Waterfowl Fill the Air

This is the start to one of the best times of the year around Timber Life.Soon to be Spring!

February 20,2011

In February, we started to see both geese and ducks starting to arrive what seemed to be around three weeks earlier than last year.The up and down temperatures were playing with Mother Nature's inner clock. She sent advance sentinels to clear the way for the rest of the troops to come swishing through.

They would fly from one direction to another looking for a place to sit down. The empty cornfields became places of rest and recuperation, our local Marsh was still solid ice.

The unsteady temperatures brought low clouds and decreased visibility to the human eye.You would hear the honking and quacking, briefly catching a glimpse of the noise makers before they would  turn around and once again wing their way back into the chilly mist to look for a more hospitable location.

The activities now of the waterfowl fly-way have started to bring wave after wave of ducks and geese.

March 10,2011

Wednesday, late afternoon, I was on my way home from visiting my Mom when I found these birds sitting in the cornfields across the blacktop to the south of the Marsh.

The day ended with masses of geese seeking shelter where ever they could find it.

Yesterday , I got the chance to head over to the Marsh before the hoarfrost had started to fall from the trees and electric wires. Beautiful was the effect as it  ever so slowly gave way to the slightly warmer temperatures, turning the ice back into a flowing pool of water.


It appeared to be snowing for a time as the frost lost it's grip,tumbling to the ground where it collectively added to the puddles left by the remnants of the snow from a few days ago.

                                 Ducks and Geese were willing companions as they shared the
                                 amenities of the expanding open water.

                                I was guilty of disturbing the tranquility of our fine feathered 

                                friends. This is only a small example of the total number of 

                                birds temporarily giving us a look into their habits.

                                 I love to watch the geese working together to rise into the sky.

                                 An observation I would like to offer is the position of the tail

                                 feathers in correlation with wing position as they lift off in

                                 their group.

                                I definitely have been privileged to see the Spring migration

                                happening in the central Iowa Fly-way.   Certainly a most 

                                enjoyable transition from winter to warmer days...

                               

Spring Forward

I see it's that time of year again...

                            There are a few ways to say it...

                                      Don't forget!

Time for us to set the clock forward at 2:00 A.M.Sunday morning to begin our Daylight Savings Time, or more conveniently, when you head to bed the night before if you don't pull all nighters on the weekends.

I am one of those people who has a readjustment curve when the semi-annual changes come. How does it affect you?

Decorah,IA Eagle Cam

We often get to see our wild friends up close in their own spaces...bear dens, river cams and trail cameras.

Today, I would like to share an Iowa based Eagle Cam. The Cam belongs to the Raptor Resource Project.

When I first started watching last week I could hear Canadian Geese flying around as I kept my vigil.

It is my understanding the Eagle family are expecting their offspring for the season.

Please enjoy...




Video chat rooms at Ustream

A Visit to the Iowa Aviation Museum

Photo by fellow EAA #675  member  Gary Brandenburg

It was Saturday, January 29th,2011 and there was a ride being planned from the airport at Boone,IA to the  14th Annual Chili Fly-In at the Iowa Aviation Museum at Greenfield.

A couple of our Grand-kids (Joseph and Delaney seated beside the guy in the brown sweater)had decided they would like to go with PawPaw Corey for an outing and maybe a chance to go by  airplane.
 
Hubby and his friend were keeping their eyes on the weather forecast to see about getting the friend's plane out to take a hop. The 8:00 A.M. hour arrived on Saturday - time to make the choice to head it into the clouds, or leave it in the hangar ...

Farm Lady Delaney and Flying Farmer Joseph

The decision came down. Leave the plane in the hangar. Weather wasn't the problem at the beginning of the day, but could possibly make the return a little more difficult than they had hoped. Frozen precipitation had been spotted on the radar to the Northwest.

Hopping in the car, all of them took off to add support to the little museum's wintertime  fund raising event; giving aid to keeping the memories alive of outstanding Iowa Aviators in the Hall of Fame ...

Joseph kept on the move checking things over

It was definitely cold, both on the ground and in the air, a great day for getting together with fellow pilots to linger in the ambiance of a well stocked hangar.

Please click Vintage Aircraft to see photos of the planes now on display.

Delaney and Joseph - Barstormers Extraodinaire

 What a great way to have some fun!

Our future Aviators didn't even have to leave the ground  to have contagious smiles to share.

Passing through  Iowa on vacation?

The museum is located off Interstate 80 at exit 86. Take highway IA - 25 south to Airport Rd,located north of the City of Greenfield. 

Airplane enthusiasts,or people like me interested in learning something new, will certainly enjoy stopping to checkout their displays.

Oh! While you are in the vicinity go on into town to visit.Greenfield has another distinction to add to their list. Back in 1969, their town square played host to the movie "Cold Turkey"... ;)