March 1 usually signals the beginning of the breeding season for Mississippi sandhill cranes. So what happens when there is a leap year and an extra day in February? The cranes ignore it and just carry on as usual. That extra day this year happened to land on a Wednesday, which meant we had one last crane tour to conduct for the season. We had a small, but enjoyable, group of visitors for the tour including the man who is the voice for McGruff, the police crime fighting dog.
We were able to find 11 cranes for them to observe, along with a good view of the two young eagles. I’m thinking it won’t be long before these youngsters start flapping their wings and the next thing you know, they’ll be fledging.
In the afternoon, all of the volunteers went along with Doug to visit several areas on, and adjacent to, the refuge. Several volunteers had never seen the eagle’s nest, and we got quite a show. While the mother eagle was perched in a nearby snag, the father swooped in with a big fish to feed the ever hungry offspring. 
I’m sure just about all of you know that in addition to being leap year, today is also Sadie Hawkin’s Day. That means I have the opportunity to propose to the man of my dreams today! Sorry to say, I have to report that I haven’t found a likely candidate. 
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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I think next winter I may volunteer at a refuge, just have to decide which one.
ReplyDeleteSadie Hawkins day...you know all day people have been mentioning that on Feb 29, women do the proposing but not one person mentioned Sadie Hawkins. I knew something was missing! Don't be in any big rush to change your current status!
ReplyDeletehttp://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com
The snake would have been more than enough for me. Nasty things. I know they eat other things and keep them in check.
ReplyDeleteI was always taught to beware of water moccasins. I think I'd rather pass a rattlesake.
ReplyDeleteI totally forgot about Sadie Hawkins Day, and dang, it's almost too late to propose to anyone, except possibly in the Pacific time zone! Like you say, maybe in another 4 years I'll be prepared.
I could totally have done without a photo of a snake on your blog! Right when I was just getting ready to say how great the eagle shot was too...... I hate snakes just like Indiana Jones!
ReplyDeletedang it Judy! I worked all day today too and had no opportunity to hunt down any men folk in the campground to make any Sadie Hawkins proposals to......four more years I guess!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was living in Houston ( a long time ago) I had some bad experiences with water moccasins while canoeing on the small creeks. They would aggressively swim at the canoe and try to crawl in. One time, I foolishly paddled under some over hanging tress and had a couple drop into the canoe. I am afraid I returned the rental canoe with a lot of extra dents from my paddle. I know biologists like to say they are curious, but I think they are just aggressive and mean:)
ReplyDeleteMake sure the man of your dreams like washing and waxing RVs! ;c)
ReplyDeleteSnakes ... one word ... UGH!
ReplyDeleteForget the man, stick to the cranes.
ReplyDeleteewwwwwww snakes. Great bird shots though. I'm so happy the people on your tour had the opportunity to see the eagle feed its young. What a memorable experience.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I concur with your thoughts on the Sadie Hawkins Day. The good guys don't come along very often and most of them are already taken ,-)
ReplyDeleteHere water mocs were always called cotton mouths because the inside of their mouths was white as cotton, and they are a nasty snake.
ReplyDeleteHad totally forgotten about Sadie Hawkins day. when we were in high school we used to have a sadie hawkins day dance and the girls could invite a boy (unheard of a girl asking a guy then). It was always fun to see who came with whom.
Howdy Judy & Emma,
ReplyDeleteGreat pics today and especially the cottonmouth!! He was just saying Hello!!
I have a great cottonmouth story that's fuuunnnneeee!!! Maybe the gators will give your next bunch of volunteers a thrill.. Of course, you've got those Eastern DBs to locate and show off ,too, also!! Give Emma a hug and pat for me... Go back and get some BBQ from the folks in the woods!! She needs the business..
YIKES!! Here I am, scrolling through your bird photos innocently...and you throw a snake in just to throw us off guard. I cannot even watch a TV show with a snake on it if I am eating..I get an upset stomach....I loved Steve Erwin, but thought he was certifiable a nut cake for how he "loved" the serpents and reptiles...
ReplyDelete