May 13, 2017. Birding, Sandhill Cranes and a Solitary Goose.

May 13, 2017.  Birding, Sandhill Cranes and a Solitary Goose.   Yesterday, I mentioned the birders in the campground.  They are here watching the various varieties of warblers that are here to eat the lake flies.  The man holding the camera with the super lens in the first picture is Dick Powers. He is a retired navy pilot who has taken official photos of the Blue Angels in the recent past. He says he has spotted 25 different varieties of warblers. He says there are 35 total varieties.  I don't know, so I'll take him at his word.

We talked for a few minutes as Annie and I were readying for a walk.  He was interested in Harvey the RV.  I actually gave him a price at which I would sell Harvey.  He is from Omaha and mentioned that it would be easy for him to pick up Harvey in Kansas City.  He said that he might bring his wife back to take a look.

What if he does?  What if she likes it and they decide to accept my price?  It wouldn't be the end of the world.  Annie and I have talked about renting vacation homes instead of RVing around the country.  I wouldn't bump my head in a vacation home.  The bed wouldn't be cold when we got in it.  I wouldn't have to handle a sewer hose and keep the water tank filled.  I wouldn't have to unhook and Annie wouldn't have to pack things away before we drive three miles to shop or eat.  Travel would be cheaper because gas is cheaper than diesel and fuel mileage is better in a car than an RV.  No, it wouldn't be the end of the world.  If he returns, I'll let you know.

We saw a couple of sandhill cranes on our walk.  I have a friend in Milwaukee who set up a foundation for the preservation of sandhill cranes.  The foundation has spent millions on research and preservation.  He tells me that they finally concluded that Wisconsin isn't the best place for them to spend their money. The weather is inhospitable as is the terrain.  The foundation is now focusing its efforts in Oklahoma. The two cranes depicted above evidently don't know that.  They seemed content enough right here in Wisconsin.

The girls will remember that I narrated a choir performance in our hometown where one of the lines was, "There, against the deep blue sky was a goose, a solitary goose."  I think we found him today. There was a Canada goose resting in the still water of Lake Michigan.  He didn't move.  He looked so lonely.  Geese mate for life.  If something happens to one, the other will find another mate, usually in the same mating season.  I wondered what happened to the mate of this solitary goose. Mating season is nearly over.  Soon, it will be molting season when his feathers replace themselves.  He won't be able to fly for 4-6 weeks.  I hope he is not alone all that time.  Don't you?

We saw an interesting tree on our walk.  It had two distinct mushroom platforms on its trunk.  That's odd.  Mushrooms grow in dark and damp areas.  The tree trunk is high and dry.  It enjoys sunlight daily.  Why and how did mushrooms grow way up there?  Tell me if you know.  I am curious.

That's all.  Goodnight.