Whatever you like.
A small flock has been coming to hang out and dry their wings since the first of the month.A bit earlier than other years I believe.
Spring is right around the corner.
Showing posts with label turkey vultures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label turkey vultures. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Strange Sign of Spring - Turkey Vultures
Or turkey buzzards.
Whatever you like.
A small flock has been coming to hang out and dry their wings since the first of the month.
A bit earlier than other years I believe.
Spring is right around the corner.
Whatever you like.
A small flock has been coming to hang out and dry their wings since the first of the month.A bit earlier than other years I believe.
Spring is right around the corner.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
To Tired to Photograph!
The past few days have seen the camera left behind, and as a result I have no boring pictures of the rearranging of mulch and manure piles, tilling of soil, and planting of the garden. We have been working hard while the weather warmed up, and I had to get the loader and tiller on and off, so that I could finally put the mowing deck on. That got done late today, and I spent at least an hour mowing in the light rain. The mowing is not done, but it was a good start.
So from the past few days - a smattering...
Living totem pole, and... 
...worshipers!
So from the past few days - a smattering...
Living totem pole, and... 
...worshipers!
Sneaky barn cat - not in the barn!
Foster hens eating worms from where I cleared the wood chip pile. The chips are mulching the new elderberry bush plot. That is from where I removed the dill and coriander seedlings to put in the veggie garden.
The newest kids were doing fence training for two days while their mothers mowed the yard. By day two, they were waiting in line to go back to the barn. So smart!
Today we put the new families in a new spot with a shelter. 
The grass is knee high, and I lost little Ziggy at one time. He was laying in the deep grass behind his mother.
Soon we will be transitioning the newest kids into the herd and they will be with the other twins. Its going to be fun!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Welcome Spring! Time For Outdoor Auctions!
The hens were waiting to break out of the barn this morning. 
They were eager to find the bugs and worms that the still snow moist ground, and the warm sun, bring out. The grass, and everything green, are brightening up. What a change from February. 
The turkey vultures are here for a few weeks, as is their ritual. They seem to have the yearling kids a bit unnerved. 
Today's auction was at a farm in nearby Stahlstown, and was attended by every shape, brand, and color truck. 
More than a few were hauled out by a tractor and chain, when they found the snow moistened ground, that became axe deep mud. We managed to avoid that fate. 
There were all sorts of John Deere's. Large... 
...and small.
In the farm fashion world, there was every plaid shirt variation known to man and woman. Baseball hats with logos of every team, machine, farm, and contractor were seen, with a strong showing for -PENN STATE! 
It was a great spring day to be outside and enjoy the company of strangers. 
As for my buys - I didn't get these rolls of fence, but I got a pallet of wooden stakes and posts. 
And MORE plant pots. Total spent. $17.50. Good deal!
They were eager to find the bugs and worms that the still snow moist ground, and the warm sun, bring out. The grass, and everything green, are brightening up. What a change from February. 
The turkey vultures are here for a few weeks, as is their ritual. They seem to have the yearling kids a bit unnerved. 
Today's auction was at a farm in nearby Stahlstown, and was attended by every shape, brand, and color truck. 
More than a few were hauled out by a tractor and chain, when they found the snow moistened ground, that became axe deep mud. We managed to avoid that fate. 
There were all sorts of John Deere's. Large... 
...and small.
In the farm fashion world, there was every plaid shirt variation known to man and woman. Baseball hats with logos of every team, machine, farm, and contractor were seen, with a strong showing for -PENN STATE! 
It was a great spring day to be outside and enjoy the company of strangers. 
As for my buys - I didn't get these rolls of fence, but I got a pallet of wooden stakes and posts. 
And MORE plant pots. Total spent. $17.50. Good deal!Monday, March 15, 2010
Updates and Names
The twins are the new stars and getting along quite well. 
I have been trying to get them to follow their mother out to the field in the mornings. Its getting quicker, but don't let them get distracted by a cat or dog!
The hens, in all their boredom, are back to laying eggs full tilt. 
Then, they spend the rest of their daylight hours taking dirt baths, or picking in the mud.
VIDEO OF HENS HAVING A DUST BATH
When they are done, I have to fill in their holes for fear of twisting an ankle.
Perhaps these are things you don't want to know about the animals who lay your eggs, but what's a bird to do? Create dust storms? OK. 
Jock is thrilled to find so many of his toys that were buried for weeks under the snow. This is his basketball that has been reconfigured by the brush hog. He loves his balls shredded.
The mystery bird was identified for me by at least four people as a turkey vulture indeed. I guess I'd never seen one so white winged, but I go with the unanimous decision. The ones above are starting to come in large flocks again. Not a purty one amongst these guys!
The heavy snows created some extra work with the fences. We had two spots snap, and many saggy wires to be tightened. Also, Saturday morning, we found one of the goat sheds flipped over from the wind, and a metal gate off its hinges and laying in the corral. No one forecasted the winds.
A 500 year flood event has been avoided. This flooding looked like the regular old 100 year flood type. 
We have been here 6 1/2 years and this is our seventh major flood.
I think the math is wrong somehow.
Our pond is still filled above our flood stage, so to speak. This video shows the same spot I had the clip from a few days ago. Moving much faster than the peaceful dribble it was.
This is the pond at the overflow pipe, and the water is much higher than the pipe, and draining as fast as it can. See little me? The reflection?
The bluebirds are very active and we have two new boxes to put up for them. I hope we haven't started too late.
The two week old doe twins finally have names, thanks to Mary and the African English translator. We have Ella(right in both pictures), and Tisa (second from right, or with darker head). They are bouncy and funny, as all kids this age are. Tisa means "ninth", as she was in our doe birth order, here on the farm. 
And for such little things, they eat their share of grain. I think the damp weather and the mud makes them extra hungry.
I have been trying to get them to follow their mother out to the field in the mornings. Its getting quicker, but don't let them get distracted by a cat or dog!
The hens, in all their boredom, are back to laying eggs full tilt. 
Then, they spend the rest of their daylight hours taking dirt baths, or picking in the mud. VIDEO OF HENS HAVING A DUST BATH
When they are done, I have to fill in their holes for fear of twisting an ankle.
Perhaps these are things you don't want to know about the animals who lay your eggs, but what's a bird to do? Create dust storms? OK. 
Jock is thrilled to find so many of his toys that were buried for weeks under the snow. This is his basketball that has been reconfigured by the brush hog. He loves his balls shredded.
The mystery bird was identified for me by at least four people as a turkey vulture indeed. I guess I'd never seen one so white winged, but I go with the unanimous decision. The ones above are starting to come in large flocks again. Not a purty one amongst these guys!
The heavy snows created some extra work with the fences. We had two spots snap, and many saggy wires to be tightened. Also, Saturday morning, we found one of the goat sheds flipped over from the wind, and a metal gate off its hinges and laying in the corral. No one forecasted the winds.
A 500 year flood event has been avoided. This flooding looked like the regular old 100 year flood type. 
We have been here 6 1/2 years and this is our seventh major flood. I think the math is wrong somehow.
VIDEO OF SPRINGS FROM SNOW MELT INTO POND
Our pond is still filled above our flood stage, so to speak. This video shows the same spot I had the clip from a few days ago. Moving much faster than the peaceful dribble it was.
This is the pond at the overflow pipe, and the water is much higher than the pipe, and draining as fast as it can. See little me? The reflection?
The bluebirds are very active and we have two new boxes to put up for them. I hope we haven't started too late.
The two week old doe twins finally have names, thanks to Mary and the African English translator. We have Ella(right in both pictures), and Tisa (second from right, or with darker head). They are bouncy and funny, as all kids this age are. Tisa means "ninth", as she was in our doe birth order, here on the farm. 
And for such little things, they eat their share of grain. I think the damp weather and the mud makes them extra hungry.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Turkey Vultures
This is a very odd sign of spring that we "enjoy" for about a month On the Pond. They even do some fishing on warmer days.
I was told the last full moon was the "Worm Moon" because now the night crawlers come out. Never heard that before.
So in tune with weird signs of spring, here is my video.
Enjoy all the bird song too.
VIDEO OF TURKEY VULTURES ON THE POSTS
When it gets warmer, I don't know where they go or what they do, but this will be a daily ritual for a month or more.
Sorry we didn't tidy the burn pile!
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