SUMMER'S HERE

It was a statement first made in 1911--and it still holds true today.  One picture is worth a thousand words.  The calendar may say "Spring" but we all know better.  Here are some pictures of Lake Manitou taken from Treasure Island on Memorial Day weekend.

A Rare Visit

This swan came by a couple of days ago.  He was just off the point deck.  They are pretty shy when it comes to boating traffic.  We see a lot of them just before the ice forms, and very early in the Spring.  He picked the right time to visit, after a bass tournament and before the pleasure boaters came out.  Hope to see more of him--but we aren't holding our breath.

She's No Dummy

Why yank your own feathers out when you can use some of Daisy's genuine goose down from her old nest?  Here is a sparrow busy with her own nesting plans.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

6 For 6

Shows you what I know.  I never thought the first two eggs would hatch.  They were unattended for at least three hours in 24 degree weather when first laid.  I guess Daisy knew they'd be OK. 

You Know How It Is ...

First born gets all the photographs!  Congratulations to Duke and Daisy.  This was a few hours ago, now there are four--we'll keep you posted.

Shouldn't be Long Now

 

Daisy has been better lately.  She's putting in a lot more time sitting on the eggs.  She is a dramatic departure from Edie, who never left the nest and had a kind of torpor going until the hatch.  Daisy has stayed very active, leaving the nest at least twice a day to chase off other geese or take a dip in the lake.  She's always fussing with the nest--I swear she's built it up two feet higher than when she started.  Soon we will see how things turn out.