To make matters worse, knowing I had to get up early and head to the oasis, I didn't sleep last night. I used to do that when Kelly and I banded hummers and it was the worst part of banding.
Dug right into all I had to do. Hummingbird feeders were very low even though I filled them 2 days ago. Yikes! My helper showed up. It was way harder to take out that lower portion of the water feature so I amended my plan. I think it'll be fine. Here's before any work this morning. It looks good. Not removing it because it's ugly but because it takes up important space and does nothing.
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| Into the muck |
So the new plan is to put a drip in the tank behind the front part that we removed. Originally the tank had a recirculating pump that never worked and burned out 3 pumps. So now, it's just going to have a drip into it when photographers are there until Mike Gray installs a state-of-the-art solar filtered system. Didn't get the drip hooked up today because the new hose splitter I bought leaks. I'll rig up something temporary in the morning. Here's how we left it today. Needs lots of rock arranging and tweaking, but headed in a better direction. I've always said, when people praise the oasis, that they're seeing only the 10% that worked out, not the 90% failure. I've ripped out more than I've kept for sure, but it's all a labor of love and learning.This will be the first time the oasis has a drip in the sun. That's what photographers need most.
I didn't have time today to focus much on birds. Lots of hummers including Anna's, Ruby-throateds, Lucifers, Black-chinned, Calliope, and probably Broad-tailed.
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| First of season Anna's. |
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| Male Ruby-throated |
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Least Grebe is still there.
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