Wilson: I’m sorry you’re still not feeling well yet. Hopefully this week’s nature views will be a bright spot and interesting at the same time.
Elsa: Something interesting? Hmmm, that would be nice. What do you have, big guy?
Wilson: Well…before Mum moved to Denver years ago, she lived in Monte Vista, Colorado located in the San Luis Valley. At roughly 8,000 square miles, the San Luis Valley is largest high-altitude desert in North America and the world’s largest alpine valley. Every Spring, Sandhill Cranes migrate through the Valley on their way to their northern habitat. And this weekend thousands of birds and tourists will show up to celebrate the 42nd annual Crane Festival at the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge before they continue their semi-annual migration. This weekend will be peak viewing time for some 20,000+ Sandhill cranes in this part of the state. The occasional Whooping crane, Canada geese, cinnamon teal, gadwall, mallards, American Widgeon and American Coot also stop at the Refuge to feed and rest at the Refuge wetlands. These wetlands provide crucial habitat to some 200+ bird species and other wildlife. After wintering near the US/Mexico border, the cranes began to arrive in the “Valley” in early February, feeding on grain and natural grasses in the area. Did you know that cranes mate for life and that every Spring they do their ritual mating dance that includes dancing, bowing, chortling, and throwing tufts of grass in the air. They’ll continue to head north to the far upper Midwest and southern Canada later in the month where they’ll raise their young and then migrate south again in late September.
Elsa: Hmm…that’s pretty cool, but jeez…talk about noisy. I’m guessing the best time to see them is at sunrise and sunset?
Wilson: That’s right. Mum was always intrigued by the cranes at the Refuge when she lived in Monte Vista and she even saw a few Whooping Cranes. She discovered that the wetlands were artificially created and are consistently managed to provide sufficient habitat for the cranes, as well as a plethora of other waterfowl including mallards, pintails, teals, and Canada geese. American avocets, killdeers, white-faced ibises, egrets, and herons can also be found there. The Valley’s two aquifers, together with a network of irrigation canals and wells provide the necessary water that feed the wetlands. Located in a desert valley, and cradled between the snow-capped peaks of the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Ranges near the headwaters of the Rio Grande River, the Refuge was officially established in 1952 as the first national wildlife refuge in Colorado, although plans for it began in the 1940’s. It was named after the nearby town of Monte Vista after the original name (Spring Creek) was deemed to be too common of a name. The Refuge was set aside not only as a haven for migratory birds and resident wildlife, but also as an important conservation effort to protect the wildlife, habitat, and water of the north and eastern portions of the Valley.
Elsa: Part of the fascination about those birds is all the noise they make. It’s definitely a sign that Spring is near when the festival begins. Did you find any local signs that Spring is a little closer to home?
Wilson: As a matter of fact, I did. Mum has been feeling well enough to take me on my walks and we actually found some Spring bulbs in bloom. It was pretty exciting, I tell you. Just check out these reticulated irises and a pussy willow in bloom.
Elsa: Well done, House Pony. I’m impressed. Those reticulated irises are a most unusual color and those pussy willow flowers look so fuzzy and soft. And who doesn’t love the cheerfulness of the first yellow crocuses of the season?
Wilson: I’m very pleased that you like them, Elsa. Thank you.
Elsa: Don’t get excited, dude. I haven’t been out of the house in a month and actually I’m a bit jealous you were able to see some signs of Spring on your walks. I just pray the medication kicks in soon and I stop losing weight. Mom is doing everything in her power to try and entice me to eat but I’m just not interested much and so far, I am staying hydrated but any food just isn’t very appealing.
Wilson: Well both Mum and I just want you back to being the scamp Ninja we all know and love.
Elsa: Thank you, bro. You’re very sweet, in an oafish sort of way way {chuckling under her breath}. Maybe you’re not so bad after all. Here’s hoping you’re seeing pretty signs of Spring in your neighborhood. Have a great weekend.
Wilson: Thanks Ninja…yes, please do have a lovely weekend. I would be remiss if I didn’t remind everyone that the stupid time change thing is happening this weekend so don’t forget to ‘Spring’ forward and set your clocks an hour ahead {grumbling}. Can’t believe I’m going to lose an hour of sleep because we’re still doing Daylight Saving Time. Only Arizona or Hawaii have managed to refuse to make the switch by relying on a loophole in the federal law to avoid it. We suggest you write and call your U.S. Representative since Congress is the only entity who can repeal the Uniform Time Act of 1966 and start applying pressure for them to get rid of it once and for all.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Lulu: “Elsa, we are sorry you’re still feeling under the weather! We send lots of tail wags for you to get better soon!”
Chaplin: “And we cats send lots of purrs!”
Java Bean: “Ayyy, our Dada is also not a fan of the time change. He bought the big thing of half and half this week since he expects to be drinking extra coffee for a while!”
Thanks a bunch guys. We appreciate the well wishes. That stupid DST will likely have us messed up for a couple of weeks. 😬
Mee-yow such beeuteeful Irisess….BellaSita’ss faverite flowerss! Mee lovess THE sunny yellow Crocusess….
Pussy Willowss are all ready openin?? WOW! Wee still locked inn Winter….
An wee gotta due THE Spring forwerd thing two. BellaSita will change clockss tomorrow. If shee does it beefore bed; shee will not sleep well.
Elsa mee sednin tripell POTP am BelllaSita senss purrayerss two! Pleese eat sum! Pleese get well….pleese pleese pleese…..
~~~~head rubss~~~~BellaDharma~~~~ an {{{hugss}}} BellaSita Mum
Thanks, sweet kitty and mum. We appreciate your kind thoughts and comment. 💙
Wee want only THE best fore Elsa an you Miss Monika an Wilson…..Spring can’t get heer an there fast enuff!!
Beautiful signs of Spring dear friends and we continue to send love and healing thoughts your way sweet Elsa 🐾🩷💫 xxx
Many thanks, Xenia. We so appreciate your wellness wishes.
Beautiful photos. I hope you feel better soon Elsa. XO
Thanks. Everyone is pulling for her and spring. Have a good weekend.
Oh, Elsa, we sure hope you will find something really tempting to get you to start eating better. POTP for you…and for your Mom, too, who is still getting over her injuries and some kind of virus…
That must be true most wonderful sight to see all those birds! And to see a Whooping Crane would be on my bucket list of birding!
I saw sandhill cranes here the other day when it was stinking cold, and again today in the midst of a snow shower. Being noisy as ever, but still flying in their symmetrical ways. They are often in the field across the street from us, and there are also quite a few in the grounds of the nursing hime where I work, they often come right up to the windows! A few years ago we went to a gathering site for the Sandhills as they were getting ready to leave for warmer climes.
Loved seeing the blooms…wow, nothing like that here yet!
Thanks, so do I. I’ve never seen her so picky. Sandhills are truly fascinating to watch. I love their mating dance!
Another great nature walk with two of the bestest in the business, and mama of course.
That is a LOT of birds! I can’t imagine the spectacle, but it must be some kind of brilliant. You have been blessed to have lived in some of the most breathtaking spots the country has to offer, Monika. And youse guys have provided us all with some edjumacation, along with the beautiful captures, as per.
Wilson, keep doing what you do. Elsa, rest and feel all the love we’re sending your way. And mama, be well this weekend and know we have you in our thoughts.
Aww, you’re too kind, Marc. The Valley was an interesting place to live in-so isolated…both geographically and socially. Think Yellowstone without the train station. They weren’t all that fond of a young whipper snapper woman business owners. LOL
Thanks for the good thoughts-the Ninja can use them. Wilson is super attentive (read jealous). It’s cold and grey today but should be warming up tomorrow. Yay for sunshine and 50’s.
Yellowstone without the train station, LOL.
Lots of good old boys, huh?
Hugs to all of you.
Very agricultural with lots of good ole boy farmers.
I hear you.
Those cranes sure are amazing! Hey sweet Elsa, I sure hope that medicine kicks in and that you’re feeling lots better super soon.
Thanks, Terry-we keep hoping she’ll get better and begin to eat more. Sandhill cranes are so interesting to observe and their mating dance is super entertaining.
I’m hoping Elsa improves and feels like eating. I’ll be keeping her in my thoughts. Observing those birds must be a thrill. When we lived in Port Aransas we could see the whooping Cranes on their migration path. I still don’t understand Daylight Savings Time.There is plenty of light now, why not leave it alone.
I couldn’t agree more with you about DST. It’s the dumbest thing in that humans are vain enough to think they can manipulate time. It’s been repeatedly proven there’s no savings for years.
Thanks for the well wishes for Elsa. She’s had a rough month and needs some wellness.
The video showing the cranes is fascinating. And the sounds they make are so interesting. Whoopers are so endangered (estimates suggest just around 700 of them in the wild) and when I saw one way back then, I was jumping up and down. Very exciting. Have a great weekend.
It’s nice to see a few signs of Spring. We love seeing the Sandhill Cranes down here during the Winter months…they have such a distinct call when they are flying overhead!
Thanks; we love the sound they make and definitely let you know they’re in the area. Miss seeing them in Denver-when they head northward, they’re too high to distinguish. Have a great weekend.
Wilson, good thing you’re holding everything together around there. Poor Elsa and poor Mom. we’ll keep putting our paws together for both of you. XOXOX Chia, Xena and Lucy (and Amy)
Thanks, guys. My Mum is almost 95% well. Elsa is still coughing but a bit less than earlier in the week. She just needs to eat more since she’s lost so much weight over this past month. Hugs and tail wiggles to you all.
Oh, sweet Elsa, we’re so sorry you still don’t feel well. We’ll send Extra Healing Pawkisses for you to feel better soon and lots of purrayers for you too, sweet girl🙏
That was very impurressive, Wilson. That sound is really something, right😸Double Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend to all of you, hope your mommy is feeling better🙏🐾😽💞
Thanks so much for the extra healing paw-kisses. We all appreciate everyone’s thoughtful and sweet POTP wishes.
Those sandhill cranes are truly something to see (and hear). They can be fairly tall birds (1.0-1.2 m (3.2-3.9 ft), with a wingspan of 1.8 to 2.0 m (5.9 to 6.5 ft). Have a wonderful weekend.
First things first – hope The Mom gets over her pneumonia soon – that’s a tough one and rest is what she needs for sure. HOWEVER, on your walks I was happy to see Spring is trying to spring where you are! Love the purple irises and the photo of the pussy willow almost looks like an emaciated cat paw (don’t tell anyone – especially Teddy) that I said that please! We haven’t seen any signs of Spring yet – but we remain hopeful.
Hugs, Pam and Teddy (yes – I saw that comment about the cat paw and told Mom to remove it but she wouldn’t! )
Mom isn’t the one with the pneumonia-it’s Elsa. Mum’s respiratory issues are about 95% over so that’s good-thank goodness. She was right proper sick last week.
Elsa on the other hand is having a hard time licking this infection and we hope her appetite will improve so she’ll feel better. The early spring bulbs are few and far between so far but when you spot them, they are simply glorious. Tell Teddy it was just an idiom. 😉 Have a good weekend-hope the winds have calmed down and Teddy can get outside to enjoy his domain.
Sending lots of get well wishes to dear Elsa. Thanks for the spring flowers update, Wilson…always a favorite topic, yay Spring! (will send your mom some pics of some sprouting Ranch lupines soon)
Thank you. We are all so ready for spring to arrive. It’s only 31F right now but will be back in the 50’s & 60’s starting tomorrow. Can’t wait to see the sprouting lupines!
hugs and lots of potp for good news from health front… we try to get some weight on neilson too… bit against all odds it works not really like planned… a good weekend to the ranch..
Thank you. Sending loads of POTP for Neilson.
A lovely header…spring on its way.
Poor Elsa, I found with the thugs that antibiotics tend to depress appetite, and it’s a real puzzle to find a good medium. Poached chicken worked if hand fed and with intervals.
Those sand cranes must make a wonderful sight …and sound.
Thanks, Helen. Yes, and this new antibiotic seems to be extra rough on the appetite. The last one wasn’t as bad and it didn’t seem to make much of a dent in her infection. I tried chicken breast first which she has always enjoyed but she too one sniff and turned her nose up. I have tried so many different canned dog foods my house looks like a warehouse. I bought ground beef late yesterday and so far {knock on wood} she’s eaten a few bites of it. But she’ll need a lot more if there’s any hope of gaining weight back. I don’t know how people can afford beef as I’ve been a vegetarian for decades. Talk about sticker shock!
I always LOVED hearing the cranes when they moved through the Valley. Such fascinating birds. Have a great weekend.
Just thinking back, ox kidney stewed and chopped worked for Plush when he was really down after an infection. I think it helps that none of the thugs are normally picky eaters, so even though the antibiotics cut their appetites they weren’t against trying something.
I keep hoping my retirement can endure the high beef prices until she recovers. Nearly $40 for about 2 lbs of ground beef and stew meat yesterday isn’t going to be sustainable. I don’t know how people can afford to feed families beef these days.
Incredible prices! The equivalent here would be about 21 dollars.
I know! I nearly needed to be revived at the checkout line. And both cuts of meat were on special!!
I must admit I tend to look for the ‘specials’ and check the publicity each week. Scots blood will out!
German/Irish/Scot blood here so I know it well. My mom grew up in war-torn Germany during WWII and spent her whole life stretching nickels into dimes. It was one of the best skill sets instilled in her children.
Poor Elsa! She’s been ill a while now. I’m hoping her meds are helping. Gotta love migrating birds. Here the harbinger of spring and fall are the flocks of Canadian geese overhead. It’s really weird though as they live here year round but spring and fall they are flying around.
Thanks, Kate…she really has been through a respiratory war. The twice a year migration of birds is generally driven by the instinct to mate and to find adequate food sources for their offspring. It’s astounding the lengths they will go to do it.
Manga, Ninja! You need to keep your strength up, we’re rooting for you! xo
Thousands of cranes must be a sight to see, but I’m not sure I’d feel the same about thousands of humans. 😉
Thanks for the get well wishes. I hope I can find food that she’ll actually eat! It truly is a sight to see all those cranes and they likely will outnumber uprights. 🤞🏼
Enjoy the weekend.
I do hope Elsa starts feeling better! Nice job there Wilson. Love those sandhill cranes – I follow another blogger who lives in the Albuquerque area and he shares so many photos and videos of them. Must be so cool to see them a-courtin’!
Love your signs of spring! I am très jealous. We won’t be seeing nuthin’ for at least three weeks…maybe.
Glad to hear you are feeling better, Monika!
Thanks, Dale. The upper respiratory issues she’s had for a month now have been very vexing, and it’s become quite a process getting her to get her to take the meds. She’s always been good about taking her anti-seizure pills but now she will no longer eat take the pill pockets I make. Yesterday I bought some ground beef and stew meat to see if they might entice her. Egad…I have no idea how people can afford meat these days. Talk about sticker shock! 💰 💰 💰
I can only imagine. Poor things – both of you!
I know, right? When I go get a “few things” and only stuff that’s on special and my bag is barely full and it cost $40… Ouch.
I spent nearly that much on a lb. of stew meat and a a lb. of ground beef. Eek (and both were on ‘special’ too)! Holy cow {pun intended}.
Bloody hell…
I can’t even comprehend how to feed kids beef this day and age!
Lordy. I made pulled pork the other day (sorry, still a meat-eater) and it was a cheap cut but still cost $20 – however, I gave some to each of my kids, especially my daughter as she is broke as hell.
Groceries are sky high anymore. When you’re on a fixed income, it’s even more noticeable. I saw eggs for nearly $9 a dozen recently!! Jeez, I need to turn my house into a hobby farm just to survive. And it’s gonna get even worse with the insane tariffs being imposed by that 🤡 imbecile.
$9!!! GTFO! Don’t get me started with the tarrifs. They will hurt you as much as us. EEJIT 🟠🤡💩
They already are. Gas went up nearly 30 cents in 1 week.
And the $9/dozen was the cheapest I found (lots of empty coolers, too) . Saw one brand tag priced at just over $12! Even that one didn’t have much supply. And this is a metropolitan city. I can’t imagine how small & rural towns are coping.
Jesus.
I bought eggs at $4.08 at Walmart yesterday – not that I usually shop there – especially now – but I was in the vicinity and looking for a doorbell!
Needless to say, these are not free-range or anything of the sort but jeez…
They’ve been up and down too, presuming there are any in stock. You need to be Wall St. wizard to keep up with grocery and gas prices anymore. I saw that Costco had some similarly priced in the ‘economy size’ (2 dozen bundled together) for about the same with a strict limit of 3 packs. I was flabbergasted at the number of people who took 3 packs. It’s toilet paper all over again. I swear we are the stupidest people on earth!
It really is like watching the friggen stock market! I swear. As for buying packs of three – I used to when the kids were at home. Those two eat two per day every day.
Being able to afford eggs has started to look a lot like entering the sports betting world. It’s all about how much risk adversity can one afford.
No kidding! What a crazy world we live in.
Geez, Elsa, we sure hope you shake this thing soon. It is way too long to be ill! The time change is so ridiculous and every time it changes everyone wants to settle on one time and not change again but then the idea gets lost, ugh! Humans and their silly things. Have a good weekend even if it will be missing an hour.
Thanks. It’s been a month since this all started and it’s taking a hard toll on this senior girl.
You’re right, humans are so easily distracted and move on when their attention is diverted. Hope you received enough snow to enjoy the weekend.
Thanks for trying to raise Elsa’s spirits, Wilson. You’re a good brother. We all hope she gets well soon. We have Canada geese flying overhead, but not in the numbers you’re talking about. I didn’t know anything about that refuge, and I was happy to learn. Thanks! It’s really good to see humans caring about the critters we share this planet with.
That Refuge is truly an amazing place and when it’s filled with this prehistoric looking creatures, there’s just nothing like it. I loved their calls-they are not shy about making lots of noise. Thanks for the well wishes for Elsa. Poor thing, I’m really worried about her since she’s lost so much weight this past month. Have a good weekend.
So sorry Elsa isn’t improving much. I hope the new meds bring her healing relief.
Thanks, I’m pretty much at my wits end trying to help her get better. This has been a particularly stubborn infection. Hope everyone is recovery out your way. Have a good weekend.
Love your new watercolor header!
And I love, love, love sandhill cranes! We couldn’t get down to the SLV this year, but I’m going to next year.
And I hope Elsa get to feeling better soon. Pneumonia is a long road to recovery
Thanks, Amy-this pneumonia infection has been very stubborn but her cough is a little better. The biggest concern now is making sure she doesn’t waste away-she’s lost too much weight so far.
Reticulated irises are sooo striking! I cannot sing the praises of seeing those cranes. They are truly an amazing sight.
Poor Elsa. I sure hope she starts improving soon. It has been a long haul for her. Glad to here that you’re doing a bit better. We have a refuge here in PA that the snow geese stop at as well – thousands of them. Quite the sight. But with the avian flu issues this year they are asking folks to keep well back and away from the usual spots…very sad.
Thank you-we’ve got our paws crossed she starts to feel better soon. There’s nothing quite like seeing some 20,000+ birds doing their thing. Sandhill cranes are almost dinosaur like in appearance. It’s surprising the festival didn’t caution again avian bird flu but hopefully there’s a safe perimeter for people to be able to watch them doing their mating dance and taking flight in large numbers. I’d never seen anything quite like it. Have a good weekend.