Friday, October 23, 2015

Boxing Day?

I received an opportunity to spend the day canoeing a river that flows through a local land trust.  This part of the woods is not accessible unless you are invited or part of a canoe or hiking tour.  In this instance "we" had a job to do. 


We had our boxes, hardware, and axe and heavy mallet. 


We had one young person who spent most of her time waiting for us old folks to catch up.


We had to pull the canoes down the bay side of the land trust.  A large sand dune had been thrown up with the last storm and our river was now a temporary lake and we had to carry all the equipment and canoes over the dune.  From a distance we looked like satellite dish repair people or perhaps a unique Cajun band?  I wonder what the gas facility offshore thought.


The river itself had flooded to the edges of the woods and over!  We were able to paddle into places that were usually inaccessible by canoe or by walking.


Hard to believe there was at least 2.5 feet of water for the canoes into the grasslands.  The "cross" you see in the photo below is actually a trail marker when the land is dry.




And then, finally,  we got Wood Duck nesting box number one installed.  No one cut their finger or had the baffle fall on them!  We did not lose any nuts, bolts or screws in the water.  Final step was to add the wood chips shown in photo below.  (Yes, the "1" is backwards as the stencil flipped in the wind when it was being painted.  Children from one of the local schools also added their art.)


It was an adventure and I was glad I was along as photographer and did not own any waders.  You would not believe the number of spiders that attached to those waders when they hit the water.  Every little bug had been flooded out of his/her home.

We got four boxes installed and had to wait on the fifth due to high water.  The paddle home was stupendous.


19 comments:

  1. Very cool, I've yet to see a wood duck in the wild, but they are beautiful, and very interesting.

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  2. Well done, you and your team. That's a great service you provided for the wild ducks. I'm sure they won't mind a back to front number. Can you go back to check if the ducks are using your installations?

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  3. Now that was a good day's work.

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  4. I am so proud of you.

    Yup, home; and yup we delighted in spending 4 days in a one square mile tourist haven and also getting out into the back country. We did a lot of sitting and doing nothing. I read Francis and was amazed at the tourists. Who is going to go to an island in 4 inch high heels. I must be old. I'll put a little album up on facebook later.

    This stuff is marvelous.

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  5. What a cool task. On behalf of the ducks, thank you.

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  6. What a great adventure, and a worthwhile project!

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  7. I didn't know you had another blog. Nest box programs are very interesting and successful.

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  8. Ducks are one of our favorites, i'm glad you went through all of this for them, and hope the water recedes to normal soon.

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  9. This is a very pleasant and useful thing to do. Way to go!

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  10. Great adventure!!
    Wonderful photography!!!
    Seems you all had a splendid time.

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  11. First of all I would like to say I admire your script and header photo. Secondly, you are a real naturalist to get out and work in the grasses and water. I'm sure your photos and work were appreciated by all. -- barbara

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  12. A most worthy endeavor, for certain. And, if they have to wait for the old folks, so be it.

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  13. Sounds like a heavy-duty day of volunteering! We've got some similar nest boxes up here.

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  14. Looks like you had a great day, doing great work.

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  15. Wish I had been with you.

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  16. O love a good photo op too. Yes they looked like tv discs and like the canoe was swimming in the grass.

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  17. What a fascinating thing to do. Love the idea of the Cajun band.

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  18. Super cool project n pretty foliage too!

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Take your time...take a deep breath...then hit me with your best shot.