Breaking the ice...

Monday~ the house is back to my territory again; just me and the two little ones. It's a day to catch up with snuggles, (now that I'm their favorite again with Daddy back to work) feed the toddler cheeseballs, and spoil myself with a Southern delicacy leftover from the weekend...Brunswick Stew. The birds have been very active this morning, trying to recover some of their energy spent keeping warm last night. 5 O'clock Charley has been making his appearances every day, so we know even he's made it thru these below zero temperatures. The mystery hawk - enormous with white undercarriage - is still flying up and down the riverway a couple times a day. Unfortunately, I typically only get a glimpse as he's flying out of range. It's got to be just a plain old simple Redtail.... I'd just like to get him nailed down for sure.

With these below zero temperatures again, C. had to go back out on the river and break open some spots again for the wildlife to have access to water. I guess historically, there would have been enough deer and other larger fauna (wolf packs hunting deer) and even bison running around these valleys to keep some of the ice open in spots enough for the occasional watering hole for wildlife. Now a days, the aerators on ponds work - but really seem to change the feel of the landscape. We don't really wish to interfere with nature to that extent - just help it along. Fill in the gap in the ecosystem not being provided for and perform some of the 'gaps' functioning.... ???Make sense???

Ok, did you realize that the whole landscape and appearance of our prairies have changed because we don't have bison running/herding any longer? Even in the small percentage of restored prairie areas, we should have bison 'wallows' that catch and collect rainwater - and form a prairie pothole or pond. You end up with a wetter spot on the prairie, wetter veg grows - different varieties of plants emerge, greater diversity - stronger community/ecosystem...that attracts greater insects and on up the food chain.... So, by removing ONE ingredient from the recipe (if you will) you change the whole face and health of the landscape..... So goes it with the river - the bison would have kept a watering hole open that the birds and other wildlife would have used as well. So, to make a long story even longer. C. goes out and opens the river in a couple of spots every other day or so just to give the birds and other small animals a place to come in and drink. Check out the pict's...
The birds are loving it! We've also had fox, red and grey squirrels and even a mink using his water holes. The deer, fox, (cat, of course...) and coyote have also found them and make them part of their nightly rounds. The overwintering Robins have been spotted every morning on their feeding run thru the river valley, stopping and feeding in the hackberries, bathing and drinking. I'd love to know why they are bathing in this freezing weather. If anyone out there knows more about birds than I do - I know birds bathe to keep their feathers groomed, to keep mites down, and to cool off... but it's below freezing! Why...and how.... are they bathing and not freezing their little legs off? One of these days, I'm expecting to find all these little bird legs lined up and frozen, stuck in place around the ledge of my feeders from where it's gotten too cold for them and they just snapped off. Lego birds. Or, maybe it would be Lego-less birds....