Warmer Weather after 6" of Rain

The catfish were really hungry this morning after all the rain we had Saturday.  The water was dingy but this did not stop them from finding the food.

These two birds, one male and one female, are called cow birds.  These birds followed the buffalo when they traveled across most of the United States and this caused these birds to develop strange habits. They are the only birds in the U.S. that use the nest of other birds to lay their eggs and allow other birds to raise their young.  These habits were developed because the buffalo was always on the move and they were following them and could not raise their young.  They were photographed in our pasture.

Late Spring Prescribed Burn

Perfect prescription for this 13 acre spot that needed a cool fire run under it to complete a WHIP contract.  This was the third time this spot had been through a controlled burn. 

My daughter helped me with this burn.  She knows what it takes to manage a forest because she has been helping manage our property since she was in the FFA.  One of our most helpful tools for burning is our 

4-wheeler.  The water tank on the back is great for quickly putting out small fires and the drip torch on the front is a must for a prescribed burn.

Below is a picture I made one morning while turkey hunting at one of the old home places on our property.  The Narcissus were beautiful!

Earth Day

Every day is Earth Day on Dewberry Lands!

Busy Saturday

Early Saturday morning a Bluebird was collecting worms for the family in one of the nesting boxes at the lodge.

Saturday was spent cutting lumber from downed trees from the recent thunderstorms that produced high winds. 

There was some nice lumber produced from these trees.  I plan on using it to make a covered bridge over one of the streams where we have on a trail.  

This and That

I made this picture while hunting yesterday.  It is of the buds on a long-leaf pine that had blown down. It was so beautiful, the picture doesn't do it justice.  The purple buds on the green background of needles were  very eye catching.  I had to take this photograph. 

My grandson and I was out looking at some of the property where we had done a controlled burn and went by a spot called the "Wilson Spring".  This spring was used by the first Europeans to settle in this area.  It was probably used by native people.  The spring is lined with rocks.  Water bubbles up out of the ground here where this stream begins.  It was neat to see my grandson get to drink water out of the spring.  I thought of so many children (and adults) that assume water comes in plastic bottles and the tap.  On our property we take pride in keeping the water clean.

Interesting Article

There was an article I came across a couple of months ago in this magazine: Blue Ridge Country, Exploring The Mountains of The South. I was impressed with the article.  The name of the article was "25 Things That Changed The  Mountains".  One of the 25 things featured was "Quelling forest fires, not always a good thing".  There was one complete page with a picture dedicated to prescribed burning.  It was so good to see the author recognized this because so often prescribed fire in forest management gets a bad rap. This magazine caters to the upscale.

Spring of 2013

Productive Day

The day started out early and cold, 27 degrees but I was hot by the time I got back to the jeep after toting this 19.5 pound gobbler out of the woods.  I wore a toboggan for the first time ever this morning while turkey hunting. The ground was spewed up with ice on the road banks but the full moon was beautiful in the crisp cool air.  After taking care of the turkey I had told my dad and my uncle yesterday that I would help do a prescribed burn for them because weather conditions were going to be good.  We got a good burn and at the end of the day I was tired but it was a very productive day.  Tomorrow I will be in Montgomery for a meeting.  I know it will not be as productive as today.  A bad day in the woods is always better than a good day in the city. 

Prescribed Burn

The Alabama Forestry Commission did a prescribed burn on the property (belonging my uncle) next to ours last week.  I assisted in checking for jumps and was available for any questions they might have.  Another pair of boots on the ground while doing a burn is always helpful.  We got a good burn on the 75 acres and it will make the property look better, control competition, and will improve the wildlife habitat on the property.  Good job Nick and Josh!