This is a rather sad and disappointing month for me, as it is the first, I believe, in at least ten years, that I have not, with the help of many willing and anxious Greenspaces for Wellington volunteers, been able to organize a bluebird and bat house-building workshop during the March school break.
That was, gratefully and gracefully, hosted in their Nature Learning Centre by Greenway Blooming Centre, situated on Shantz Station Rd., south of Highway 7, east of Breslau. It was not unusual for upward of 400 houses to be put together and taken home in the arms of happy, smiling children, plus moms, dads, grandmas, and grandpas, during that week.
Though these workshops and multiple behind-the-scenes actions of kit preparation were all done by volunteers on a cost-only recovery basis, my move north, the spread of miles, the cost of gas, my creeping of age, and tightening economics have caused the axe to be dropped on a fun and worthwhile project.
But, alas, with no apologies, all good things, I suppose, must come to an eventual end.
On the other hand, I have been busy, busy, and busy. In addition to my ordinary morning chores, I have adopted the fun of checking often on West Wind’s friendly, fun-loving Boer goat population.
Believe it or not, it has doubled, less one, in numbers by recent births. Twins, a single, twins, triplets, and twins. Ten new beautifully colour-patterned kids were dropped during the past two cold and snow-blown weeks. Thanks to our guardian angel, knowing we want to increase the flock, nine out of ten turned out to be female.
Unfortunately lost, stillborn, due, I suspect, to our hesitant inexperience, was the firstborn of triplets, but all others are healthy, happy, well-nursed and are bouncing around stiff-legged, racing, jumping over and on their mothers, and playing with each other. I expect that my addiction for goat-watching will increase greatly once they have been turned out to the play yard in our sunny, well fenced, grass-covered, new paddock.
In the meantime, on sunny days, my handsome black-shouldered male blue peacock has decided to start showing off by spreading fan-shape his beautiful tail while strutting slowly around in circles, impressing, I’m sure, his bi-coloured mate. On occasion, he goes through a shivering action that seems to place his tail feathers in just the right positions. I’m expecting soon a half-dozen or more eggs that I’ll hatch in the incubator. The second clutch, in warmer weather, I’ll let her hatch and raise herself.
Incidentally, while on the subject of incubators, mine has just faithfully presented me with its third hatch, and, I’m pleased to say, has now increased my show bantam population in the high 60s count of five different breeds – Silkies, English Game, Golden-laced Cochins, and both Gold and Silver Sebrights.
I can’t wait until the weather warms and I can turn them out to free-range in their large double fenced protective enclosure.
There will be some fun and pleasing times ahead, which I am sure will cheer me up considerably.
Take care, ’cause we care.
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