatures besides looking terrible after a while. Cleanup is tough and more of a job for Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame.
So a busy day.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Snake Sighting II
On Monday last we saw another snake. This one was by the fence in the backyard and headed to the detention area on the east side of the house. I got a quick look at it and believe it to be a Coachwhip Snake.
The snake was a light tan color all over except for the belly which was yellow. It was without noticeable stripes or markings of any kind. It's scales looked smooth and the tail narrowed to a point. I would estimate the length at around 30+ inches and the thickness of the body to be, more or less, a 1/2 inch.
My Granddaughter wanted to search for the snake so we all went to the detention area to see what we could see. She found the snake hiding under some 6 X 6 treated lumber that is used as a short retaining wall between my property and the detention area. To our surprise also hiding under the lumber was a Woodhouse's Toad. Snake and toad crammed together to escape the huge 2 legged predators... us.
We were recently at the science museum that we are lucky to have in Grand Junction. One of the exhibits was a Milk Snake. It was very pretty but according to the young lady exhibiting the snake it was grumpy as it was about to shed it's skin.
We sure seem to have a diverse cast of characters in our ongoing circus.
The snake was a light tan color all over except for the belly which was yellow. It was without noticeable stripes or markings of any kind. It's scales looked smooth and the tail narrowed to a point. I would estimate the length at around 30+ inches and the thickness of the body to be, more or less, a 1/2 inch.
My Granddaughter wanted to search for the snake so we all went to the detention area to see what we could see. She found the snake hiding under some 6 X 6 treated lumber that is used as a short retaining wall between my property and the detention area. To our surprise also hiding under the lumber was a Woodhouse's Toad. Snake and toad crammed together to escape the huge 2 legged predators... us.
We were recently at the science museum that we are lucky to have in Grand Junction. One of the exhibits was a Milk Snake. It was very pretty but according to the young lady exhibiting the snake it was grumpy as it was about to shed it's skin.
We sure seem to have a diverse cast of characters in our ongoing circus.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Look Gertrude... An 8 Legged Toad.
Now here is something you don't see everyday, an 8 legged toad. Can you believe this? Was radiation the cause? Maybe there is something in the water. Probably global warming (have to ask Al Gore). I just can't imagine what could possibly cause the Woodhouse's Toad to have 8 legs.
WAIT! After close study and consultation with knowledgeable, but not quite ready for "Jeopardy" friends, I may have an answer concerning the multi-legs. Yep, I think I've got it. I'll just post the picture. Please study it closely. There are indeed 8 legs although you can't see them all in this picture. I think the thing that gave it away was when I counted the eyes. Four eyes and not wearing glasses. It's so obvious... I'm sure y'all have it all figured out now.
OK, moving right along. While the picture is not one of my best it clearly shows these Woodhouse's Toads creating more toadlets. As they watch the sun peek around some clouds the two "strings" of eggs are being fertilized as they exit Mama Toad. You can just sense the excitement this couple is experiencing by looking at the picture.
When I first noticed these lovers I accidentally spooked them and they swam down into the depths of the Bridge Pond. The smaller toad, the male, must have a good grip as they moved like one creature or maybe it's synchronous swimmers.
About 30 minutes after taking this picture I went out to see what was going on. They were both submerged but maintaining the same configuration. There were strings of eggs all over this area of the pond. I would estimate at least twice as many eggs this time around than when reported the first time here on May 16, 2009.
I try really hard not to count my toadlets before they hatch but the begging question is what is going to happen when all these toadlets grow up? We're talking about serious over crowding here. I'll be keeping my eyes open.
I'm curious and if your also curious then just keep read'n this Frog Blog.
WAIT! After close study and consultation with knowledgeable, but not quite ready for "Jeopardy" friends, I may have an answer concerning the multi-legs. Yep, I think I've got it. I'll just post the picture. Please study it closely. There are indeed 8 legs although you can't see them all in this picture. I think the thing that gave it away was when I counted the eyes. Four eyes and not wearing glasses. It's so obvious... I'm sure y'all have it all figured out now.
OK, moving right along. While the picture is not one of my best it clearly shows these Woodhouse's Toads creating more toadlets. As they watch the sun peek around some clouds the two "strings" of eggs are being fertilized as they exit Mama Toad. You can just sense the excitement this couple is experiencing by looking at the picture.
When I first noticed these lovers I accidentally spooked them and they swam down into the depths of the Bridge Pond. The smaller toad, the male, must have a good grip as they moved like one creature or maybe it's synchronous swimmers.
About 30 minutes after taking this picture I went out to see what was going on. They were both submerged but maintaining the same configuration. There were strings of eggs all over this area of the pond. I would estimate at least twice as many eggs this time around than when reported the first time here on May 16, 2009.
I try really hard not to count my toadlets before they hatch but the begging question is what is going to happen when all these toadlets grow up? We're talking about serious over crowding here. I'll be keeping my eyes open.
I'm curious and if your also curious then just keep read'n this Frog Blog.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Beauty Sleep?
The previous post told the tale about Joe picking up breakfast. Shortly after scoring food Joe disappeared to her safe haven under the bridge. She didn't come out for the rest of the day.
On Monday I expected her to be out and about but she wasn't to be seen. Finally I stuck my head under the bridge and found her lounging around like a rock. Relieved that that B-52 or Blue Heron hadn't also found a meal. I left her alone.
Later Monday afternoon I saw Joe had crawled out from the shade of the bridge and was sunning herself. It would have been a great picture so I went back to the house to get my camera. As I approached her I switched the camera on and I guess the start-up sounds it makes spooked her as she jumped and fled back under the bridge. That was the last sighting of Joe on Monday.
This morning Joe was back on station as the sun peeked over the Grand Mesa. After 2 days of rest and digestion she looked ready to even the "score" to 2-all.
Once again I was at the table reading my novel, drinking coffee and semi-watching Joe and the circus. I missed the drama but saw the movement of Joe on the flat stone near Joe's Station. She had caught breakfast. That was fast I thought.
Her breakfast must have been pretty small as she remained on station apparently finished with the appetizer and looking for the main course.
On Monday I expected her to be out and about but she wasn't to be seen. Finally I stuck my head under the bridge and found her lounging around like a rock. Relieved that that B-52 or Blue Heron hadn't also found a meal. I left her alone.
Later Monday afternoon I saw Joe had crawled out from the shade of the bridge and was sunning herself. It would have been a great picture so I went back to the house to get my camera. As I approached her I switched the camera on and I guess the start-up sounds it makes spooked her as she jumped and fled back under the bridge. That was the last sighting of Joe on Monday.
This morning Joe was back on station as the sun peeked over the Grand Mesa. After 2 days of rest and digestion she looked ready to even the "score" to 2-all.
Once again I was at the table reading my novel, drinking coffee and semi-watching Joe and the circus. I missed the drama but saw the movement of Joe on the flat stone near Joe's Station. She had caught breakfast. That was fast I thought.
Her breakfast must have been pretty small as she remained on station apparently finished with the appetizer and looking for the main course.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Score: 2 to 1 ~ The Birds are Ahead
All we need to complete this circus is a BIG TOP and an elephant or two.
I got up this morning before the sun, before Joe and even before the birds. It's a crisp day so I hurried as I filled the bird feeder. The only sounds I could hear in the gray twilight yard is wind whistling through the trees and the water falls.
Assuming my position at the dining table armed with a cup of coffee and a Jeffery Deaver novel I semi-read and semi-watch the yard come to life. I noted that Joe was not on station. Wondering if she was under the bridge I went out to take a quick look.
As I stood hunched over trying to see under the bridge, out of the corner of my eye I see two dark things falling from the sky. I looked up to see Mama Mallard and Daddy Duck coming almost straight down with wings spread. They plopped with a decent splash into the bridge pond... literally dropping in it seemed. I retreated to my station, the dining table.
The ducks swam around for a few minutes and then crawled out and inspected the yard. They wound up at Joe's Station. The male started a subtle quacking and the female answered. He would quack a few times. She would answer. He would quack. She answered (are you get'n my drift here?). Then both took off at the same instant headed south east for points unknown. It was like Daddy Duck was saying, "Let's get out of here... go over to Johns." Mama Mallard would answer, "OK with me... you ready?" He says, "Yep, on the count of three. One... Two..." She says, "Three!" And they're off.
In the mean-time Joe appears at Humpty Dumpty Falls. As she sits on high looking over Joe's Station she can't help but notice the birds are all over the place except at Humpty Dumpty Falls. It didn't take long for her to dive off the falls and swim to Joe's Station. Of course the birds see her eyes pop out of the water and leave. Undaunted she takes up the watch.
There were a few enticing approaches by sparrows but no one stayed around long enough for Joe to act (pounce). Then a Who-Who Birdie (Mourning Dove if you haven't been following the blog) approached. I watched closely as she neared the water. I wondered if Joe would give such a big bird a try.
Joe must have been hungry because she flew out of the water landing on the flat stone, mouth wide, hitting her target... well, kinda. The bird of course jumped and tried to fly away. Joe had only caught her by her left wing. Joe held on and it looked like the bird fell onto it's back. Then the bird righted itself and pulled Joe across the rock, but only a short distance, before pulling it's wing out of Joe's mouth thus freeing itself from Joe's grasp. As soon as the bird was free it was out of here. Joe, slowly and with dignity, crawled back into the pond. WOW... intense.
It wasn't but 15 minutes or so later that a sparrow approached the very same rock. As the sparrow got close to the water Joe, again, sprang from the water with mouth wide. The bird was too fast and escaped. Joe did a belly flop on the flat stone and then bounced a little. If I had been closer I'm sure I would have heard a "Oof" as well as a "Splat". Once again Joe, slowly and with dignity, crawled back into the pond.
I watched for a while longer and then gave it up. An hour or so later I saw Joe, on station, moving around in an unusual manner. I went out to look at her and sure enough, feathers were sticking out of her mouth. There were puddles on the flat stones at Joe's Station. The third time was the charm for Joe. Thus the title of todays post.
Oh the drama. It makes you tired. I can't stop watching.
I got up this morning before the sun, before Joe and even before the birds. It's a crisp day so I hurried as I filled the bird feeder. The only sounds I could hear in the gray twilight yard is wind whistling through the trees and the water falls.
Assuming my position at the dining table armed with a cup of coffee and a Jeffery Deaver novel I semi-read and semi-watch the yard come to life. I noted that Joe was not on station. Wondering if she was under the bridge I went out to take a quick look.
As I stood hunched over trying to see under the bridge, out of the corner of my eye I see two dark things falling from the sky. I looked up to see Mama Mallard and Daddy Duck coming almost straight down with wings spread. They plopped with a decent splash into the bridge pond... literally dropping in it seemed. I retreated to my station, the dining table.
The ducks swam around for a few minutes and then crawled out and inspected the yard. They wound up at Joe's Station. The male started a subtle quacking and the female answered. He would quack a few times. She would answer. He would quack. She answered (are you get'n my drift here?). Then both took off at the same instant headed south east for points unknown. It was like Daddy Duck was saying, "Let's get out of here... go over to Johns." Mama Mallard would answer, "OK with me... you ready?" He says, "Yep, on the count of three. One... Two..." She says, "Three!" And they're off.
In the mean-time Joe appears at Humpty Dumpty Falls. As she sits on high looking over Joe's Station she can't help but notice the birds are all over the place except at Humpty Dumpty Falls. It didn't take long for her to dive off the falls and swim to Joe's Station. Of course the birds see her eyes pop out of the water and leave. Undaunted she takes up the watch.
There were a few enticing approaches by sparrows but no one stayed around long enough for Joe to act (pounce). Then a Who-Who Birdie (Mourning Dove if you haven't been following the blog) approached. I watched closely as she neared the water. I wondered if Joe would give such a big bird a try.
Joe must have been hungry because she flew out of the water landing on the flat stone, mouth wide, hitting her target... well, kinda. The bird of course jumped and tried to fly away. Joe had only caught her by her left wing. Joe held on and it looked like the bird fell onto it's back. Then the bird righted itself and pulled Joe across the rock, but only a short distance, before pulling it's wing out of Joe's mouth thus freeing itself from Joe's grasp. As soon as the bird was free it was out of here. Joe, slowly and with dignity, crawled back into the pond. WOW... intense.
It wasn't but 15 minutes or so later that a sparrow approached the very same rock. As the sparrow got close to the water Joe, again, sprang from the water with mouth wide. The bird was too fast and escaped. Joe did a belly flop on the flat stone and then bounced a little. If I had been closer I'm sure I would have heard a "Oof" as well as a "Splat". Once again Joe, slowly and with dignity, crawled back into the pond.
I watched for a while longer and then gave it up. An hour or so later I saw Joe, on station, moving around in an unusual manner. I went out to look at her and sure enough, feathers were sticking out of her mouth. There were puddles on the flat stones at Joe's Station. The third time was the charm for Joe. Thus the title of todays post.
Oh the drama. It makes you tired. I can't stop watching.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Yikes!!! It's a B-52
Ginger and I lived in Corpus Christi, Texas prior to moving to Colorado. We lived on an island where our back door opened to the Intercoastal Waterway. The place was alive with more wildlife than you can imagine. From the airborne all the way to the denizens of the deep. Everything from Curlew Birds and Skimmers, Harvester Ants, Coyotes and Foxes to Dolphins, Sting Rays and Jelly Fish.
One of the more common and interesting birds is the Blue Heron. One of our neighbors decided he would try to make a pet out of one so he started catching these little fish that were in abundance. The fish were called, locally, Piggy Perch. He would catch one and put it in a bucket, catch another and add it to the bucket. Once he had 8 or 10 he would set the bucket on his patio and go inside the house. His "pet" heron would go to the bucket and snatch each and every one of those fish. Then he would retire to the railing of the deck and wait for his next handout.
This ritual went on for weeks until my neighbor came down with the flu. It hit him hard and he was down for a few days. During this time the heron had no handouts. On the second day of "fasting" this heron approached my neighbors window and started pecking at it. He kept this up until my neighbor hauled his sick body outside and caught a few Piggy Perch for his pet. Ha, guess you better be careful what you sign-up for.
The point of this story is to introduce you to the Blue Heron. They are adaptive creatures and are also prevalent here in Colorado. They fish the streams and lakes. They also fish the ponds in peoples yards!
Yesterday morning I was having my coffee while watching the circus in the backyard. I saw this Blue Heron circling down and then landing on top of the pergola. As the Heron approached Joe made a hasty retreat. The Heron surveyed the yard and must not have found anything tempting enough to warrant a longer visit and was flying away after only a half minute or so.
Joe must have great eyesight. These wild creatures must always be vigilant not only for prey but also predators. For that Heron Joe would only be a nice hors d'oeuvre.
Not long after moving to Texas we noticed these white streaks down the road. They were anywhere from 15 feet in length to 30 or 40 feet in length and always about 2-3 feet wide. One day I approached a neighbor (not the same one who befriended the Heron) and asked him about it. His reply was a story about him and his wife standing on their deck enjoying the sunset one evening when a Blue Heron happened to fly over their deck. --Let me interject here: As you might expect, if you happened to think about it, a large bird like this that has aquatic creatures for breakfast, lunch and dinner, might also leave a large smelly mess when it relieves itself. This brings us to the B-52 part of the story.-- That is to say, fly over them. This heron dropped his load or dropped his bomb covering both of them in a white, sticky and very stinky substance. This is the same substance that makes the streaks down the roads. The bomb of course is Heron crap and thus the name... B-52.
Nice to look at and interesting to watch. This pond owner hopes it finds better things to do than come back to our place for any reason.
One of the more common and interesting birds is the Blue Heron. One of our neighbors decided he would try to make a pet out of one so he started catching these little fish that were in abundance. The fish were called, locally, Piggy Perch. He would catch one and put it in a bucket, catch another and add it to the bucket. Once he had 8 or 10 he would set the bucket on his patio and go inside the house. His "pet" heron would go to the bucket and snatch each and every one of those fish. Then he would retire to the railing of the deck and wait for his next handout.
This ritual went on for weeks until my neighbor came down with the flu. It hit him hard and he was down for a few days. During this time the heron had no handouts. On the second day of "fasting" this heron approached my neighbors window and started pecking at it. He kept this up until my neighbor hauled his sick body outside and caught a few Piggy Perch for his pet. Ha, guess you better be careful what you sign-up for.
The point of this story is to introduce you to the Blue Heron. They are adaptive creatures and are also prevalent here in Colorado. They fish the streams and lakes. They also fish the ponds in peoples yards!
Yesterday morning I was having my coffee while watching the circus in the backyard. I saw this Blue Heron circling down and then landing on top of the pergola. As the Heron approached Joe made a hasty retreat. The Heron surveyed the yard and must not have found anything tempting enough to warrant a longer visit and was flying away after only a half minute or so.
Joe must have great eyesight. These wild creatures must always be vigilant not only for prey but also predators. For that Heron Joe would only be a nice hors d'oeuvre.
Nice to look at and interesting to watch. This pond owner hopes it finds better things to do than come back to our place for any reason.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Woody's are Back!
I was surprised to hear the Woodhouse's Toads singing their screechy song for the past 2 nights. While they are certainly welcome I thought they had left because of Joe's arrival. Guess it ain't so.
I've read the American Bullfrog doesn't get along with others very well and will consume just about anything it can get into it's mouth. This would include other amphibians as well as birds, mice, insects... you name it.
I can't explain Woody's return. I hope the toads make more toadlet's.
Speaking of the toadlet's. I've been watching for them and find that there are actually quite a few still around. They seem to have become aware of and afraid of shadows. They dive to the bottom of the pond when they see my shadow. I find if I approach so my shadow doesn't cross the water I can observe them or I can sit still awhile then I'll see them swimming from here to there. Cool. Makes this Toad Daddy rest easier knowing some of the kids are doing OK.
They have grown. They are still a black oval with a short tail. The largest is about 1/2 inch in length and the head about as wide as a #2 pencil. My granddaughter and I caught a few in a jar about a week ago and checked them out. They have a small mouth that I would describe as "puckered" as in it looks like the are going to kiss you. Just 2 eyes and the small mouth on this little black oval.
When they get bigger I'll work at getting a photo to publish on this blog.
Stay tuned for introductions to the "B-52."
I've read the American Bullfrog doesn't get along with others very well and will consume just about anything it can get into it's mouth. This would include other amphibians as well as birds, mice, insects... you name it.
I can't explain Woody's return. I hope the toads make more toadlet's.
Speaking of the toadlet's. I've been watching for them and find that there are actually quite a few still around. They seem to have become aware of and afraid of shadows. They dive to the bottom of the pond when they see my shadow. I find if I approach so my shadow doesn't cross the water I can observe them or I can sit still awhile then I'll see them swimming from here to there. Cool. Makes this Toad Daddy rest easier knowing some of the kids are doing OK.
They have grown. They are still a black oval with a short tail. The largest is about 1/2 inch in length and the head about as wide as a #2 pencil. My granddaughter and I caught a few in a jar about a week ago and checked them out. They have a small mouth that I would describe as "puckered" as in it looks like the are going to kiss you. Just 2 eyes and the small mouth on this little black oval.
When they get bigger I'll work at getting a photo to publish on this blog.
Stay tuned for introductions to the "B-52."
Monday, June 1, 2009
Pollywog Update
It was May 11th that I saw the toad egg strings. Then it was May 16th that we sighted all these little toadlet's swimming around. In the days that followed it was evident there were thousands of these creatures that resembled giant sperm. They were everywhere. Not long after that we saw some toadlet's in No-Name Pond and marveled at their tenacity just to survive the trip through the pump and pipe, through and across the Bio Falls only to end up in the fast moving water of No-Name Pond. From there most would be swept over the falls to Bridge Pond completing their circumnavigation of the pond.
These events started just 16 days ago. The pollywog population has diminished to the point were you have to sit and watch just to spot one. As a Toad Daddy I have to wonder where have all my children gone?
I still am holding out for a few to grow into sizable toadlet's, possibly one to morph into a toad and somehow escaping the watchful eyes of Joe. It is an uphill battle and if won by only a single toadlet I will consider that to be another miracle from Mother Nature.
These events started just 16 days ago. The pollywog population has diminished to the point were you have to sit and watch just to spot one. As a Toad Daddy I have to wonder where have all my children gone?
I still am holding out for a few to grow into sizable toadlet's, possibly one to morph into a toad and somehow escaping the watchful eyes of Joe. It is an uphill battle and if won by only a single toadlet I will consider that to be another miracle from Mother Nature.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Great Butterfly Picture
This is a Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly. There are lots of them flitting around our city. This lovely creature was visiting our garden and luckily I happened to have my camera with me. The light was good and the butterfly cooperative thus I wound up with about a half-dozen really nice closeup shots. The one you see here is one of my favorites.
There is something about the symmetry and grace of a butterfly. When I watch them flutter along from flower to flower they seem to be on the edge of disaster, at any moment the wind will pick them up and dash them to the ground. Of course that doesn't happen but it makes you pause as they flutter on their journey.
In addition to the symmetry are their colors. Note the iridescent blue and the touch of red on the hind wing. The black "tiger stripes" and trailing wing. Followed by the shape of the wing that mimics the tail of the Swallowtail Bird.
I have a other photo's, let me know if you want to see more. Just leave a comment.
There is something about the symmetry and grace of a butterfly. When I watch them flutter along from flower to flower they seem to be on the edge of disaster, at any moment the wind will pick them up and dash them to the ground. Of course that doesn't happen but it makes you pause as they flutter on their journey.
In addition to the symmetry are their colors. Note the iridescent blue and the touch of red on the hind wing. The black "tiger stripes" and trailing wing. Followed by the shape of the wing that mimics the tail of the Swallowtail Bird.
I have a other photo's, let me know if you want to see more. Just leave a comment.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Interesting Day on the Western Slope
Looking closely at Joe I'm amazed to find the slim damsel of yesterday has turned so fat so fast. She is about to split a seam, burst a gut, pop a rivet... this girl has become half bulimic... the half that binges. I hope we don't get to the other half.
Apparently the change of waterfalls has renewed her success in the see, stalk, capture and consume arenas. I already mentioned the finch she ate on Monday. Based on the size of her waistline that wasn't her last meal.
Besides Joe's waistline I have other news. My Granddaughter was over today and in the front yard she found a snake skin that had probably been shed this very same day. It was the most intact snake skin I've seen. You could see the eyes and mouth as well as the tail. It looked to me like the skin split about in the middle and the snake pulled both ends out of the skin toward the middle split. Wish I had been there to watch.
It's hard to read in the picture but the snake skin measured 31 inches. There are areas of the skin that are scrunched together so I expect the actual snake was a few inches longer.
Coincidently, Ginger said she saw a snake in the front yard this morning that was predominately brown, possibly a garter snake or the cousin of same. The skin may have belonged to that traveler.
A Bullock's Oriole also visited us today. Three times actually. They are the most beautiful birds. They don't stay around long and my picture taking attempts have not resulted in any pictures worth loading to this blog. The picture shown is one I found on the Internet (I tried to email the owner but apparently bad contact info).
I even got to eat some ice cream today which is a rare treat for this 'ol guy.
There you have it. Joe is fat and I assume happy. The snake has renewed itself. The Oriole has awed us with his vivid colors and I got ice cream.
Life is good on the western slope of Colorado.
Apparently the change of waterfalls has renewed her success in the see, stalk, capture and consume arenas. I already mentioned the finch she ate on Monday. Based on the size of her waistline that wasn't her last meal.
Besides Joe's waistline I have other news. My Granddaughter was over today and in the front yard she found a snake skin that had probably been shed this very same day. It was the most intact snake skin I've seen. You could see the eyes and mouth as well as the tail. It looked to me like the skin split about in the middle and the snake pulled both ends out of the skin toward the middle split. Wish I had been there to watch.
Coincidently, Ginger said she saw a snake in the front yard this morning that was predominately brown, possibly a garter snake or the cousin of same. The skin may have belonged to that traveler.
A Bullock's Oriole also visited us today. Three times actually. They are the most beautiful birds. They don't stay around long and my picture taking attempts have not resulted in any pictures worth loading to this blog. The picture shown is one I found on the Internet (I tried to email the owner but apparently bad contact info).I even got to eat some ice cream today which is a rare treat for this 'ol guy.
There you have it. Joe is fat and I assume happy. The snake has renewed itself. The Oriole has awed us with his vivid colors and I got ice cream.
Life is good on the western slope of Colorado.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Day
A moment for the Armed Forces. The Veterans who put it on the line for each and every one of us in the USA as well as many citizens in foreign countries. These men and women are real hero's.
We haven't seen the green snake. I keep looking but so far that snake has escaped my sight.
The plethora of toadlet's has had a significant population reduction. Just a few days ago those little suckers were everywhere and now you have to hunt for them. We have been having cool and rainy weather so maybe they go deeper and hide out. Maybe they heard about the thrill ride through the pump and didn't make it out alive. No idea. Of course I'll keep watching and put what I see in the 'Ol Frog Blog.
Joe gave up birding from Joe's Station. She has moved to Humpty Dumpy Falls. I don't think she was able to blend in very well at Joe's Station. We rebuilt it last fall and may have changed it to the point where the prey she hunts can easily see her and avoid her.
At Humpty Dumpty Falls she lies next to the rocks and the birds haven't figured out she is there until it's too late. She is still slow and doesn't jump all that far. I said just this morning that a bird would have to land in her mouth for her to catch one. Wouldn't you know that's almost exactly what happened about 20 minutes later. This little finch came along and possibly thought Joe was a rock because it tried to land right on her nose. There was no hesitation on Joe's part and the little finch was history. Shortly after snatching her meal she retreated to her safe haven under the bridge.
I saw a dragonfly emerging from it's nymph stage. The nymph looks like some alien creature. It lives in the water. Some nymphs live in the water for years before maturing. When it has matured and the weather is warm enough it crawls out of the water and attaches itself to a plant or rock. Soon after the dragonfly emerges, spreads it's wings and dries. Then it is ready to go. I've see a lot of the "empty" nymph skeletons but this is the first time I've seen the dragonfly emerging. Very cool.
I'm off in search of a snake or maybe a nymph... have a great Memorial Day!
Don't forget what it's about OK...
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
We haven't seen the green snake. I keep looking but so far that snake has escaped my sight.
The plethora of toadlet's has had a significant population reduction. Just a few days ago those little suckers were everywhere and now you have to hunt for them. We have been having cool and rainy weather so maybe they go deeper and hide out. Maybe they heard about the thrill ride through the pump and didn't make it out alive. No idea. Of course I'll keep watching and put what I see in the 'Ol Frog Blog.
Joe gave up birding from Joe's Station. She has moved to Humpty Dumpy Falls. I don't think she was able to blend in very well at Joe's Station. We rebuilt it last fall and may have changed it to the point where the prey she hunts can easily see her and avoid her.
At Humpty Dumpty Falls she lies next to the rocks and the birds haven't figured out she is there until it's too late. She is still slow and doesn't jump all that far. I said just this morning that a bird would have to land in her mouth for her to catch one. Wouldn't you know that's almost exactly what happened about 20 minutes later. This little finch came along and possibly thought Joe was a rock because it tried to land right on her nose. There was no hesitation on Joe's part and the little finch was history. Shortly after snatching her meal she retreated to her safe haven under the bridge.
I saw a dragonfly emerging from it's nymph stage. The nymph looks like some alien creature. It lives in the water. Some nymphs live in the water for years before maturing. When it has matured and the weather is warm enough it crawls out of the water and attaches itself to a plant or rock. Soon after the dragonfly emerges, spreads it's wings and dries. Then it is ready to go. I've see a lot of the "empty" nymph skeletons but this is the first time I've seen the dragonfly emerging. Very cool.
I'm off in search of a snake or maybe a nymph... have a great Memorial Day!
Don't forget what it's about OK...
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
Sunday, May 24, 2009
So Long Woody...
It would appear the Woohouse's Toads have left the pond area. I haven't heard their calls for almost a week now nor have I seen them in the burrows they made. With Joe moving back home I'm not surprised they have moved to another neighborhood. Stick around here and Joe will probably have you over for dinner... and your the dinner!
I don't think I told you that the female Woodhouse's Toad made a burrow in the burm of the apple tree. You may recall, we put chicken wire and plastic mesh around the burm to keep the rabbit from digging. Mrs. Toad dug her burrow with the entrance exactly the shape and size of the holes in the chicken wire. Cool huh.
Of course the toadlets are still with us. They are getting harder to spot as they disperse. No doubt some have gone to meet their maker. The pond is a dangerous place. Regardless of the tenacity of the toadlet's some, if not most, just won't make it.
See ya next year Woody...
I don't think I told you that the female Woodhouse's Toad made a burrow in the burm of the apple tree. You may recall, we put chicken wire and plastic mesh around the burm to keep the rabbit from digging. Mrs. Toad dug her burrow with the entrance exactly the shape and size of the holes in the chicken wire. Cool huh.
Of course the toadlets are still with us. They are getting harder to spot as they disperse. No doubt some have gone to meet their maker. The pond is a dangerous place. Regardless of the tenacity of the toadlet's some, if not most, just won't make it.
See ya next year Woody...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
SNAKE!!!
Saturday morning. I meet up with Ginger out by the raised garden. We're talking about pruning a branch on the Granny Smith Apple Tree... I think it's dead, the branch not the tree. Ginger starts to say something and then stops. Then she quietly says, "snake," as she looks to the raised garden.
Did I ever tell you about the time I was aerating the lawn on a quiet Sunday morning. Oh this must have been 25 years ago... give or take. I had this gizmo that hooked up to the hose and with 2 spikes protruding from the bottom that worked like syringes. You drive the spikes into the ground with your foot, turn on the water, wait 15 seconds or so and move forward about a foot and start over.
It's a mindless activity. I was on my 3rd or 4th row when it happened. As I day dreamed about something, I stomped on the aerator to drive the spikes into the ground and turned on the water. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw this brown snake raise it's ugly head. Jolted from my reverie I tried to jump away. I fell, knocking the aerator over and landing in damp grass. I looked around. The brown man eater was nowhere to be seen.
I thought I had scared it away with my clumsy attempt at escape. Sure.
I resumed aerating. Ahead one foot. Stomp the device. Turn on the water. Wait. Turn off the water. Pull the aerator out of the ground and start over.
As I was progressing down the next row I'll be damned if that brown snake didn't rear it's ugly head again. Just like last time I see it out of the corner of my eye and reactively jump knowing deep inside that is the only way to save myself from this highly dangerous killer. Again I trip and fall to the ground. No sooner do I hit the ground I'm rolling to my feet. I'm not going to let this creature take my life without a fight!
That's when I note the aerator is still in the ground. Huh? That brown snake is just a bit of water squirting up through one of the previous aeration holes. Geez, what a dork I was. I start to laugh. I laugh harder and harder. I can't stand. I'm about to wet my pants. That's when I notice Ginger. She is standing at the window watching me. She must have been sad because she had tears running down her cheeks. If only someone would have had a video camera....
So with this story in mind, you might think that when Ginger softly said, "snake," I might have fallen all over myself. It didn't happen, but that would have made a really good story. I turned to look where she was looking. There, on top of a green plant lay the prettiest green snake. It was slender, about 30 inches long with clear eyes that were looking right at us.
I looked at the snake for about 10 seconds and then went to get my camera. By the time I returned with the camera the snake had moved on and we couldn't find it amongst all the green plants in the garden.
I will admit that if I were picking tomatoes and this guy snuck up on me I would probably jump, fall and look like a dork. I'll be keeping my eyes open... you can count on it.
Another creature to add to the menagerie.
Did I ever tell you about the time I was aerating the lawn on a quiet Sunday morning. Oh this must have been 25 years ago... give or take. I had this gizmo that hooked up to the hose and with 2 spikes protruding from the bottom that worked like syringes. You drive the spikes into the ground with your foot, turn on the water, wait 15 seconds or so and move forward about a foot and start over.
It's a mindless activity. I was on my 3rd or 4th row when it happened. As I day dreamed about something, I stomped on the aerator to drive the spikes into the ground and turned on the water. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw this brown snake raise it's ugly head. Jolted from my reverie I tried to jump away. I fell, knocking the aerator over and landing in damp grass. I looked around. The brown man eater was nowhere to be seen.
I thought I had scared it away with my clumsy attempt at escape. Sure.
I resumed aerating. Ahead one foot. Stomp the device. Turn on the water. Wait. Turn off the water. Pull the aerator out of the ground and start over.
As I was progressing down the next row I'll be damned if that brown snake didn't rear it's ugly head again. Just like last time I see it out of the corner of my eye and reactively jump knowing deep inside that is the only way to save myself from this highly dangerous killer. Again I trip and fall to the ground. No sooner do I hit the ground I'm rolling to my feet. I'm not going to let this creature take my life without a fight!
That's when I note the aerator is still in the ground. Huh? That brown snake is just a bit of water squirting up through one of the previous aeration holes. Geez, what a dork I was. I start to laugh. I laugh harder and harder. I can't stand. I'm about to wet my pants. That's when I notice Ginger. She is standing at the window watching me. She must have been sad because she had tears running down her cheeks. If only someone would have had a video camera....
So with this story in mind, you might think that when Ginger softly said, "snake," I might have fallen all over myself. It didn't happen, but that would have made a really good story. I turned to look where she was looking. There, on top of a green plant lay the prettiest green snake. It was slender, about 30 inches long with clear eyes that were looking right at us.
I looked at the snake for about 10 seconds and then went to get my camera. By the time I returned with the camera the snake had moved on and we couldn't find it amongst all the green plants in the garden.
I will admit that if I were picking tomatoes and this guy snuck up on me I would probably jump, fall and look like a dork. I'll be keeping my eyes open... you can count on it.
Another creature to add to the menagerie.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Must Have Been Wild!
I've been checking No-Name Pond for toadlet's and to my surprise there are some there. The reason that is so amazing is the only way these little buggers can get there is to:
- Go over 2 sets of falls to wind up in the Skimmer Pond.
- Get sucked into the pipe that runs up to the Bio Falls and at the same time miss getting creamed by the pumps impeller.
- Fly through the pipe that runs about 65 feet and be rudely discharged into the Bio Falls.
- Escape the Bio Falls which has filter mats and rocks and then plunge of about 3 feet into a shallow depression.
- Travel via fast moving water over rocks and take another plunge over more falls into No-Name Pond.
- Now that they are in No-Name Pond, with the water moving fast, they have to fight to keep from experiencing the last plunge back to where they started which is the Bridge Pond.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Joe!
I wanted to make a dramatic statement. You know, something that would jump out and grab your attention. Rivet you to the monitor. Tense your muscles. Hold your breath. And then, at just the right moment, I would spring it on you. This is what you get though.....
Oh she looks good. She has lost weight and appears to be ready to take on the world. She is obviously hungry as she has been hanging around Joe's Station all morning. I suspect it will take a few days for her to get into the swing of things. What few attempts at bird catching this morning were only half hearted and resulted in nothing but scaring the birds away.
I was up before the sun this morning (as usual). As the sun started to chase the darkness away I went to the kitchen to make coffee. I glanced out the window and spied her right away. Those 2 beady eyes above the water line. No doubts. I knew right away our heroine had returned.
You can't accuse my backyard of being boring. With the toads and then the toadlet's. The birds to include raptors of all sizes. Now the Queen of the pond, Ms. Bull Frog USA, JOE. Geez, what more could you ask for?
Well, Ginger did say she saw a snake over by the skimmer this morning.....
JOE HAS RETURNED!
Oh she looks good. She has lost weight and appears to be ready to take on the world. She is obviously hungry as she has been hanging around Joe's Station all morning. I suspect it will take a few days for her to get into the swing of things. What few attempts at bird catching this morning were only half hearted and resulted in nothing but scaring the birds away.
I was up before the sun this morning (as usual). As the sun started to chase the darkness away I went to the kitchen to make coffee. I glanced out the window and spied her right away. Those 2 beady eyes above the water line. No doubts. I knew right away our heroine had returned.
You can't accuse my backyard of being boring. With the toads and then the toadlet's. The birds to include raptors of all sizes. Now the Queen of the pond, Ms. Bull Frog USA, JOE. Geez, what more could you ask for?Well, Ginger did say she saw a snake over by the skimmer this morning.....
Welcome Home Joe!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Black Female ~ Green Male
Once again it is time for your humble Frog Blogger to fall on his already bloody sword.
On May 16, 2009 I was telling it wrong when I posted the toad pictured to the left stating that was the Mama Toad. It ain't so my friends. I am certain that the green hued toad is the male.
If you have been following this blog from the beginning you know the female is always larger than the male... in the frog/toad world anyway. When I saw the pictured toad he was pretty large to my spring time eyes thus I thought he was, in fact, a she.
Note the sagging belly just in front of her hind leg. She must have been swollen with all those eggs that just hatched.
You would think that I would know better as this is the second year for the Frog Blog. I have no believeable excuses for getting it wrong. You just can't get any decent help now days
On May 16, 2009 I was telling it wrong when I posted the toad pictured to the left stating that was the Mama Toad. It ain't so my friends. I am certain that the green hued toad is the male.If you have been following this blog from the beginning you know the female is always larger than the male... in the frog/toad world anyway. When I saw the pictured toad he was pretty large to my spring time eyes thus I thought he was, in fact, a she.
Then I saw the black female pictured to right (can't say as I ever saw a black toad before). She was sunning herself on the rocks and as soon as I saw her I realized my mistake. She is truely a very large toad. Although not as large as Joe. I suspect this isn't her first year on this earth.
Note the sagging belly just in front of her hind leg. She must have been swollen with all those eggs that just hatched.
You would think that I would know better as this is the second year for the Frog Blog. I have no believeable excuses for getting it wrong. You just can't get any decent help now days
Monday, May 18, 2009
They are EVERYWHERE!!!
WOW! These little toadlet's have already spread to Joe's pond and the skimmer pond. Some have moved very close to No-Name Falls with not a care in the world about the turbulent water. I knew it would probably happen... but so soon. Hopefully they enjoyed the brief thrill of our own little water world as they careened over the falls.
I have searched above the bridge pond to see if any have survived the water pump and the filter mats. I didn't see any toadlet's there. I would like to assume that no one has ventured close enough to the skimmer to get sucked in. Sure.
As I look at the black wiggly toadlet's going from point A to point B (or is it K) it's comforting to note there are still a large number of 'em stick'n close to their birth site and safe. Some toads toadlets... you gotta love 'em.
I have searched above the bridge pond to see if any have survived the water pump and the filter mats. I didn't see any toadlet's there. I would like to assume that no one has ventured close enough to the skimmer to get sucked in. Sure.
As I look at the black wiggly toadlet's going from point A to point B (or is it K) it's comforting to note there are still a large number of 'em stick'n close to their birth site and safe. Some toads toadlets... you gotta love 'em.
Does it HURT to become a Toad?
It occurred to me, when reading about the metamorphisis these toadlets will go through to become actual toads, that growing pains were a real possibility. Everything changes! The little mouth becomes a head-wide orifice. Legs sprout out of its body. Even their innards change to accommodate the "adult" diet. It's like these guys were hatched about 6 weeks too early and have to complete their development in front the eyes of Toad Daddy's like me. For that I'm happy but all that changing is very hard to contemplate.
As I watch the toadlets I see that some don't seem to be growing while others have grown twice their size of a day ago. They are still very small but their "heads" are bigger and their tails about the same size as it was.
Their swimming skills have improved too. They have spread out to occupy the entire bridge pond with the exception of the area just below No Name Falls. A bit too turbulent I think. Some are busy going from place to place while others seem content to just rest on a rock and soak in the sunshine. In the mean time I found Mrs. Toad out of her shallow den and scrunched down in the rocks. I think that is to warm herself and expect she will return to her den when the day heats up.
A bit of "Name that Toad" news. I found that the Woodhouse's Toad is also called the Rocky Mountain Toad. I thought that appropriate since I live in the Rocky Mountains. I also found that toads out-number frogs in this arid clime. I suppose that's not so suprising as the toads live mostly out of the water.
As I watch the toadlets I see that some don't seem to be growing while others have grown twice their size of a day ago. They are still very small but their "heads" are bigger and their tails about the same size as it was.
Their swimming skills have improved too. They have spread out to occupy the entire bridge pond with the exception of the area just below No Name Falls. A bit too turbulent I think. Some are busy going from place to place while others seem content to just rest on a rock and soak in the sunshine. In the mean time I found Mrs. Toad out of her shallow den and scrunched down in the rocks. I think that is to warm herself and expect she will return to her den when the day heats up.
A bit of "Name that Toad" news. I found that the Woodhouse's Toad is also called the Rocky Mountain Toad. I thought that appropriate since I live in the Rocky Mountains. I also found that toads out-number frogs in this arid clime. I suppose that's not so suprising as the toads live mostly out of the water.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A Toadlet is a Tadpole by Another Name.
First it was tadpole. Then I remembered the term pollywog (polliwog). Now I see a term new to me. "Toadlet" was used to describe these small, look nothing like mom or dad, toads. Cute huh?
I was out observing this new batch of toadlet's yesterday (Saturday afternoon). I swear they have already grown from what they were just this morning. They are mostly hang'n near where they hatched but there are a few brave ones that have ventured a few yards from "home." Watching them swim around reminds me of a bunch of sperm in search of the prize... the egg. Their little tails swish back and forth really fast; they have a large head and a tail.... nothing in-between.
Just what do these creatures eat? Will I be knee deep in toads next month? So many question for this novice Toad Daddy. I don't know where my responsibilities begin in their cycle of life. I don't have all the answers but did find a few.
As a tadpole matures, it will metamorphosize by gradually growing limbs and then outwardly absorbing its tail by apoptosis (go ahead, look it up.. I did). Lungs develop around the time of leg development, and tadpoles late in development will often be found near the surface of the water, where they breathe air. During the final stages of external metamorphosis, the tadpole's mouth changes from a small, enclosed mouth at the front of the head to a large mouth the same width as the head. The intestines shorten to make way for the new diet. Most tadpoles are herbivorous, subsisting on algae and plants. Some species are omnivorous, eating detritus and, when available, smaller tadpoles. Not to worry about Toad Daddy's toadlet's since siblings are normally safe from cannibalistic predation because all their brothers and sisters are the same age and, therefore, about the same size.
I'm thinking the biggest threat for these toadlet's is getting out of the bridge pond and into faster moving water. That threat is immediately followed by the pump at the bottom of the skimmer. It moves 7000 gallons of water per hour and would suck these little guys up and never even slow down. There isn't much I can do about either one of these dangers so I guess I'll just observe and report as things progress.
Being a Toad Daddy appears to be a lot easier than being a People Daddy.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Just Call Me TOAD DADDY!
I had prepared myself to write in this very blog about how, sometimes, toad eggs don't grow and develop into tadpoles. It could be caused by pollutants in the water. Possibly a male who has had a vasectomy or a female who drinks and smokes. Mother Nature is amazing but also sometimes quite finicky.
Of course I'm talking about the toad eggs that were discovered on Monday. Just 5 days ago! This morning there are hundreds of little pollywog's swimming around the rocks where the eggs were once draped.
The idea that eggs laid less than a week ago could grow into something that is alive is truly a miracle of life.
These little guys are black in color and about a quarter of an inch long. In the picture to the left you can see two pollywog's near the surface next to the rock in the top-left part of the picture. If you look closely you can see others but those two are the easiest to see. Try double clicking the picture for a better view.
The picture below is not very good but you can see a few more of "my babies."
I had read that the average time from fertilization to hatching of Woodhouse's Toad eggs was 36 hours. This of course was dependent on the temperature. Colder takes longer and warmer goes faster. If you take toad eggs from a warm environment and put them in a fridge the development will essentially stop. When the eggs are returned to the warm environment development begins again right where is left off.Of course I'm talking about the toad eggs that were discovered on Monday. Just 5 days ago! This morning there are hundreds of little pollywog's swimming around the rocks where the eggs were once draped.
The idea that eggs laid less than a week ago could grow into something that is alive is truly a miracle of life. These little guys are black in color and about a quarter of an inch long. In the picture to the left you can see two pollywog's near the surface next to the rock in the top-left part of the picture. If you look closely you can see others but those two are the easiest to see. Try double clicking the picture for a better view.
The picture below is not very good but you can see a few more of "my babies."
I guess the water temperature in the pond was much cooler than what was needed for a 36 hour hatching time.This next picture is Mama Toad resting where she has made a small burrow in the mulch surrounding a plant about 10 yards from the pond. A perfect example of toads liking dry environments versus frogs liking wet.
You can bet this Toad Daddy will be watching these little guys. Having never been a Toad Daddy before I have no idea what to expect.
So break out the champagne and a toast to: Pollywog'n doodle all the day. Yea!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
What Came First? The Duck or the Egg?
What Came First? The chicken or the egg? The duck or the egg? Same question just different creatures. Here is a news flash: I have the answer to this age old question! I ran it by my wife just to make sure I wasn't way out in left field someplace. Hearing my obvious and simple answer made her eyes roll and prompted "THE LOOK." That's the moment when I knew I had it right although I'm not sure if it's THE LOOK or the eye roll that cinched it.
Let me tell you how this obvious answer came to life, so to speak, in my education starved mind.
I glanced out the window this morning, looking to the back yard. Immediately I knew something was going on because there were waves in the bridge pond. Coming out from under the bridge was Mama Mallard and Daddy Duck. "GINGER," I hollered, "the ducks are back." Ginger interrupted her preparations for going to the gym and came over to the window where I was standing. "They just walked out of the pond on the west side," I said. The ducks waddled slowly over to the skimmer pond (lowest pond) and hopped in. "This is a first," I said. We had never seen them in this pond before (us being the seasoned duck observers that we are).
They swam around for a couple of minutes. Mama Mallard must have given Daddy Duck some signal, maybe a wink or a duck smile, because he lowered his head and started swimming faster. She was swimming in a circle and he was cutting her off. Finally he mounted her and grabbed the top of her head in his duck billed mouth. No escaping this lover boy now. It was Sex in the City. As erotic and steamy as it ever is with a pair of ducks. It didn't take long and he had done his thing and released her head and plopped from her back into the water. He quaked, then quacked and flapped his wings and she just flapped her wings. I guess it worked out nicely for both of them.
So have you figured out the answer to the question? It was the duck or more precisely the drake and in the case of chickens it's the rooster. It's almost always the male. Age old question answered!
Now if only they will bring their brood of ducklings by for a visit.
Let me tell you how this obvious answer came to life, so to speak, in my education starved mind.
I glanced out the window this morning, looking to the back yard. Immediately I knew something was going on because there were waves in the bridge pond. Coming out from under the bridge was Mama Mallard and Daddy Duck. "GINGER," I hollered, "the ducks are back." Ginger interrupted her preparations for going to the gym and came over to the window where I was standing. "They just walked out of the pond on the west side," I said. The ducks waddled slowly over to the skimmer pond (lowest pond) and hopped in. "This is a first," I said. We had never seen them in this pond before (us being the seasoned duck observers that we are).
They swam around for a couple of minutes. Mama Mallard must have given Daddy Duck some signal, maybe a wink or a duck smile, because he lowered his head and started swimming faster. She was swimming in a circle and he was cutting her off. Finally he mounted her and grabbed the top of her head in his duck billed mouth. No escaping this lover boy now. It was Sex in the City. As erotic and steamy as it ever is with a pair of ducks. It didn't take long and he had done his thing and released her head and plopped from her back into the water. He quaked, then quacked and flapped his wings and she just flapped her wings. I guess it worked out nicely for both of them.
So have you figured out the answer to the question? It was the duck or more precisely the drake and in the case of chickens it's the rooster. It's almost always the male. Age old question answered!
Now if only they will bring their brood of ducklings by for a visit.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Polliwog and Tadpole Days Coming Soon!
Tadpole seems to be the more popular name but is synonymous with polliwog. But I don't have any tadpoles in my pond. Yet!
I was scouting around the pond this evening hoping to spy one of the Woodhouse's Toads. I didn't spy any toads but I did come across what I believe are toad eggs.
I was scouting around the pond this evening hoping to spy one of the Woodhouse's Toads. I didn't spy any toads but I did come across what I believe are toad eggs.
In the photo to the left there are a number of "strings" criss-crossing the rocks. The color is mostly brown which, amazingly, is the same color of the toads I've seen. There are thousands of eggs. For every inch of egg string there are probably a dozen eggs. In this batch there is easily 25 feet of egg string. I guess all that noisy screeching and carrying on got some toads all hot and bothered resulting in the egg strings.
Of course I will keep an eye on things and report on events as they arise.
Wow, this is a new thing for the frog blog. Can you imagine how many of these little polliwogs will be cruising around the pond? I realize that not many will actually survive to adulthood but for me this is almost better than watching Joe stalk her lunch.
Mother Nature will never cease to amaze this 'Ol Phart.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Is this a Frog or a Toad... what's the diff?
I got to wondering about the difference between a frog and a toad. Besides being four letter words (and one even begins with an "F") there is a bit more needed for enlightenment.
The Basics:
This is a picture of a Woodhouse's Toad. Note the bumpy skin and fairly smooth back. Regardless of what the frog and toad education articles say, in my ever so humble opinion, this toad's skin would not feel dry at the moment.
Have you noticed a chain of eggs in the background? Me neither.
If you want to see a picture of a frog you have to just look around the frog blog as they are all over the place.
There is a host of other differences but when I start reading the technicalities I start to feel sleepy and somewhat stupid as I don't understand a lot of the terminology. Probably should have paid more attention in biology class.
The Basics:
- The skin of a toad is warty or bumpy where a frog's skin is relatively smooth.
- Frogs tend to live in water and toads tend to live on land.
- The toads skin feels dry compared to a frogs skin that feels moist.
- Frogs move around by hopping with strong back legs and the toad just walks.
- A frogs back has two ridges, one down each side. The toads back is much smoother without the pronounced ridges (this relates to why frogs jump and toads walk).
- When a frog lays eggs they look like a lump of cloudy jelly. When the toad lays eggs they are long and stringy and often wrapped around water plants.
- Amazingly one toad, the Nectophyrnoides from the order Anura, bears live young while all the other frogs and toads are still doing the antiquated but time proven method of reproduction, laying eggs.
- People don't get warts from frogs or toads. I think that was thought up by people afraid of the frog in Little Johnny's pocket.
- If you find a toad in the water their skin will NOT feel dry.
- Toads don't walk upright like people they just don't jump like frogs and frogs don't walk like toads. If you walk like a toad you walk funny and are weird. You should not stand in one place very long or a dog will come along and pee on your leg.
- Have you ever heard of people eating toad legs? Nope, me either. Reason is the frog, especially the bullfrog, has a lot of muscle in their legs so they can jump. Since toads walk they don't have that much meat on them thar gams. Frog legs taste's like chicken... article here.
This is a picture of a Woodhouse's Toad. Note the bumpy skin and fairly smooth back. Regardless of what the frog and toad education articles say, in my ever so humble opinion, this toad's skin would not feel dry at the moment.Have you noticed a chain of eggs in the background? Me neither.
If you want to see a picture of a frog you have to just look around the frog blog as they are all over the place.
There is a host of other differences but when I start reading the technicalities I start to feel sleepy and somewhat stupid as I don't understand a lot of the terminology. Probably should have paid more attention in biology class.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Mama Mallard and Consort
I eased my body from my recliner and headed for the kitchen. Coffee, I think, was my mission. As I passed the window looking out back I noticed waves in Joe's pond. Nope, it wasn't Joe it was Mama Mallard and her Consort, Daddy Duck.
I guess the Mallard couple liked it here after visiting a few days ago. They seemed to enjoy the quiet and this time paddled around two of the ponds. They even stuck their heads underwater in search of a snack. They would also duck their heads under the water and raise them quickly making water flow over their backs. The Mallard family was here for about an hour this morning and then flew off.
About an hour later Mrs. Mallard returned sans Daddy Duck. She landed in the pond and paddled to Humpty Dumpty Falls. She stood in the falls for 45 minutes doing nothing but a couple of scratches and a stretch. I had the feeling she was waiting for the allusive other half. He was a no-show and she finally took off headed in the direction of the Colorado River which is just a short distance to the north.
The Woodhouse's Toads are still with us and making their screeching sounds both day and night. They won't be around for all that long and hearing them kinda grows on you. Now if I don't hear them I wonder what's wrong. Is this man never happy?
Stay tuned if your interested in the differences between a frog and a toad. I'm working on that. If I get really inspired I may tell y'all 'bout my automatic pond filler! Yep, I knew you would be excited.
I guess the Mallard couple liked it here after visiting a few days ago. They seemed to enjoy the quiet and this time paddled around two of the ponds. They even stuck their heads underwater in search of a snack. They would also duck their heads under the water and raise them quickly making water flow over their backs. The Mallard family was here for about an hour this morning and then flew off.
About an hour later Mrs. Mallard returned sans Daddy Duck. She landed in the pond and paddled to Humpty Dumpty Falls. She stood in the falls for 45 minutes doing nothing but a couple of scratches and a stretch. I had the feeling she was waiting for the allusive other half. He was a no-show and she finally took off headed in the direction of the Colorado River which is just a short distance to the north.
The Woodhouse's Toads are still with us and making their screeching sounds both day and night. They won't be around for all that long and hearing them kinda grows on you. Now if I don't hear them I wonder what's wrong. Is this man never happy?
Stay tuned if your interested in the differences between a frog and a toad. I'm working on that. If I get really inspired I may tell y'all 'bout my automatic pond filler! Yep, I knew you would be excited.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum... I smell the blood of a Woodhouse Toad!
It was August 14, 2008 when I first mentioned the Woodhouse Toads in this very Frog Blog. August 14 was my first post in the Frog Blog and I said at that time, "The noisy Woodhouse Toads that were visiting this spring have moved on." Well, they're back and I'm having a deja-vu event as I write this. It's about 10:45 PM and they started "singing" about an hour ago. So far there are only a couple but there will be more.
If this year is going to be a repeat of last year then I believe the racket these Woodhouse guys may well attract not only mates but also predators. Predators like Joe.... maybe.
It's still too early for Joe to make an appearance. It was August last year before she became an item. I expect she will be up and about earlier this year because the winter was so mild, just not this early. I still keep watching for her though and will be disappointed if she doesn't return....
If this year is going to be a repeat of last year then I believe the racket these Woodhouse guys may well attract not only mates but also predators. Predators like Joe.... maybe.
It's still too early for Joe to make an appearance. It was August last year before she became an item. I expect she will be up and about earlier this year because the winter was so mild, just not this early. I still keep watching for her though and will be disappointed if she doesn't return....
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Spring 2009 Has Sprung!
As spring augers winter out of the way on the high desert of Western Colorado the trees are leafing out, the nurseries are stocking up and our fingernails are filled with dirt. WOW! What a beautiful time of year.
The pond is waiting for Joe's return although that will probably be a month away... if Joe returns at all. Daytime temperatures are just now getting consistent with temperatures in the 70's. The night time lows are still in the 40's. Thus the pond water temperature isn't warm enough to make Joe happy. If you recall, as winter temperature slowly dropped last fall, I was writing about Joe slowing down and all that torpor business. In the spring it works just the opposite of late fall. But it won't be long now. I have my eyes peeled for any sign of Joe or her peers.
In the meantime I've been winning my battle with string algae thanks to a friend of Gingers who stopped by and brought her husband. He is a chemist and his recommendation was to use a product called Cutrine. It sure has made a difference in the clarity of the pond water and certainly is controlling the string algae.
While Joe hasn't made her appearance yet we have had a few visitors. Ducks! Just this morning a male and female Mallard stopped by to check the place out. I was disappointed they didn't go for a swim. They seemed content to sun themselves for about 20 minutes and then proceeded to walk (waddle) around the yard. After their inspection was complete they flew off. A nice treat for us.
The pond is waiting for Joe's return although that will probably be a month away... if Joe returns at all. Daytime temperatures are just now getting consistent with temperatures in the 70's. The night time lows are still in the 40's. Thus the pond water temperature isn't warm enough to make Joe happy. If you recall, as winter temperature slowly dropped last fall, I was writing about Joe slowing down and all that torpor business. In the spring it works just the opposite of late fall. But it won't be long now. I have my eyes peeled for any sign of Joe or her peers.
In the meantime I've been winning my battle with string algae thanks to a friend of Gingers who stopped by and brought her husband. He is a chemist and his recommendation was to use a product called Cutrine. It sure has made a difference in the clarity of the pond water and certainly is controlling the string algae.
Last week we had the waskley wabbits ( for my international viewers that's what the cartoon character Elmer Fudd calls rabbits) come to the yard. They decided they liked it pretty well and started to dig a den. The bad news is they wanted the den located under a 2 year old tree. I wound up putting chicken wire and plastic mesh around the tree mound. So far that has discouraged the rabbits from digging.
All of the bird houses now have residents and they are busily building their nests. It's kind of comical to watch some of the birds try and get a stiff piece of grass or reed through the bird house entrance. The entrance is just a hole I drilled that is 5/8's of an inch in diameter.
Over the winter I built a "Pot Trellis." We planted the pots this past week and are waiting for some vine type of plant to arrive in the nurseries. We will plant the vine in the dirt at the base of the trellis and hopefully that will fill in the bare spots on the trellis. The pots are just set between the boards and when they tilt the top board stops them. They are quite secure and there is no concern about being blown down. I dare say the only concern expressed so far is if the trellis is yellow enough... Somewhere there has to be a school bus looking for it's paint [:o)
Our first humming bird was spotted on April 14 after a fierce wind with gusts into the 60 mph range. We figure the little guy literally "blew into town!"
All the trees survived the winter and are now sporting their bright green leaves. The plants that looked like they would never ever grow again are once again thriving as they change color while soaking up the sun. We found worms in the soil and the robin red breasts are visiting regularly. The who-who birdies are still with us as are the finches and sparrows. Hawks of various sizes stop by from time to time.
I think it's going to be a good year!
All of the bird houses now have residents and they are busily building their nests. It's kind of comical to watch some of the birds try and get a stiff piece of grass or reed through the bird house entrance. The entrance is just a hole I drilled that is 5/8's of an inch in diameter.
Our first humming bird was spotted on April 14 after a fierce wind with gusts into the 60 mph range. We figure the little guy literally "blew into town!"
All the trees survived the winter and are now sporting their bright green leaves. The plants that looked like they would never ever grow again are once again thriving as they change color while soaking up the sun. We found worms in the soil and the robin red breasts are visiting regularly. The who-who birdies are still with us as are the finches and sparrows. Hawks of various sizes stop by from time to time.
I think it's going to be a good year!
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