Snowmelt

"Our" Cranes?

I’ve spent the past few days trying to get their sounds down on tape, using my iPhone. When they first arrive from New Mexico for the spring/summer nesting phase they call out for each other a lot. After the courting and mating is done, the eggs need 30 days before hatching so one has to guard the egg while the other goes out hunting.

After the baby or “colt” is born, one always has to be with it or a fox or coyote or stoat/ermine could get it. Oh, there may be two, there were last year but one died. Then after the colt gets its legs sturdy enough to accompany the parents, they go out together, the colt following the mother and the dad as the lookout.

Right now they’re in the dancing stage and no-one’s really settled in yet. The snowmelt is happening as it was nearly 60 degrees today.

Huge Snowmelt

We’ve probably had a record amount of snow this year but in the past two weeks much of it has melted into these mountain valleys; we live at 6,400 feet above sea level. Luckily for the ski resorts we’re still getting snow and they have huge bases this year, well over 100″.

The best news is that I got my car cleaned today! It took four months but it’s clean and in our garage. Here you pay extra for a “bottom blast” that is supposed to get all the salt off the undercarriage (no, not mine!) and it looks decent for a three-minute car wash. I’m a happy gal and now have to finish dinner for my love. Cheers, Dee