Sad news, of the loss of Eaglet D12 from the Decorah, IA, Eaglecam hatched on March 27th, he was found dead on July 3rd, not far from the home nest. The evidence at the area indicates he was electrocuted by wires close to the nest. The power company is working to modify pole tops to keep the other raptors safer.
Officials say that siblings D13 and D14 are showing signs of knowing their brother is no longer with them.
The Eaglecam was turned off for the summer on Saturday, June 30th, to give the project time to put up new equipment for 2013 and get it tested. More excitement to come when the parents return to start a new family.
Other cams are being monitored now. Why not give a vulture cam a try? The fledglings should be ready to take flight by August....
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
4th of July Tribute
I would like to extend a Happy 4th of July to my American readers. Let us remember the reason why we celebrate...
Monday, July 2, 2012
A Mystery to Solve...
As of late my homestead has been having another elusive visitor in the late night, and early morning hours.
I have associated some of the activities with a raccoon constantly rummaging through the yard, but things have become a little more destructive. My potted plants are getting tipped over,the soil-less mix has been totally dug-out from around the roots of a large pot of Elephant Ear bulbs, newly planted strawberry leaves chewed, freshly set flowers in the garden uprooted.
Mental Exasperation has begun!
My cat, Miss Kitty, has a snack shack on the deck, a recycled dog kennel, where she goes to eat her food to protect her from the elements. If I don't remove the food at night I can be assured to have a raccoon(s), possibly an opossum, and others come to feast. My thoughts run to Coyote...even Bobcat.
This past Monday in the wee hours of the morning, around 2:00, Sadie started barking at the front door. I got up to check to see what had gotten her attention. Looking out the window of the door, the deck was absent the snack shack, from the closed door I wasn't able to see where the kennel had gone.
I opened the door to get a better idea what was happening,Sadie didn't hesitate to dash out to check her territory. The snack shack had somehow made it's way to the bottom of the 4th step of the deck, turned askew on it's side. I can only assume whatever came to visit got stuck inside the kennel, because it would have taken force to move it across the deck, down the steps, and turned, from where it was originally sitting.
Following a scent, Sadie started on the run in an attempt to locate the interloper. It wasn't more than 30 seconds when I heard a clang - the propane tank had become a momentary barrier to the escaping animal. I had a mental chuckle as my mind was imagining a dazed creature trying to make sense of the surroundings to find an escape route.
The animal that made the early morning wake up call remains a mystery, but I do know now for sure one mischievous creature that reincarnates it's behavior from one generation to another.
Thursday, another clue was provided on our temporary ramp to our new house construction.
Scat that could belong to either a raccoon, or groundhog, was left as evidence of an early morning visit. Both animals share common characteristics at this time of year here at the Timber since they both harvest the berries.
Working in the house on Friday morning before lunch, I passed the sliding glass door, and out of the corner of my eye I saw this creature standing on it's back legs not far from our Miss Kitty by the tree trunk.
I'm wondering if this groundhog is related to the one that kept us entertained back in September of 2007 ?
When it became aware of my attention...it would drop to all four feet and jump sideways. Then it became inquisitive again, checking to see if by chance I had been scared away by the aggressive maneuvers ,standing up it kept repeating it's actions until I moved on.
Last night we heard some bumps and bangs going on just outside our front door. We, Hubby, Sadie and I, headed to see what the ruckus was all about. A family of masked bandits stopped to take advantage of Miss Kitty's snack shack .
These three babies got separated from the others and waited until a little less attention was being showered on them before making the great escape.
Another sample of what keeps us smiling in our daily lives here at Timber Life....
I have associated some of the activities with a raccoon constantly rummaging through the yard, but things have become a little more destructive. My potted plants are getting tipped over,the soil-less mix has been totally dug-out from around the roots of a large pot of Elephant Ear bulbs, newly planted strawberry leaves chewed, freshly set flowers in the garden uprooted.
Mental Exasperation has begun!
My cat, Miss Kitty, has a snack shack on the deck, a recycled dog kennel, where she goes to eat her food to protect her from the elements. If I don't remove the food at night I can be assured to have a raccoon(s), possibly an opossum, and others come to feast. My thoughts run to Coyote...even Bobcat.
This past Monday in the wee hours of the morning, around 2:00, Sadie started barking at the front door. I got up to check to see what had gotten her attention. Looking out the window of the door, the deck was absent the snack shack, from the closed door I wasn't able to see where the kennel had gone.
I opened the door to get a better idea what was happening,Sadie didn't hesitate to dash out to check her territory. The snack shack had somehow made it's way to the bottom of the 4th step of the deck, turned askew on it's side. I can only assume whatever came to visit got stuck inside the kennel, because it would have taken force to move it across the deck, down the steps, and turned, from where it was originally sitting.
Following a scent, Sadie started on the run in an attempt to locate the interloper. It wasn't more than 30 seconds when I heard a clang - the propane tank had become a momentary barrier to the escaping animal. I had a mental chuckle as my mind was imagining a dazed creature trying to make sense of the surroundings to find an escape route.
The animal that made the early morning wake up call remains a mystery, but I do know now for sure one mischievous creature that reincarnates it's behavior from one generation to another.
Thursday, another clue was provided on our temporary ramp to our new house construction.
Scat that could belong to either a raccoon, or groundhog, was left as evidence of an early morning visit. Both animals share common characteristics at this time of year here at the Timber since they both harvest the berries.
Working in the house on Friday morning before lunch, I passed the sliding glass door, and out of the corner of my eye I saw this creature standing on it's back legs not far from our Miss Kitty by the tree trunk.
I'm wondering if this groundhog is related to the one that kept us entertained back in September of 2007 ?
When it became aware of my attention...it would drop to all four feet and jump sideways. Then it became inquisitive again, checking to see if by chance I had been scared away by the aggressive maneuvers ,standing up it kept repeating it's actions until I moved on.
Last night we heard some bumps and bangs going on just outside our front door. We, Hubby, Sadie and I, headed to see what the ruckus was all about. A family of masked bandits stopped to take advantage of Miss Kitty's snack shack .
These three babies got separated from the others and waited until a little less attention was being showered on them before making the great escape.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Black Bear in Bremer County Iowa
 |
| Picture owned by Jade Bergmann |
June 11th, 2012, brought more citizen reports from the Bremer County town of Frederika, of a Black Bear wandering the area.
The latest photographer documenting the bear's location is Jade Bergmann.
| Ridgeway to Fredericksburg - May 15th - 21st |
| Fredericksburg to Frederika - May 21st - June 11th |
It is speculation as to the next destination of the young bear, but officials feel it is moving in large circles heading east and will return to it's home range.
I have a feeling the Saga of the Black Bear will continue for a while this year...More updates likely later.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Off to the Timber the Berries are Ready
The Wild Raspberries and Gooseberries are ready. This week I am working to gather what I can before the weather heats up again later today, thru the weekend.
Our lack of rain and the heat could take away the ability of the small unripe berries to mature...
Sadie and I were out early this morning, minding our own picking, when we heard an unfamiliar animal sound emanating just to the east of our patch. My first reaction was, "Oh, that's nice." Apparently, I wasn't hearing things, because Sadie, sat at attention listening attentively.
A repeat of the first agitated whatever it was brought a couple of barks out of Sadie to let the animal(s) know, it had company of a different species in the vicinity.
That must have done the trick - no other vocalizations or activities were heard, and a slight disappointment arose when I didn't get to see what it was that had garnered those few fleeting seconds of the unknown...
It's time to be off to the timber!
See you later.
Our lack of rain and the heat could take away the ability of the small unripe berries to mature...
 |
| Faithful Accomplice |
A repeat of the first agitated whatever it was brought a couple of barks out of Sadie to let the animal(s) know, it had company of a different species in the vicinity.
That must have done the trick - no other vocalizations or activities were heard, and a slight disappointment arose when I didn't get to see what it was that had garnered those few fleeting seconds of the unknown...
It's time to be off to the timber!
See you later.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Trip to the Berry Patch Farm
The last few years I kept making idle threats that I would go to the local "pick-your-own" strawberry patch about 16 miles from home to get some sweet June berries. However, other things always seemed to get in the way. Well, this year I wasn't going to be satisfied with my excuses of one reason, or another.
Earlier this Spring,just as the berries were blooming, central Iowa experienced a hard freeze. The farm owners used a method frequently used in Florida when frosts drop in to steal away the orange blooms. They implemented a water spray to create a layer of ice that would insulate the plants, and create heat when it melted off after sunrise.
Picking at the farm started the last week of May, unseasonably warm temperatures have matured the crop, and according to Judy the strawberries may be done for them by this coming Saturday, June 5th.
Rain dotted the radar in the vicinity of the farm as I gauged what my schedule would become. Arriving at the farm you could tell there had been a shower,but nothing excessive to detour the seekers of seasonal delights.
The Berry Patch Farm, owned by Dean, and Judy Henry, has been around since the early 1970's.
Dean, a retired horticulture teacher, found his next endeavor to explore,experiment / implement new food cropping methods to increase production. The Henrys may not be totally organic producers... However, they do use practices that reduce the need for excessive spraying of pesticides and herbicides.
They allowed parking out by the field to be harvested. There is a young lady,an employee, up by the open tailgate of the white pick-up motioning for drivers to come park right across from them. She had moved there after I came to indicate to others where the starting place would be for the new arrivals.
I had just gone back to the car ready to go back to checkout when I got these pictures.
The field was becoming busier around 11:30 when the threat of rain had diminished to nothing. A pleasant day to be picking...
The Country Store has a porch where you can stop and sit a spell. You can even find a few extra plants they have for sale lining the walkways ..
A collector's piece used in a by-gone era. Certainly a conversation starter for an older farmer from back in the day...
Judy the co-owner,behind the counter in the yellow blouse, was getting ready to count out some strawberry plants I purchased for my own garden.
After ordering strawberry plants a couple of years in a row from a catalog, and having them arrive too early, not being able to keep them alive until the weather cooperated - led me to another solution. Buying the starts locally became my logical alternative; ready when the weather was just right for the planting.
Strawberries weren't the only plants available; I found some blueberry plants too. Two of the three blueberry bushes had bloomed and carry some little blueberries. Now, if I can only get them to maintain through the heat that is forecast for this weekend. Time will tell.
Hubby tasted a strawberry as I processed them and commented "now that's a strawberry."
Other crops that the Henrys grow -Apples, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Blackberries,Blueberries, Currants, Gooseberries,Pumpkins, Raspberries, Rhubarb and Strawberries. They definitely offer an abundance of fruits and other foods that most of us don't have the room, or time to grow.
I had the honor of sharing conjoining market space at a local Farmer's Market with Judy, and Mike, the Henry's son, when I attempted a start at growing vegetables for others back in 2001. I still start plants, and grow vegetables; other things have influenced the time I spend pursuing those interests.
Thanks to the Strawberry Patch Farm for the extra effort this Spring to provide the opportunity to get some very good Strawberries!
Earlier this Spring,just as the berries were blooming, central Iowa experienced a hard freeze. The farm owners used a method frequently used in Florida when frosts drop in to steal away the orange blooms. They implemented a water spray to create a layer of ice that would insulate the plants, and create heat when it melted off after sunrise.
Picking at the farm started the last week of May, unseasonably warm temperatures have matured the crop, and according to Judy the strawberries may be done for them by this coming Saturday, June 5th.
Rain dotted the radar in the vicinity of the farm as I gauged what my schedule would become. Arriving at the farm you could tell there had been a shower,but nothing excessive to detour the seekers of seasonal delights.
The Berry Patch Farm, owned by Dean, and Judy Henry, has been around since the early 1970's.
Dean, a retired horticulture teacher, found his next endeavor to explore,experiment / implement new food cropping methods to increase production. The Henrys may not be totally organic producers... However, they do use practices that reduce the need for excessive spraying of pesticides and herbicides.
They allowed parking out by the field to be harvested. There is a young lady,an employee, up by the open tailgate of the white pick-up motioning for drivers to come park right across from them. She had moved there after I came to indicate to others where the starting place would be for the new arrivals.
I had just gone back to the car ready to go back to checkout when I got these pictures.
The field was becoming busier around 11:30 when the threat of rain had diminished to nothing. A pleasant day to be picking...
The Country Store has a porch where you can stop and sit a spell. You can even find a few extra plants they have for sale lining the walkways ..
After ordering strawberry plants a couple of years in a row from a catalog, and having them arrive too early, not being able to keep them alive until the weather cooperated - led me to another solution. Buying the starts locally became my logical alternative; ready when the weather was just right for the planting.
Strawberries weren't the only plants available; I found some blueberry plants too. Two of the three blueberry bushes had bloomed and carry some little blueberries. Now, if I can only get them to maintain through the heat that is forecast for this weekend. Time will tell.
Hubby tasted a strawberry as I processed them and commented "now that's a strawberry."
Other crops that the Henrys grow -Apples, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Blackberries,Blueberries, Currants, Gooseberries,Pumpkins, Raspberries, Rhubarb and Strawberries. They definitely offer an abundance of fruits and other foods that most of us don't have the room, or time to grow.
I had the honor of sharing conjoining market space at a local Farmer's Market with Judy, and Mike, the Henry's son, when I attempted a start at growing vegetables for others back in 2001. I still start plants, and grow vegetables; other things have influenced the time I spend pursuing those interests.
Thanks to the Strawberry Patch Farm for the extra effort this Spring to provide the opportunity to get some very good Strawberries!
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