After what seemed like an eternal cold snap, winter finally gave way here in Baraboo. Unfortunately, as was the case in Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail, it looks like we've just given spring a miss and jumped straight on into summer.
We're still getting all the perks of the missed season, though. The site has burst into bloom, with wildflowers and prairie plants sprouting up all over the place.
The bad news is that warm weather means a horde of mosquitoes and a cabal of ticks, all waiting sinisterly to exsanguinate unwary humans. The good news is that insects means migrants! Birds of all shapes and sizes have returned to Wisconsin to take advantage of the many natural areas, such as Horicon and Necedah National Wildlife Refuges, although the ICF is certainly getting its fair share.
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| Palm Warbler |
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| Eastern Kingbird |
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| Tree Swallows |
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| Upside-down Baltimore Oriole |
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| Trumpeter Swans |
Birds are only some of the critters finally coming out to play in the warm weather.
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| American Porcupine |
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| Painted Turtle |
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| Momma White-Tail and a sluggish fawn. |
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| The wee one ignored mom's frantic looks and watched me for some time before ambling after her. |
Most exciting and relevant, however, is that it's Whooping Crane time! On a trip to Necedah NWR with the Field Ecology crew, we missed most of the birds, but found about 20 or so in an agricultural field not far away.
This was a great day for birds; just from casually noting birds we saw that day, I racked up 51 species, including Ruffed Grouse, another lifer for me. We also saw a group of 4 river otters rolling around on the bank for spotting us and immediately taking to the water.
Back in Craneland, breeding season is getting crazier and crazier; our countless eggs are getting ready to hatch, and we already have our first Whooping Crane chick. This, unfortunately, means life is about to get infinitely more crazy, as we check on the chick at all hours of the day, and will need to wear full costumes in the summer heat. Even the birds are getting wackier, especially the ones with eggs; formerly mild and even friendly birds turn into death-machines.
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| Howard the White-Naped Crane showing off at the fence. His mate is inside on an egg. |
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| Corcho the Eurasian crane has been coming right up to the fence to ward off invaders. |
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| Askari the Wattled Crane, however, is mostly indifferent to people. |
Stay tuned for crane chicklet news, and other nonsense.
