Meet the Granddaughters

Here are my granddaughters. The girls are making a good point--water brings joy to any occasion. I've never known a grim face on the lake or around a sprinkler. This picture is courtesy of their mother, Liane.

New Arrivals

It's that time of year. We've had our longest day, and here are the new ducklings--hatched on that day. Momma duck was busy feeding herself at the mulberry tree. The pictures of nests are normally done balanced on one leg with the arm out-stretched. Not exactly conducive to a quality shot--but you get the picture (bad play on words here).

PS: Two hours later: We find Mrs. Duck walking her brood out on the sea wall. I was surprised she didn't take the little ones down the boat ramp. Instead, she jumped the considerable distance off the sea wall to the water--and the little ones followed without hesitation. They didn't form a line--but formed a crescent off of momma's tail feathers. She moved at a furious pace and the little ones kept up--I'm sure they appeared as one large creature to anything lurking below or above. We'll cross our fingers.

THE LAKE IS OPEN TO VISITORS

We have the following from the powers that be (Max Borden of the Lake Association):

"Doug Keller, Indiana DNR writes:

Aquatic plant survey was performed last week and no hydrilla plants were found. The DNR ramp will re-open on July 1 but all other ramps will remain closed. A news release has been prepared and will be sent out either today or tomorrow to announce the public availability of Manitou once again. We'll have to wait on the results of hydrilla tuber surveys early this fall to determine whether a brief closure will take place again next spring. I'll e-mail Jack Brown to see if he might be able to take the cable down late in the evening on June 30 so the ramp is available should some early morning anglers want to use the lake on the 1st

Reminder: Sunday June 28 Lake Manitou Association Annual Meeting, Wynnfield Crossing 2 pm (annual election of board members)
Wednesday July 1 Lake reopens, DNR ramp only
Friday July 3 Brent Evans' "Music on Manitou" 7 pm (donations welcome, Brent Evans 4th Street Studio)
Saturday July 4 Fireworks "

I greet the above with mixed emotions. It's good to get rid of the hydrilla--but it was fun to have my own private lake for a time. I think the wildlife appreciated the break as well.

Equal Time

The catbird is such a constant presence around the island that I feel I owe her equal time in the "eggs in the nest" department. That completes the season's collection--as far as we can find them. The catbird makes some very beautiful calls--but the mewing can be a bit much.

Find the Duck

Please excuse the blur--I didn't want to disturb Mrs. Duck with a flash. You will find her tucked down into the brush pile atop the eggs pictured below. She was off the nest quite a bit in the early going--each time carefully hiding the eggs below a pile of leaves. Now she is resident nearly 24/7.

Turtles

I promise--I didn't set this photo up. My wife came on this tableau yesterday and told me I should take a picture. The nice thing about turtles--they give you plenty of time to get to the scene. I have no idea why a turtle would leave the comfort and protection of the nice green grass to cross a bridge to a wooden deck. Did he view the concrete turtle bench as another turtle? We'll never know.

Nature's Basket Maker

The Red-winged Blackbirds are a common sight around lake Manitou, both in body and in song--they remind us that water is nearby and all is right with the world of the lake. One thing we don't see too often--their incredibly elaborate nest. Here are some pictures to show the master weaver's creation--and a bonus egg (with more to come).