Some Wild Turkey 101 Anyone?

Okay, put away your shot glasses, these guests are not your favorite Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

The images were shot just after sunrise, August 30, 2018, at about 6:15 AM. We've seen small flocks of Wild Turkey passing through in past years, but this rather large flock is interesting to watch and unusually large in these parts. The flock has been visiting us morning and night over the past seven-to-ten-days. Once the entire brood slowly walked out our driveway to cross the road on their travels that day. There are about five full-grown hens watching over perhaps twenty-five+ chicks. Most chicks appear to be about half-grown now, but a few are noticeably smaller. The pint-sized chicks seem to hang very near to a hen, even at times seemingly near under the hen's wing and walking between her legs. By 7:10 AM this morning the flock had moved on... they rarely stay for more than an hour, likely done somewhat for protection and also the quest for better breakfast foraging grounds. The flock has returned on a couple evenings just before sunset, and we have observed them taking flight at sunset to roost for the night in some of our many large trees.  Amazing how strongly the large hens can fly, sometimes high and long flights.  

Note:  The images were shot through a slightly fogged-up one-way window in our walk-out basement door.  Heavy overnight rains unfortunately caused some window condensation. 

"The Anderson Plot" -- Oak Hill Cemetery

Resetting the grave monuments of maternal Great-Great-Grandparents James and Caroline Anderson

Information on completion of monument work at Oak Hill Cemetery, West German Street, Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York, USA. The Anderson Plot is recorded in cemetery record as Section NC0648; whereas, the plot is physically located near centered in the old part of the cemetery. Take the center road northwesterly from the administration building toward the rear of the cemetery, this access road basically runs perpendicular to West German Street, Herkimer, NY. Then take a left side fork in the road about 250 yards from the administration building. Note the reddish-brown gravestone in the photo background -- this is the grave of Peter Anderson and his wives, Peter the son of James and Caroline (Kiernan) Anderson. Peter Anderson's gravestone really stands out as visitors pass the Anderson Plot. Note that Caroline's given name is spelled Carolina, probably misspelled as inscribed on her monument. The cemetery staff refers to this area as the Crandall plot – there are several Crandall graves in this more properly named cemetery Anderson Section (since Caroline and James Anderson are the parents or parents-in-law of most souls interred here).  Daughter Minnie Anderson married Charles Henry Crandall, all Crandall interments descend from this couple. It is the Crandall branch of the family that populates a significant portion of the Anderson Plot, along with the large Gilbert branch and Shore branch that grew from the marriage of other Anderson daughters Selina (and her husband William Gilbert) and Elizabeth (and her husband Herbert Shore).

Project specifics:

BEFORE

This image by Great-Great-Grandson DJ Paul, dated from about 2011, clearly shows both monuments listing about twenty degrees left; whereas, both monuments are slowly further slipping on their pedestal a couple inches to the left.  A gravestone foundation exists under each pedestal, perhaps sinking 20-to-24 inches into the graves.  No attempt was made to level the original foundations. Monuments had each listed another couple inches left before this restoration work began in early June 2018.    

AFTER

This image by DJ Paul, dated 20 Jun 2018, shows the Anderson gravesite finished product.  The monument pedestals were first leveled using a pea gravel bedding, placing the gravel base between the sunken original foundation and the pedestal.  A form was configured to engage each pedestal and 1/2 inch rebar reinforcements were added front, back, sides, and center.  The concrete collar is four-to-six inches thick and clearly engages both monument pedestals.  The monuments were each persuaded an inch+ to the right to be more centered on their respective pedestals.  Monuments were cleaned using water and a soft brush only.

    

Look Who Is Coming To Dinner

We suspected there was a pup or two...

https://geeksbwe.blogspot.com/2018/07/uninvited-guests-show-up-for-dinner.html

Remembering the above post of 20 July 2018... well the little one traveled with mom and pop last evening, Sunday, 12 August 2018.

We usually toss out some bird food for our resident American Crows... and I guess some might wonder why.  We've had a half-dozen of these black winged beauties since owning our lands for over a dozen years -- the current crop is likely the grandchildren+ of our original bunch.  What can be said, there is some pleasure watching our Crows patroling this property they seem to own.  

But it now seems some at a higher rung on the food chain ladder have joined the food-fest, the young Grey Fox now traveling with parents to find some food and perhaps learn to hunt rodents.  They seem to enjoy the Crow's food. 

Now perhaps aged four and a half months, the youngster in center enjoys some crow food.   

Note:  Image of the young Grey Fox Family was shot through the mirrored one-way window in our walkout basement door.