Tuesday -- February 1, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.8     Water Temperature: 31

The ice is slowly melting and the ferry may be operating again by the end of the week!

Thursday -- February 3, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.8     Water Temperature: 31

Life is good, the ferry is operating again. There is nothing like living without to make you appreciate the things you take for granted.

We have a groundhog here but I don't know if it bothered to come out of hibernation yesterday or not. The weather seems to indicate that winter's almost over.

Friday -- February 4, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.6     Water Temperature: 35

We saw two eagles yesterday. Two fully mature Bald eagles that is. We were on the ferry at about three o'clock when we saw the pair pass directly over the island, just above the trees, heading up river in the snow. My first thought was that it must be the nesting pair from last year and they have returned to nest again.

Later on, about an hour later, we were on the ferry again when we saw a large red tailed hawk soar by and land on a sycamore on the island. It must be the snow bringing in the raptors.

Saturday -- February 5, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.6     Water Temperature: 35

I saw the eagles for the second day in a row. They were sitting like love birds on a branch near their nest on the other side of the river.

I saw a lot of common mergansers yesterday but unlike the last two years I haven't seen many red-necked grebes.

Friday -- February 11, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.8     Water Temperature: 35

STOP THE ICC!

Monday -- February 14, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.9     Water Temperature: 39

Happy Valentines Day!

There isn't too much to report except that we've all been suffering from another round of the flu. It's hard to get motivated to write anything interesting on these pages when I'm not feeling well so I apologize for not reporting more.

I think our eagles have laid their eggs. This will be the second year in a row that they are nesting here across from the island, Yippee!

Everything seems to be a little less dormant, everyday another little sign that spring is on the way.

We made some progress in protecting the trees from the beaver. Penny picked up some chicken wire and Renee and Jim worked hard wrapping the trees.

Tuesday -- February 15, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.0     Water Temperature: 40

Wednesday -- February 16, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.2     Water Temperature: 41

Thursday -- February 17, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.2     Water Temperature: 40

Came home yesterday to an arial show being performed by one of our resident eagles, what a treat.

We see the pied-billed grebe every morning as we ride the ferry just after dawn. The mergansers that were so common last week are pretty scarce now.

Friday -- February 18, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.3     Water Temperature: 40

The geese are moving onto the island now and I guess it won't be long before they start to build their nests. They are here, near the island, full time now and spend their days in pairs just off shore guarding their chosen nesting ground. Earlier in the winter I would only see the geese as they glided in at sunset, choosing to spend their nights huddled near each other at the foot of the island then leaving for feeding areas down river in the mornings. There is much more harmony between the geese and the caretaker this year, since the docks are out of the water the geese can't use them as pooping platforms and the caretaker doesn't have to do any shoveling.

Monday -- February 28, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.9     Water Temperature: 40

We're here waiting for the big snows and winds to arrive, but so far nothing. It's funny that school was cancelled before a single snowflake has's fallen.

There's a deer living on the island or maybe its calling both Rupperts and Sycamore island home. After the last snow I discovered deer tracks all over the island. I followed the tracks and found where obviously a deer had spent the night. Last week I was on Rupperts and came face to face with a deer, I think was the same large male that I've been sighting since late fall. This buck had lost its antlers and I could see the bloody red spots on the deer's head where its giant rack had been a month before. There may be more than one deer, but I think it is just the one buck enjoying the relative safety of the islands, apparently it has no trouble swimming back and forth through the river.

RG and John Parrish, our club botanists, were here yesterday hoping to get a glimpse of the eagle in their nest. We didn't see the eagles but we were treated to a small group of ring-necked ducks.