Western Chorus Frog survey #1

April 11th 

I didn't believe them! I was sent the email on April 7th, but we just weren't warm enough, it had to be 10 C. They sent another message Monday morning saying that we are opened up for the season across southern and southeastern Ontario. This is the area (see map) where people are surveying through Blazing Star Environmental. Here is the information about the Western Chorus Frog survey. These frogs range from here up to Huntsville, to western Quebec.

After ditch digging on Monday morning, I thought we could take at a bit of a drive. 

Having mapped out the 4 spots, printed off the materials, printed an extra 'incidental' sheet in case we come across some of them at other than assigned sites, we were ready to go. The spot were all fairly close to home, unlike previous years where we were able to take long, lovely drives. [Western Chorus Frog Survey 2021; Frog hunting 2020]

I navigated, and we made it to site #4, first. It was in town, and I was dubious. There was a teeny creek, with a bridge, but the running water was too fast for frogs. 

Site #3 was next. It was even worse. A kind gentleman, coming out of his driveway in his pick up, asked if he could help me. I said we were just doing a frog survey! He said, "OK, you're on your own!" That said, I couldn't find any water!

Site #2 was another bust. No water anywhere near my site marker. 

This was near the beginning of the road, not near the marker.

Site #1 was where I had asked to go, the other sites were assigned. There were froggies chirping!!! I was so happy. Not only that, but I spotted a pair of wood ducks, coyote scat, and beaver damage to the trees around the quarry. 

The first thing I spotted was beaver damage! I don't think there is any running water at the quarry!

This is a vernal pond, and it is where the froggies were singing. The beaver damage was immense.

I walked back to the quarry, JB parked there, and there was litter everywhere. The quarry didn't have any birds at all. 

western chorus frog from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo:

quarry from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo: 

 

To answer your question, re: putting out the garbage, AC: we have a two-bag limit, with a sticker required for additional bags. The yellow bags are specifically for ditch trash, which the local Otty Lake community coordinates. They don't charge us for them and they are free to pick up at the municipal office. I've put out 6 bags in total, but since there was garbage out at the road, I put it out at a neighbour's house rather than dragging it home along the highway. It was picked up an hour later.

Still ditch diving: 6 bags full!

 More ditch diving Monday morning. I filled three more bags, which gives me a grand total of 6. There were the remains of 2 - 3 boxes of 6-bottle packs of beer, strewn across a longish debris field. I was happy they didn't break, at least. Me, either. I didn't fall. There is a lovely slope in the ditches.

Proud of myself, I had to go back down for a Tim Horton's cup chucked there since last week's ditch diving. Just to add insult to injury. I did the ditches in October [Fall chores], and began for Spring cleanup April 4th (my late mother's birthday, 1925 - 2006).

Just as I began, I heard, then spotted the yellow-bellied sapsucker! They are so funny! The males have learned to bang on things to appeal to the females. He usually starts here, then moves to the metal Internet tower. He banged on the shed, as well as the arbour. 

yellow-bellied sapsucker from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The traffic was anxiety-provoking, but I burned on through it. I have to cover my ears, sometimes, or turn my back. Noise is my trigger, and they really burn on through on the highway. Roaring their engines, and passing the larger trucks. 

traffic from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

There is talk of an amalgamation, or an extension of Perth's town boundaries. It might give Perth a bigger tax base. Right now they have a population of 6,000. There are many lakeside communities, with both seasonal residents, and large mansions just outside town boundaries. I don't know what that would mean to our services. We are a small municipality. Our recycling isn't as robust as Perth's, and we cover a larger area, hence the community ditch diving. We shall see!

My other project, Western Chorus Frog survey, began Monday. I could hear them! More on that venture later.

 

The grandies!

 The girls were coming! We made up a menu. Grampa shopped Friday morning. I asked for a ham that would give us leftovers. He went out to the store early Friday morning, and was standing there pondering the really large ham (which he likely couldn't lift) vs. a smaller one. While he did so, someone took off with the large one! He brought home two small ones. What the heck! Ya snooze, ya lose!

I had projects for us to do. When they arrived, they unpacked and we had lunch. 

Wood duck nesting box baffles

Out we went, having donned boots. I know the one wood duck nesting box overhangs the water. Into the wheelbarrow I'd put the baffles, which we were reusing. Some critter, or maybe the trees outgrew them, but I found them ripped off the tree in the fall. It was time to put them on, again. As well as refurbish the wood shavings in the boxes. I added the heavy duty stapler, extra staples, and the hammer, just in case the staples were stubborn.

We paused to listen at the top of the hill, as the wood frogs were singing for love. Once we got there, they all stopped singing. They float on the top of the water, and croak away. Once mating season is done, they'll take off into the woods.

As we worked, the frogs worked up to it again. Apparently, we weren't a threat after all.

Frogpond wood frogs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Giving Josee the camera (I curated 198 photos of hers!), we set to reattached the baffles, and put in fresh wood shavings. 

♪♫♬  If I had a hammer!

Josephine takes the most marvellous close-ups.

Caitlin and I  took the wheelbarrow back up to the house. I thought I might set up the frog pond trailcamera. Anticipating the ducks arrival, I might as well record it. People on the nearby lake have found mergansers checking out their nesting boxes.

 Josee and Isabelle went around the pond to explore in the woods. 

Josee was inspired with the old wire fencing on lot #3.  This is her VIDEO: Embedded wire.

Eventually, we all got back to the house. We took apart my cherry blossom Christmas tree. I couldn't fix it, as much as I tried. Maybe I'll just get some light strings for next year, and drape them.

By the time we went to bed, the spring peepers were singing, as well.

We're boosted!

😷COVID-19 & Omicron

Wastewater COVID–19 rates are still rising in Ontario. Not that they are testing properly. Most of us can only use a rapid test (RAT), and they are stopping handing them out for free at the end of this month. The PCR is much more effective. 

 That said, we are both over 60, and Ontario opened up to giving a 2nd booster (i.e., 4th shot) of the vaccine. Going online, I found our local health unit's portal and signed up. We had it Thursday evening here: 😷Tay River Health Centre, which I watched them build. 

They have built Tay River Healthcare, and are adding buildings to the complex . Perth student artists create masterpieces for Tay River Health Centre. <= They've put student artwork into the building!

We were the last two appointments of the day, they jabbed 45 people Thursday.

In and out,  done in ten minutes! It's a pretty facility.

They are working on Phase 2 of the retirement residence! [🏤LANARK LIFESTYLES]

Friday, we had a robin smash into the window. Often, it's the kestrel or hawk that chase them. I've seen it happen. JB found a box, and we let it rest, it was quite dazed. I went out to check on it, and it looked better. Eventually, it flew off into the sunset.

Saturday the girls came over. More on that later! 

Friday, I set up the water barrels. Also, I popped the seedlings outdoors in the sunshine.

The goldfish pond has melted. Only one dead frog. That is a good thing. I worked so hard on that. I moved 46 frogs to the frogpond in October. [🐸Moving the froggies]

Also, I heard the wood frogs and the spring peepers in the frog pond. Spring is truly here.

Saturday Critters

I am delighted to see the critters out and about. We had a ton of rain on Thursday. This will result in lots more melting, and they warn of high water levels. It means food is much more readily available for the critters, as the snow is nearly gone. 

Walking down by the wetland, I found my first wood frog of the season. Soon they will dominate the frog pond, as they sing for love. Also, it's Western Chorus Frog (WCF) season. Soon they will be calling. We are participating in the WCF field surveys locally. 

You can see the pile of snow, now gone, from where I shovelled the upper deck.

 

Butch raccoon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

All new year (I mean 2022!) we've had 6 turkey hens. A couple of weeks ago, a male came by. Then another. Now we've the 6 hens and 3 toms. They are so much fun to watch. No longer do they have to huddle in the snow and the cold.

They really are a hoot. One runs, then another, and another, FOMO!

wild turkeys from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Cinnamon went out early Tuesday afternoon and would not come in. I went to bed at 10 p.m., and read until 11. I got up and called for him at that time. (At least there aren't many birds about.) However, he did appear on the trailcam at 11:10. Twerp. JB got up to powder his nose, and yelled for him. In he came about 2:30. He was on the trailcam in the backyard around 1 a.m., followed later by (I think) a fox. It's a busy yard.

Cinn & fox from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Of course, there are many mice friends in the night. 

Mice friends from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

For more critters: visit Eileen.