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Borrego Springs, CA

Saturday, March 30, 2013

It’s gobbling time on the refuge

I’ve got a little over two weeks left at Okefenokee, and I’m getting short timer’s attitude.  Some people call it hitch itch, but I have noticed that as the time for me to move on nears, I become less tolerant of minor irritations.  Same thing happened just before I retired almost seven years ago.  The excitement of new horizons builds, and the attitude turns to “What can they do?  Fire me?”  I’ve been at this volunteer assignment longer than any other I’ve had, and I guess I’m ready to move on.  It seems to happen every time as the departure date nears. 

IMG_2308I’ve spent the last two days between roving and working the VC.  This is the busy season here, and work in the VC is non-stop as hundreds of visitors come in.  Roving and observing the wildlife is a welcome break from all the harried activity.

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I got a call on the radio this morning that fellow fulltimers and bloggers, Randy and Pam, had arrived at the VC.  I headed in, picked them up, and gave them a tour of the refuge on a couple of the back roads and out to the Chesser Homestead.  Little did I know at that time, that they had already been out there a couple of days ago.  I don't know smile  It’s always nice to spend some time with people of similar interests.  The last time I saw them, they visited me at Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR in Mississippi when I was pretty much under the weather.  This was a much more pleasant experience.

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Before heading in to pick them up, I had made a stop at the secret pond.  Love is still in the air, and the tom turkeys were gobbling away and showing their finery.

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I had thought that this flock only had two toms, but today I’m thinking there may be four.  At this point, most of the females had headed for the woods, but one was left.  I think all four birds on the right are males.  Two of them just couldn’t help themselves from displaying to the fullest every couple of seconds.  They seem to be helpless to the effects of spring fever!  Surprised smile

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It’s always nice to spot one of our endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers along the way.  Notice the two yellow and one blue bands on its left leg?  I believe this bird hatched here on the refuge. 

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Nearby was one of the much more numerous red-bellied woodpeckers working the longleaf pine branches for tasty morsels.  I had a minor accomplishment today, as I had decided to not rely on using my cane all day at work.  I felt I needed to push myself a little to get past the recuperation plateau that I seemed to have reached.  Things went well, so I will concentrate on not using the cane.  I think it became too easy to use it.  I want to move on to more normalcy. 

IMG_2332                                                                                THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

19 comments:

  1. It was great to see you again Judy! Thanks for taking time out to show us around and see some sights. It is always better when you have a guide! We learned a lot today about the prairies, the woodpecker and the burns. We had a great time. You look great after only two months with that new hip! Thanks again and looking forward to seeing you next time!

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  2. Many a tom turkey and bucks have succumbed because of mating fever!

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  3. Great turkey pictures. Those toms sure know how to woo the ladies!!

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  4. We know what you mean about minor irritations. Sometimes we get that way when we stay on one place for two long. The too close neighbors start getting on our nervous. It is definitely us not them.

    Sent from my iPhone

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  5. Gorgeous pictures as usual Judy. Love the turkey displays and the egret reflection. How does that cockaded fly with all those bands on his poor little leg? :-)

    I definitely know what you mean about "short timer's syndrome". But I'm so sorry you will be gone from Okefenokee before we get there in late April. I never seem to be able to cross paths with you. That's too bad because I think we are definitely on the same wave length.

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  6. One of your best The End's ever!

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  7. I would say you had a major accomplishment today...so glad you are feeling stronger.

    Those Toms are something else...

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  8. If you're not using the cane, we can go out dancin' in June.

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  9. Glad to see Randy and Pam were able to meet up with you for a visit.

    I'm glad you were shooting those turkeys with a camera and not a gun! Good job.

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  10. You had a very good day I'd say.
    Good to let the cane go now.

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  11. I don't know about you, but length of time doesn't seem to have much to do with the itch to move on. With me.. if we're committed to a place for 1 month, at the end of 1 month I'm ready... if we're committed for 2 months, I don't get restless until the end of 2 months etc. We seldom stay anywhere longer than 3 months and even that's pushing it some. Ahhhh... where did I get my restless nature?

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  12. I have hitch itch right now but not much I can do about it! Glad your recovery is progressing!

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  13. I have more than the "itch"...I have POISON HITCH ITCH....IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE, AND THE CURE ISN'T IN OUR FUTURE JUST NOW...SHOOT!!!

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  14. "Less tolerant of minor irritations", you sure put that very nicely. At the moment I'd say I feel very often like saying @#!$%&*! Yep, time to move on. Three more weeks, yahoo!

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  15. I love the woodpeckers, although they can really destroy a tree! I had a lot of varieties at my NC home.

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  16. Glad to hear you managed so well without the cane ... speaks well of the effort you made to recover from your surgery and get back to life as you knew it before your hip problems got in the way of doing the things you love so much.

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  17. What could they do to you? Fire you? No, worse than that, sentence your to a permanent assignment in the VC.

    Maybe you should hang on to that cane in case one of those Toms gets the wrong idea... ;c)

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  18. I think everyone goes through that "short-timers feeing." Our way of getting ready for the next adventure.

    It's hard to believe you are at the point already where you don't need your cane. Good for you - you worked hard to get to this point. I imagine this will be an easier year for you, without worrying about the pain, etc. that you've had before.

    Love the photos of the Toms displaying their beautiful tail feathers. It must be fun to see in person. :)

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  19. Hitch itch is something I am very familiar with. We are on the road again and have internet again. I love the photos of the toms. We have seen lots of wild turkeys but don't usually get to see the toms in action.

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