Cowbird Control

One of the things we got involved with while at Wichita Mountains NWR, was helping with cowbird control in the special use area.  We ran twelve traps with only two traps being outside the special use area.  This took us about four hours to complete the circuit.  This we enjoyed doing very much as those birds lay their eggs in other birds nest, then leave for others to take care of.  Their birds hatch and are so aggressive, they get all the food, grow faster, to the detriment of the good birds...like the Black-capped Vireo!

Quinton went out with us the first day to orient us to the area and show us how to do it.  This is the map where the traps are located and named for the location in which it is placed.

I think Quinton is laughing at Wallace's first attempt at catching the bird.  It was quite funny.  There is a "catch box" in the upper corner where the birds fly into making them easier to catch.  We try to keep 3 males and 2 females in the trap at all times to lure other birds into the trap.  We supply fresh water every day and make sure there is enough sunflower seed for them to eat.

The extra birds are put into this box with compartments and air holes, then they are distributed to other traps.  If we have an excess amount, they go into a holding pen for later use.

Now it's my turn.  The trouble is, I'm a little too short but.....

Ah, success is mine.

Break time, as I show Quinton a new bird for him.  A Dickcissel that was singing so loudly we could hear him from the truck.

This day we had a Yellow-headed Blackbird which I quickly released.  These are rare in this area!!!

This day we were greeted by the horses looking for a hand out.  There are several horses on the refuge that are used for corralling the longhorns and bison for auctioning off.

A look at the box with the compartments.  This was our last day of work at this refuge until we return in September and October.

The Basket Flowers were just starting to bloom!!!

Just a couple of landscapes taken in the special use area of the refuge while making our rounds. This is Gramma Lake.

We were introduced to Sand Plums.

I will sign off with one of my favorite photos in front of our rig!!!

Until next time...

Birthday Dinner

This is Joe and his wife Tina.  It was Joe's birthday and we were invited out to celebrate this occasion.  Joe is the head maintenance man here at this refuge.  He moved here from Santa Ana NWR where we worked with Joe there.  Check out the shoes...Michael Jordan no less!!!

  
Los Tres Amigos...Mexican food.  Here are their three male friends and in the next photo are these three male friends.

Russ and friend Beth planned this evening, and what an excellent choice.  I had the chiles rellenos and it was DELICIOUS.  Poblano peppers are tasty.  No photo of the food, as I just dug in!!!

Here's Joe enjoying a birthday sopapilla with a drizzle of strawberry and whipped cream.  I told him he looked like the general turned bandit, Santa Ana.  Joe kept us laughing all night.  He is from New York and he has always called me "Motha." 

Here is Joe in his own sombrero.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE!!!  We had a wonderful evening out, with friends.


Until next time...

Texas Longhorns

My name for this one is "Pretty Lady."  My favorite.

Small head.....BIG body.

This one I named Freckles.

This is Stalactite.

This is Notch.

The refuge keeps the herd at around 300, so this is just a few to show you today.  There are no steers left on the refuge, therefore, no really large horns.  Some will be auctioned off later this year.

Just Goofing Around

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

The parting of the "boulders".

Oh no, I'm falling over the ledge!!!

"Here I am".

Sealed with a kiss.  This is "Heart Rock".  A very short trail will take you here.  The slab of granite reminds me of Enchanted Rock in Texas.


Until next time...

One Week Left

Our time here is coming to an end with only one week left before our next refuge, Arapho NWR in Walden, Colorado...the COOL country.  It's so wonderful we are able to do this sort of thing.  A new refuge in one of our favorite states.  When our boys were out of school for summer vacation, we would always go tenting in Colorado (all places west of interstate 25).


Some of the "jobs" we have done here at Wichita NWR.

Leading Family Hikes.  I'm sure glad one of the friends members just happened to show up today as we had a total of 41 people and I was glad to have his help.  We had one group of 19, mostly little ones.  Here we are at Prairie Dog Town after our hike on Elk Trail.  Only one mishap...one little boy fell into the only prickly pear cactus on the trail.  He was a trooper though.

Being roving rangers.  This is on top of Mt. Scott.  The fellow in this photo had just dropped his camera between the boulders.  Wallace took our litter grabbers down to him so he could retrieve it.  Mount Scott is on the refuge and stands over 2400' with many beautiful views from the top.  We drive around visiting with the visitors, answering questions, etc.

Keeping all five brochure boxes filled.  Each road entrance into the refuge has one of these for our visitors.

Given the keys to drive on refuge roads that are closed to the public.  That's Wallace waving behind the shrubs.  We are driving Burma Road this day getting acquainted with the refuge.

And then there was the painting of the trail signs!  The large ones as well as the little ones you see on the left.  Thumbs up because we completed this assignment after hiking a total of about 22 miles to do them all.  These signs are mostly on the Dog Run Hollow National Recreation Trail which includes Bison, Elk, and Longhorn Trails with each of those trails having the little ones with the sign depicting which trail (animal) you are hiking.  This was more my project with Wallace carrying all the supplies in the bucket.  We also painted the signs on the Kite Trail.  We should have counted all those signs, but that requires hiking it all over again which we are not willing to do at this time!!!

Giving biology a helping hand.  More about this later.  This is out in the special use area, an area closed to the public except for special tours.  Example, the Bugling Elk Tours in September.

Last but not least, working in the visitor center where one and a half million visitors a year are greeted and introduced to the refuge.  We will have worked a total of  310 hours during our stay here.


Until next time...

Little Baldy Continuation

I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN!!!  I used to think I could move mountains, not any more!!!

We are getting closer.

Wallace, taking in the view.

Now I am at the top and Wallace is saying "I'm not going up there".  I will say it was VERY windy and he gets a little spooked with heights.

Here I am..."Queen of the Mountain".  Ha.  He did finally join me.

Caught in a compromised position!!!  We didn't have our tripod and wanted to get a photo using the timed setting.  What a hoot!!!  I just bet that has never happened to you.  Oh well...

We treated ourselves to a buffalo burger and coconut cream pie at a little restaurant called Ann's.  It was delicious.

Until next time...

Hike to Little Baldy

The little rock rise in the background is Little Baldy, and that is our destination for this hike.  It is only .8 mile with an elevation change of 200'.


The trailhead starts at Quanah Parker Lake where there is a small parking lot.  You can see the stairs going down to cross over the dam.  Quanah Creek is behind the dam.

The trails are laid with crushed granite.

We have walked a ways...you can see our truck and the visitor center in the top right of the photo.


I keep getting shut down...will try to finish tomorrow.


Until next time...