Little baby bovines

Well, we've new calves now. They're a few weeks old at this point, it's been awhile since I've blogged. Three little bulls-to-be. One of them has a white face with black eye-patches. There's another older calf in the field who is growing horns. And I noticed today that the older bull calves are starting to hang out together. When I came and watered the cattle today, the cows and calves moved off and then the bull and the bull calves mosied away. Kinda funny. There's this really funny male/female/family/society relationship to these cattle. It's subtle but downright hilarious once you spot it.

Just today I saw a new-born calf in the neighbor's field. Momma was licking the new calf clean. So small and cute.

One day, I was walking the field and startled this jack rabbit. He rustled and then just sat really still, ears down, watching me. I came over and walked around him, a little bemused that he wasn't running away. It was pretty neat to be able to get such a good view of one. If I'd had an interest in rabbit stew, his survival strategy would not have worked. Luckly for him I just wanted to be friends. Finally, I decided we weren't going to be friends so I mosied on. Funny though.

A few weeks ago, the sky was full of these birds flying north. I think they're Sandhill Cranes. The Great Salt Plain Lake in Cherokee/Jet is an important stop on their migratory route. They have the most peculiar call. It's a kind of cawwing-purr. You can hear it for miles. You'll hear this sound and then see them circling in groups in the sky, riding the thermals, and you'll still hear them after they've disappeared from view. It's neat. They're beautiful birds.

The folks are gone to see Grandma Berta in Grand Rapids this week, so I'm by myself. Yippee!! I'll be doing some recording and getting various things done. I'm looking forward to it.

Spring is here. The weather has been consistently warmer for the past month. I've seen some crocuses in the neighbor's yard a few weeks ago and the trees are starting to think about leafing out. Just a little bit of green on the sky-roots. Grass is coming up in the pasture, enough to add some green to the brown.

Cheers,
mike