Let's visit on the Porch II (Bozeman, Helena: living, shop, gardens)

[Reziac]

In sight of Laurel we have somewhere around a thousand geese that are permanent residents (and their numbers have been doubling every year; when I first noticed them, 5 or 6 years back, there were only about 20 of these lazy geese. Last winter I rough-counted 500 or so, and that was just what I could see all at once, from my back yard, with several flocks going different directions.) Why be arsed to fly south for the winter when there are plenty of grain fields that need gleaning?? They're here whether the river is frozen or not (tho this year it was mostly not), and whether winter is harsh or mild.

What people don't realize is that the big flyways aren't static; they wander east to west, probably as magnetic north wanders (and a small change up north is a large angle down south). Over the past few decades they've shifted laterally by about 500 miles. And that changes whether you see tons of migrating birds, or none, and when they arrive too as they spread out from the flyways.

Ducks will eat anything that looks like a plant, and some stuff that's not; they don't need ponds and rivers to survive. If they did, there wouldn't be barnyard ducks and we wouldn't get a new Chinese flu every year (pig viruses passed through ducks become human-infective).

[MTSilvertip]

Yeah, but not all ducks eat plants, and the ones that eat fish and water insects need open water.

The domesticated ducks are based on just a couple wild species like the mallard, mostly because of size and flavor. There's a lot of ducks with different nutritional needs.

Goldeneye, Merganzer and Wood Ducks don't do well on grains.

[Reziac]

Well, they should fly over this way, we've got open water everywhere!

Someone once gave me a merganser they'd shot by mistake, and I cooked and ate it. Wasn't bad, but I see why some people eat the plank instead.

[MTSilvertip]

The past couple days the water has really opened up here too. Of course now the ducks have all moved on.

[Reziac]

I'm wondering where the heck the turkeys winter. I only see 'em after their chicks are half-grown, when they come tromping through my yard. Have yet to see one fly anywhere, but boy can they run.

[Reziac]

This morning we've got two brand new still-wobbly calves to admire on the Bowman's Corner highway cam.

I think I'll name 'em Steak and Burger.

[Reziac]

So did anyone wash away this spring? I'm on high ground but Red Lodge is now the Venice of Montana.... looks to me like that newer row of condos prevented the river from spreading where it used to, so it went the other way. Ooops.

Been having to don my full mosquito combat gear every time I go out the door. Yikes.

Anyway.... anyone know what this bush is? one came up in my sister's garden. Should know the name but can't think of it.

[MTSilvertip]

Been getting just a nice amount of moisture here.

Just glad I'm not in Helena anymore after what happened there. For a desert area, it sure floods when there is a little rain.

What Bush?

[Reziac]

The bush in the picture, with the hard little fruits coming. Do you know what it is? You know these things.

(The purple stuff behind it is chives that have gotten completely out of hand.)

[MTSilvertip]

Originally Posted by Reziac

The bush in the picture, with the hard little fruits coming. Do you know what it is? You know these things.

(The purple stuff behind it is chives that have gotten completely out of hand.)

No picture attached that I can see. Just a link to some mosquito net clothing.