Camp Stranded update, April 9, 2013

Spent 12+ hour days for the last six weeks on a project to receive a nominal pat on the head.

I'm glad spring is here so I can get work done at Camp Stranded.

So far, something to control the sediment in the pond:

I was able to squeeze some additional work in this past weekend and visit with some squatters:

I'm lining up work for this weekend, including but not limited to getting the equipment ready for spring, transplanting some red cedar trees, and battling multi-flora rose. I pulled out a 6 foot honey locust on Sunday and only jabbed myself twice, so I'm optimistic with the rose.

Between the meadowlarks and red wing blackbirds, it was hard to hear much else, but I have something moving into the bluebird boxes. Probably crappy sparrows.

April, May and June are lining up to be very busy on the work front. I'm hoping I get a chance to spend time at the Camp.

Camp Stranded Update - Bluebirds on my shoulder

I've caught hell for this but I built a birdhouse for my wife and gave it to her for Christmas. In fact, I built two bluebird boxes while #1 and #2 sons built one each.





 

The Mrs. loved them but her friends thought of me as a cheapskate (which is true). They have other words to describe me, but this is a PG blog.

Why did she love these? We built these with our own hands, no store bought fancy-house will grace the confines of Camp Stranded. If we can only get one pair of birds to nest, the thought having those little song birds singing will brighten up the place. That's why she appreciated a gift that will hopefully bring some joy down there during our visits.

We put them up last weekend as I'm hoping they will get aired out by the time they go house hunting in March. Two out of cedar and two out of pine and I coated them with linseed oil to protect them from the elements. I used two clamps through slots on a facing board to attach to steel posts that we put in the open and facing a tree to roost on after leaving the nest. Then I mounted the box to the facing board.

Will we get some boarders? I hope these are inviting to any newcomers to the area and with different woods and locations, I'll have a good idea of what works. We can add more boxes next year, but I better have something different for the Mrs. at Christmas.