Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Resuming our Regular Broadcast


Down the Road from Dogpound

We are missing our four legged family members but I thought I might update you a little on the other things that are happening around Dogpound North. My Mom is bearing down on three months of self-isolation in her home, she is 90 and that puts her amongst the high risk folks although for the most part she is healthier than most 50 year olds. I talk with her most days and her grandchildren keep pretty close tabs on her as well so she is not running short on supplies. Matt, my son, runs a bi-monthly trip to Costco to reprovision all of us with the necessities that that business usually provides to us. We used to buy most of our meat from them but recently we have been trying out a local ranching operation, Long Run Ranch,  and their meat is every bit as good as Costco's, no more expensive, and I would rather keep the money in the neighbourhood if that is possible. Costco like most big operations gets most of its beef from Cargill south of Calgary, but this is even closer to home.

Our home province of Alberta has fared fairly well throughout this pandemic. Our stockpile of masks, ventilators and all the other paraphenalia that we are hearing other jurisdictions are running low on are adequate, in fact so much so that we are sending stuff to other provinces that are not so fortunate. Folks have been self-isolating and at this moment in time we are in the midst of phased re-opening of the economy. Small businesses like hair dressers and the such as well as restaurants are re-opening although with some restrictions on crowds. I don't imagine the airlines or travel business are seeing much traffic and it is hard to imagine that they will anytime soon. People are getting pretty handy at "Zoom" and other meeting software so I actually think there will be a shift in how people work, less travel, less office time, and if the reports are correct, more productivity.

Our schools up here are closed and have no plans to re-open until the fall, so kids are being home schooled with the assistance of their regular teachers online and of course their parents where they are able. Even my band teaching son is running his classes online.

So although normal is different now that in the past, we are seeing more and more people masked up when they are out and about, but after seeing that some countries where masking was a common occurence are coming through this wave with less severe economic impacts maybe, just maybe, we are figuring out that if you wear a mask you probably need measurably less severe restrictions to deal with the corona virus fall out.

But enough of that, I am getting out and about most days of the week and enjoying the spring migration as the birds go through here on their way to the northern parts of Canada where they typically nest. We are seeing many more varieties than is typical, but that is the opinion of a decidely unknowledgeable birder so I am just enjoying shooting them......with my camera. For folks who don't want to be inundated with pictures of birds or my Facebook fans, who have already been subjected to these photos, this is a good time to sign off.
Mallard Drake and yes he is really that colour.

A cute little Chickadee


Yellow-headed blackbird

A pair of Ring-necked ducks

Great Horned Owlets, we're watching you human

American Kestrel

A goose family out for a swim.


Cowbird


Great Grey Owl

Green-winged Teal

Rufous Hummingbird stopped by for a portrait

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

For the moment my favourite duck, the clowns of the pond, a Ruddy Duck

Baltimore Oriole

Mallard Drakes in Flight


13 comments:

  1. Fantastic pictures but I especially love your chickadee. People here in AZ are not really interested in wearing masks. We wear them but are in the minority.

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    1. We wear ours anytime we are in places where we might run into other folk. Once you get used to it, I forget it is even on.

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  2. Pictures are really,really good. In the Northeast US masks and social distancing are the rule for those out and about.

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    1. I think masking up will become the new normal.

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  3. You once again have some great photos there John. Keep up the good work, don't let the gophers run off with your hat and keep your stick on the ice.

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  4. Those guys will soon be out of the nest and joining the rodent eradication program here at Dogpound North

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  5. Glad to hear that everyone in your neck of the woods are keeping Safe and not spreading the Virus.
    Great Pictures of the Birds John. We sure don't see all of them around here. Too Industrialized.
    Be Safe and Enjoy the warmer temperatures.

    It's about time.

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  6. We're definitely going to see some 'new normals' around the country for sure. Good to hear you guys are doing well.
    Great bird pictures John. I guess I'm too noisy. The birds seem to disappear ahead of me. Even the telphoto lens can't bring them in close enough. Great job!

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