Week 21:
This past week, I have assisted the farm crew in working the cows of two of our herds. Working cows was a new experience for me, and I value my increased understanding of the process, the effort it requires, and the techniques needed to herd, cut, and otherwise move the cows around. For the southside cattle, a motley crew consisting of Dr. Tomeček on horseback, Bobby in a pickup, and myself on a 4-wheeler moved the cattle into the pens, and then for both herds, I pitched in on foot as everyone worked to cut the cows from the calves. My job beyond that point involved working with others to corral the cows in groups to a smaller holding pen, then into the lane that leads to the chute, where I kept them moving forward down the lane as each cow was encouraged into the chute to be identified, inoculated, dewormed, re-tagged as needed, and palpated, before being released back to pasture. I also observed and assisted in a similar process wrangling unweaned calves that were then returned back to the herd, leaving the calves heading to sale to be moved into the trailer.
The blue-winged teal (Anas discors) have finally begun arriving these past two weeks, and in response, I started formal waterfowl surveys this week, accompanied by the farm intern, Mike, who has significant experience duck hunting and has lent his expertise to tailoring our approach to each pond to avoid detection and maximize viewing opportunities, as well as assisting me in spotting and identifying any waterfowl present. Including incidental sightings and aside from the teal, I have also spotted a small group of northern shovelers (Anas clypeata), more than a handful of pied-billed grebes (Podilymbus podiceps), a multitude of American coots (Fulica americana), a couple flocks of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) and a single white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) on the wing, as well as a greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) and a Wilson’s snipe (Gallinago delicata) at water’s edge. Mike and I are very much looking forward to greater numbers and increased species diversity of waterfowl and shorebirds as the fall migration progresses, and I anticipate additional opportunities to document and photograph some of the more wary and cryptic species.
Dani Miller
Wildlife Biologist
Stiles Farm Foundation