#6

 From Raptor Resource Project;

We're sorry to let everyone know that six didn't make it. In reviewing the footage, it appears the gosling hit a branch on the way down and suffered a severe spinal injury. We can remove logs and dead wood from the bottom of the tree, but we can't do much about large living limbs and we aren't going to discourage nesting in N2B. Five out of six goslings survived the jump. This translates to a survival rate of 83%, which is higher than average. It is sad to lose one gosling - really sad! - but the geese we're watching benefit as a whole from nesting on high.

The rest of the family has left the nest area, but new geese are looking at N2B. We've seen them in the nest, floating below the nest, promenading up the stream, and foraging on the grassy banks on each side of the creek. We think that these might be the same geese that challenged HD in N1: of course HD eventually got annoyed and chased them away. We'll see what happens and if we can determine where the parents and goslings went after the leap of faith!

So often our birds make choices that seem incomprehensible to us, but they know their lives better than we do. For you, the broken-hearted nest watcher, I quote Kaeli Swift: “Please, rather than shutting down those deep feelings you have for wildlife…lean into them. Teach your friends and neighbors and children to feel those deep feelings. Because it’s from that space that we can do best by wildlife…”. Thank you so much for taking this journey with us. If you'd like to read Kaeli's blog, follow this link: https://corvidresearch.blog/.../a-letter-to-the-broken.../

Leap of Faith

 This morning once mom got around the 6 leapt out of the nest, unlike last year it went pretty quickly. One jumped off the back and was missing for a bit but finally made it's way to the water.  While he kept trying to catch up the current kept sweeping him back.  Boots on the ground caught him and the vet said he had a paralysis of some sort probably due to the fall and landing wrong.  He is in good hands now and the other 5 are busy swimming with mom and dad. 

About Time

 The geese are back on N2B at Decorah and today the first gosling hatched.  Remember last year they just jump out of the nest, so tomorrow or the next day they will start jumping.  4/6 made it last year and we watched the last one frantically try to find a place to jump. I know I kept talking to him to just go but nope he kept running around the nest.  I hope I get to see them jump.  Good luck little goslings, there are 6 again this year.

Missed But Never Forgotten

 

Missed but Never Forgotten...

Dad Decorah - April 18, 2018

April 18, 2018. Who could ever forget that tragic day? Day light had come, and it was time for Dad Decorah to come and give Mom a very much deserved break, but it wasn't to be. Mom Decorah started calling out for Dad but as we all watched in horror, Dad wasn't responding, and he was not being seen in the camera's sight.

The morning went on and the day went on and still no Dad. Mom Decorah's calls were heartbreaking... Mom & Dad Decorah had 3 eaglets on N2B, D29, D30 & D31. D29 hatched, 4-4/01/, D30 hatched, April 2 & D32 hatched, April 4, so they were not very old at all when Dad never came home. Night fell and we were all in shock...

Morning came and still no Dad. Mom's call was gut wrenching and she had called so much for Dad she had gotten hoarse.  People were coming in to town to search for Dad too. The whole weekend people   searched high and low for him. They walked on foot all around the nest area, drove by car searching for him even up the Upper Iowa River and there was a Drone Search on Sunday. Everyone in Decorah was searching for Dad Decorah. But there was never a trace found of Dad Decorah....

 There was a terrible snowstorm coming and Dad Decorah stocked the Pantry excessively. It snowed for a couple days, and Dad stuck by Mom and kept the babies fed, dry and warm and when the storm was over Dad left on his own accord. He had made sure that Mom and the babies made it through the snowstorm okay and now it was time to go.

 

 

If you were watching the nest that evening Dad came in and stocked the pantry for mom, he huddled with her so lovingly guarding the babies from the storm.  He looked like he was so tired.  I know we will never know what happened but we all know animals will go off and die alone.  I believe dad knew it was his time and so he spent one last time with his family and told Mom goodbye.  

 

We will always remember that awful day.  Mom has a new male and they have moved out of sight, people often see them so we know she is still around.  Perhaps she just could not stay at the nest without dad.  Soar high Dad Decorah, the world misses you.  

 

New Outfit, Happy Easter, and Frame

 I got a new outfit for Spring sure is better than all that green.  I love the yellow and all the other colors and the shawl feels good cos it is still cool out.

I got the Easter Bunny outfit going and my April rug is back.  Next year I hope the bunny outfit gets expanded a bit but right now the house is being worked on. 

The frame is put together and the first floor walls are in along with the ceiling.  I heard a lot of swearing this afternoon as the paper that was picked out does not go with the floor and so back to the store with samples to match to get it right this time.  

So my dresser put the walls and ceilings in to see how much room there was and start placing furniture in to see how much room there will be for other things.  

First floor from left to right:  kitchen, dining room, half bath, and elevator.  Second floor from left to right:  bedroom, full bath, laundry room, and elevator.  Third floor:  living room w/fireplace, craft room, half bath, and elevator.

There is a ton of work to do and once the walls and floors are in things will go quicker.  Most furniture has been purchased but a bed and sofa will need to be made and the bathroom tub and toilets will need to be made.  

The new goal is to have this done mid September for my birthday instead of year end. I know my dresser is tired of working on this but no turning back now.

Stay tuned for more progress.

RIP DH1

 I have not watched the Decorah nest because the original pair is no longer there.  A new pair moved into the N1 which was the original nest from Dad Decorah.  The new female laid 2 eggs and the first one hatched a couple of days ago.  Today we find it passed.  Do not know why but it sucks all the same.  Here is hoping the other egg survives and lives a long time.  Soar high DH1.