Summer weather!

 Tuesday, it felt like summer, not spring! Wednesday it poured rain. I had to take a photo for evidence!

😷COVID-19 

Things have been creeping up in Ontario. Ontario has a new COVID variant of the BA.2 variety. There is now a BA.4 and BA.5. Many workplaces are having issues getting staff. Teachers, in particular, are not allowed to tell their students they are away with COVID. This is just wrong.

In an interview with Mark Fisher, trustee at Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), he said the following. In the 6th wave: OCDSB voted to reinstate masking for all – 8 in favour, 1 opposed, 3 abstensions. They have the authority according to the Education Act, and Occupational Health & Safety Act. 

• 75000 students in OCDSB,
• Ottawa health officer supportive of a temp mask mandate in schools,
• lots of people are still wearing masks,
• levels in wastewater is high,
• need a safe working and learning environment
• CHEO had over 100 staff absent Tuesday from COVID-related issues,
• Fisher's daughter's classroom closed twice last week.
• Supported by ETFO, and OSSTF.

🍃seeds grow

I put the squash, pumpkin, and zucchini outdoors. The sun moved quickly, and I had to switch the container to the front deck. Bob V guarded them.

The warmth and sunshine brought out the snakes. Cinnamon found a 60 cm Northern Ribbon Snake. Nutmeg had to inspect it, too. I grabbed him, and put him inside the house. We were in and out so often, that the cats slipped out the door as we went through.  Dang.

Nutmeg found another snake, same species, about an hour later. I couldn't catch her, but I moved the snake elsewhere. They are a lovely colour, with a rust coloured band that distinguishes it from a garter snake with more yellow.

Joseph Brian and I went down to the frogpond to check out the trailcam. We saw our turkey friends, we're at 6 hens and 3 toms, still. A couple of them flew away, seeing us as risky threats!

I've decided to go with non-renewable batteries in the trailcam for the duck season. The rechargeables I have are taking less time to recharge, and last a shorter period of time. With the energy it takes, going up and down the hill, back down to readjust it, I just want to save energy.

I took two photos of the frog pond, and spliced them together, just for fun. It was raining yesterday, and it was an enjoyable effort.

The wood frogs are amazing. Masses of wood frogs. I am sad to see the pond covered in natural phragmites. It won't be a problem with the frogs, but I'm not sure about the wood ducks. The last time this happened, the muskrats took over, and cleared out the clutter. I'm not sure we've enough water in it for them to raise a brood. The spring peepers were quite quiet, until the evening. 

We have had at least one duck in the nesting box. They have made a nice round nest shape in it. I peeked in and felt around. The nesting box is on the right, the other one just off the video frame on the left. You can see the baffle we reinstalled Saturday.

The video is a practice one. I continually have to readjust it to find the sweet spot. You can only see the shadow of the duck on the left side of the video, but you can hear it.

 

ducks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The wood frogs are quite loud, despite about a 10 C. temperature yesterday. Western Chorus frogging is out for today, as it is raining.

 

wood frog chorus from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.