New Resident Joins New Island Flock for the Holidays!

       A few of you many have read a post of mine awhile ago about a wayward Antarctic Penguin....well now we have another wayward bird, an Asian Hooded Crane has taken up residence at the wild life sanctuary.

     Normally these cranes are only found in Southeast Asia, China and Japan - and there is much speculation as to what caused the bird to take a “wrong turn” and end up here on New Island.

      According to reports, made by one of the researchers at the refuge, Melinda Alton, he has joined a flock of New Island Lavender Cranes that arrived earlier  in December; to court, nest, lay their eggs and to raise there young here in the refuge. 

          The bird has been spotted since the middle of December 2011 and he has been seen “dancing” for the “local ladies” but so far none of them have been impressed.

         "It's a great thrill," said Sarah Watson, conservation chair for the New Island Ornithological Society and a bird migration researcher, "People are coming in from all over the island to see our newest resident."

She also mentioned that the refuge is currently home to flock of Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes.

If you cannot make the journey to see the cranes in person, check out their WebCam.

Sandhill Cranes

Whooping Cranes with their chick

Memories......

When I was young we had a large extended family - on my father's side of the family - some lived in town and some lived a few miles out of town in the country side.  


Sunday's during the summer we would all gather at Aunt Mary's and Uncle John's house - having a picnic, drinking tea and the adults and kids would play croquet.  


Their house was almost at the time of a hill with a very large yard perfect for playing Croquet......

I always chose the blue ball, yes, folks even way back then I had this attraction to the color blue......


I miss those by gone days .......warm sun, green grass, and just being a kid.......being surrounded by family.