Fishing Opener 2011

 I only have a few minutes....am going to Minneapolis, today, to hang out with Jennie.  It's my Mother's Day weekend with her.  Jack is in Phoenix at a birthday/farewell bash for one of his closest friends who is moving to Thailand.  Yes, I said Thailand!  Forever.

He and Jack have been friends since they were eight years old.  Michael's mother was their Cub Scout Den Mother.  I'm quite sure it will be a bittersweet weekend for them.  We don't see Michael very often...maybe once a year...but he's very special to us and we wish him well.

On another note, I think the Mama Wood Duck is sitting on her nest.  Yesterday I woke up late (6 a.m.) and I thought I'd missed out on the morning's activities.  So I made a pot of coffee, got the newspaper and sat out on the porch to read the paper.  Jack came out about a half hour later and just as he entered the porch he said, "Look!"

The two wood ducks flew by and as if they were in formation, he flew off to the left while she flew right into the nesting box!  I waited about 20 minutes and she never did appear so we've concluded that all the eggs have been laid and now she's incubating them. 

A few minutes later we saw two of the males gliding along the shoreline.  They were probably comparing notes - ha!

Thursday morning we saw four of the drakes together on the lake.

So we'll have to be vigilant because she will leave the nest twice a day...once in the morning and once in the evening...so she can eat.  And her partner will be right there with her.

If I'm lucky enough to get a shot or two, I'll be sure to post them.  But don't hold your breath...it's going to take more luck than skill, I'm thinking.

And I'm not entirely sure what effect having the fishing boats will have on their routine.  I do hope they aren't disturbed.  I'd love to post a sign at the end of our dock...."Quiet...nesting wood ducks!"