17 February 2006
Fri, Feb. 17 - 25 BIRDS CAUGHT!!!!
Clear and cold. -12F at 7am.
A little hazy near the mountains, but the wind is calm. That should be good for another trapping attempts down in Spring Gulch. The way we have to set up is the net launcher facing the wind, which you really never want to do. It is always best to shoot downwind, because the net really gets blown off course by the wind.
Jon and I went down to Spring Gulch at about 9:30 and the ranchers were still there feeding the cows, so we decided to wait a little for them to finish. After the ranchers were done and the cows fed for a little while, we herded them into the side pen and roped them off, set up the launcher, and put some more bait out. Well, as you could guess, an hour later when the ravens started to come in, the cows got out. So, we herded them again, tied them off better and grabbed a cup of coffee. And again, they got out when the birds were coming in. I had about had it, when I remembered that our broken trap (the cows broke it a few weeks back) was sitting out to the side. Jon and I grabbed a panel from that and tied to cows off with that. That should hold 'em....
Luckily, it did. About 75-100 ravens started making there way into the trapping area. After a few spooks, the group finally made it into the site. I figured there were about 40 ravens directly within range and another 50 or so just behind. There was no way we could handle the remainder, so I shot the net off. 25 RAVENS CAUGHT!!!
We banded and took blood form all the birds, and released them by 4pm. Thanks Jon, Rose, and Steve for your help banding. All birds tested had blood lead levels below 2.5 ug/dL (really low).
A little hazy near the mountains, but the wind is calm. That should be good for another trapping attempts down in Spring Gulch. The way we have to set up is the net launcher facing the wind, which you really never want to do. It is always best to shoot downwind, because the net really gets blown off course by the wind.
Jon and I went down to Spring Gulch at about 9:30 and the ranchers were still there feeding the cows, so we decided to wait a little for them to finish. After the ranchers were done and the cows fed for a little while, we herded them into the side pen and roped them off, set up the launcher, and put some more bait out. Well, as you could guess, an hour later when the ravens started to come in, the cows got out. So, we herded them again, tied them off better and grabbed a cup of coffee. And again, they got out when the birds were coming in. I had about had it, when I remembered that our broken trap (the cows broke it a few weeks back) was sitting out to the side. Jon and I grabbed a panel from that and tied to cows off with that. That should hold 'em....
Luckily, it did. About 75-100 ravens started making there way into the trapping area. After a few spooks, the group finally made it into the site. I figured there were about 40 ravens directly within range and another 50 or so just behind. There was no way we could handle the remainder, so I shot the net off. 25 RAVENS CAUGHT!!!
We banded and took blood form all the birds, and released them by 4pm. Thanks Jon, Rose, and Steve for your help banding. All birds tested had blood lead levels below 2.5 ug/dL (really low).
Thurs, Feb. 16
Clear and cold. -10F at 7 am.
There was really no wind to speak of this morning, but we got a dusting last night.
Checked the NER bait at about 10am, and there was nothing in sight of it.
Jon and I went down to Spring Gulch to try for a big capture of ravens near the cows. After getting things set up and the cows in place, we waited for about 45 min, and the birds were moving into position. Just before they got within firing range, the cows got out and started heading for the net launcher. So, we had to abort the mission and head the cattle again.
This time we thought we had the cows tied in right. Well, as it turns out; we didn't. Just as the ravens were coming back in, so were the cows. So, we had to try it a third time. This time we weren't messing around though. We really tied the gate up and reinforced it with some of the broken trap that Derek and I had out there from previous weeks.
Well, the cows didn't come in, but the wind sure picked up. And by the time the birds came in and got really spooked by some unknown force, it was already 2pm. I decided to call it because if we did catch 30 ravens, we wouldn't have enough time to process them all before dusk. We'll try again tomorrow, but maybe a bit earlier in the day.
There was really no wind to speak of this morning, but we got a dusting last night.
Checked the NER bait at about 10am, and there was nothing in sight of it.
Jon and I went down to Spring Gulch to try for a big capture of ravens near the cows. After getting things set up and the cows in place, we waited for about 45 min, and the birds were moving into position. Just before they got within firing range, the cows got out and started heading for the net launcher. So, we had to abort the mission and head the cattle again.
This time we thought we had the cows tied in right. Well, as it turns out; we didn't. Just as the ravens were coming back in, so were the cows. So, we had to try it a third time. This time we weren't messing around though. We really tied the gate up and reinforced it with some of the broken trap that Derek and I had out there from previous weeks.
Well, the cows didn't come in, but the wind sure picked up. And by the time the birds came in and got really spooked by some unknown force, it was already 2pm. I decided to call it because if we did catch 30 ravens, we wouldn't have enough time to process them all before dusk. We'll try again tomorrow, but maybe a bit earlier in the day.
15 February 2006
Wed, Feb. 15
Cloudy and windy. 14F at 7am. Wind ~20 mph with gusts of 30 mph.
The wind was howling this morning. The odd thing is that the wind was coming out of the east - northeast. Usually the wind comes from the west. No new snow last night.
Jill got saw at least 8 individual banded birds yesterday at the Mead Ranch. Thanks Jill. It may be too windy to try for a capture down in Spring Gulch this morning, but hopefully it clams down a bit.
Spent the rest of the day in the office.....
The wind was howling this morning. The odd thing is that the wind was coming out of the east - northeast. Usually the wind comes from the west. No new snow last night.
Jill got saw at least 8 individual banded birds yesterday at the Mead Ranch. Thanks Jill. It may be too windy to try for a capture down in Spring Gulch this morning, but hopefully it clams down a bit.
Spent the rest of the day in the office.....
14 February 2006
Tues, Feb. 14 V-Day
Partly cloudy and warmer. 22F at 7am. Blowing snow last night.
I was in town this morning, so I went to check to see if there were any ravens behind Bubbas, and there were about 40. I got one band read. Orange U. The bird was caught in Spring Gulch a week ago. None of the other birds were banded that I could see.
Jill and I went to run an experiment in Spring Gulch were we had the big capture last week. We were going to move the cows again and see if the birds had any chance of coming back in to feed so we could get another big capture tomorrow. When we got there, the cattle were already sectioned off because the ranchers had come through, so we just waited to see if the birds would feed without the cows present, and they did after about 1/2 hour. Looks good for an attempt.
On the way back into Kelly, I checked on the Park bait. There were a few birds feeding, so maybe we'll try a capture later in the day.
I checked on the NER bait. The blowing snow had covered our tracks, so that may help us. There was only one raven sitting on a nearby fence.
At 2:30 I checked the park bait again. 4 birds feeding. I came back to get the stuff and Drew to help. I dropped him off at the end of the cord so he could fire the net and I went back to watch. When I turned around and got the scope focused on the bait, I saw 8 birds on the bait. I thought great, and told Drew to fire when the birds were in place. Unfortunately, the net was bogged down with snow and didn't fire right and we missed all the birds. Maybe another day...
I was in town this morning, so I went to check to see if there were any ravens behind Bubbas, and there were about 40. I got one band read. Orange U. The bird was caught in Spring Gulch a week ago. None of the other birds were banded that I could see.
Jill and I went to run an experiment in Spring Gulch were we had the big capture last week. We were going to move the cows again and see if the birds had any chance of coming back in to feed so we could get another big capture tomorrow. When we got there, the cattle were already sectioned off because the ranchers had come through, so we just waited to see if the birds would feed without the cows present, and they did after about 1/2 hour. Looks good for an attempt.
On the way back into Kelly, I checked on the Park bait. There were a few birds feeding, so maybe we'll try a capture later in the day.
I checked on the NER bait. The blowing snow had covered our tracks, so that may help us. There was only one raven sitting on a nearby fence.
At 2:30 I checked the park bait again. 4 birds feeding. I came back to get the stuff and Drew to help. I dropped him off at the end of the cord so he could fire the net and I went back to watch. When I turned around and got the scope focused on the bait, I saw 8 birds on the bait. I thought great, and told Drew to fire when the birds were in place. Unfortunately, the net was bogged down with snow and didn't fire right and we missed all the birds. Maybe another day...
13 February 2006
Mon, Feb 13
Clear and cold. -3F at 7am.
We went out at about 10 to check on the bait, and there were 5 ravens feeding. We decided to give it a go. Derek dropped me off with the detonator (which had fresh batteries this time) and went back to watch the birds. While I was lying on the side of the road waiting, a raven flew up to a powerpole just north of me. I figured it would give me away and that would be it, but it didn't. After a few minutes, the 5 birds were in place and ready to go. Derek said fire, and the net was off.
2 ravens and 1 magpie caught! Three had gotten out. Either the bait was 5 ft too far away, or the strings holding the weights to the back of the net were too frozen in the snow. Either way, we caught some birds. One was banded. It was a HY bird that we caught the other day in the big capture. The other was an adult; hopefully a breeder. We reset the net and put a new shell in the launcher in hopes that some birds would eventually come back or new one would come in.
The G&F called with 3 more elk for bait, so those are now in the back of the blue truck (thanks Jon & Marilyn). I checked on the bait on the way back, and 1-2 ravens were feeding. That's a good sign for future captures, hopefully.
Derek and I put out two of the three elk to see if we could attract a big number of birds this week out in the study area. Let's call this the NER bait.
We went out at about 10 to check on the bait, and there were 5 ravens feeding. We decided to give it a go. Derek dropped me off with the detonator (which had fresh batteries this time) and went back to watch the birds. While I was lying on the side of the road waiting, a raven flew up to a powerpole just north of me. I figured it would give me away and that would be it, but it didn't. After a few minutes, the 5 birds were in place and ready to go. Derek said fire, and the net was off.
2 ravens and 1 magpie caught! Three had gotten out. Either the bait was 5 ft too far away, or the strings holding the weights to the back of the net were too frozen in the snow. Either way, we caught some birds. One was banded. It was a HY bird that we caught the other day in the big capture. The other was an adult; hopefully a breeder. We reset the net and put a new shell in the launcher in hopes that some birds would eventually come back or new one would come in.
The G&F called with 3 more elk for bait, so those are now in the back of the blue truck (thanks Jon & Marilyn). I checked on the bait on the way back, and 1-2 ravens were feeding. That's a good sign for future captures, hopefully.
Derek and I put out two of the three elk to see if we could attract a big number of birds this week out in the study area. Let's call this the NER bait.
12 February 2006
Sun, Feb. 12
Clear and cold. -7F at 7am.
The cord was set up last night, so there are no batteries to change today. At 9:30 there were 9 ravens feeding. I think we'll try and get a shot.
When we finally got all geared up and back out to shot the net, it was 10:30 and there were only 4 birds on the bait. We decided to wait until later in hopes of more birds.
At 1:30, there were 7-8 ravens feeding on the bait and two coyotes kept walking but backing off at the last second. The coyotes seemed to pull the ravens in. Derek dropped me off at the end of the detonator cord and went back down the road to signal me when the birds were in position. While sitting on the side of the road, two ravens flew over just to the north, so I laid as flat as a could against the snow bank and luckily, they didn't see me. After what seemed like forever (probably only 2-3 minutes), Derek gave me the go ahead and I pressed the button...
Nothing.
I had been falsely banking on the fact that the batteries in the detonator would warm up and be fine. Apparently they need a little more juice for the current to travel through 500 ft of frozen wire. At least the birds weren't spooked, so we'll see what happens tomorrow.
After dark, I went out to the bait and chased off 4 coyotes that were threatening to shut my operation down by eating all my bait. After checking on the net launcher and re-burying the strings that hold the back end of the net down because the snow on top hardens so much, I put out a little "anti-coyote scent" and went home.
The cord was set up last night, so there are no batteries to change today. At 9:30 there were 9 ravens feeding. I think we'll try and get a shot.
When we finally got all geared up and back out to shot the net, it was 10:30 and there were only 4 birds on the bait. We decided to wait until later in hopes of more birds.
At 1:30, there were 7-8 ravens feeding on the bait and two coyotes kept walking but backing off at the last second. The coyotes seemed to pull the ravens in. Derek dropped me off at the end of the detonator cord and went back down the road to signal me when the birds were in position. While sitting on the side of the road, two ravens flew over just to the north, so I laid as flat as a could against the snow bank and luckily, they didn't see me. After what seemed like forever (probably only 2-3 minutes), Derek gave me the go ahead and I pressed the button...
Nothing.
I had been falsely banking on the fact that the batteries in the detonator would warm up and be fine. Apparently they need a little more juice for the current to travel through 500 ft of frozen wire. At least the birds weren't spooked, so we'll see what happens tomorrow.
After dark, I went out to the bait and chased off 4 coyotes that were threatening to shut my operation down by eating all my bait. After checking on the net launcher and re-burying the strings that hold the back end of the net down because the snow on top hardens so much, I put out a little "anti-coyote scent" and went home.
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