Today Lynn was able to untangle and release an Osprey that landed at the catfish farm tangled in fishing line. Most people do not get to hold a wild osprey.
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Our property manager, Lynn Collins, otherwise known as raptor rehabilitator, has received a new youngling who will be residing at the Catfish Farm as long as it wants to. Here he is on the bar in the dining hall. Name TBA.  This is whats going on around 3:30 pm on the afternoons. We cant wait until it gets cold up north and thr ducks really start coming.    Heres shots facing north, and facing south across my favorite spot in the impoundments   We even have a few Snow Geese visiting right now  Waterfowl continue to arrive. So far this year, mallards, shovelers, ringed necks, gadwall, teal, coots, wood ducks, geese and widgeon.        We are excited to be moving through the master plan development for the property and through the construction of dining and lodging for over 40 guests at a time.  
Katie and I made a recent trip to the Catfish Farm to survey the progress and get a much needed night away together while Mimi and Grandbobby and Rara kept the boys for us.
The Dining Hall and Cabin Complex are nearing completion.
The blinds are brushed up (10 new ones to go with the other 10 already on site)
And the new islands we built in three of the catfish impoundments
and the ducks are coming in droves
I don't see how they could resist with the spot we've prepared for them - it looks like a buffet from the sky!! (here's a screen shot of the website www.thecatfishfarm.org)
And it looks like a buffet from ground level as well
Wood Duck Boxes - 60 on the property
Flooded Timber and Agricultural Field Combination - new construction this year
The Millpond - enough said
Flooded Hardwood Timber Along Cypress Creek
Flooded Corn Impoundment Surrounding Bull Swamp Creek ("IP Duck Pond")
Flooded Jap Millet Field Surrounded by Cattails
And of course, the catfish impoundments - remnants of the old fish hatchery that are farmed in corn, rice, millet, milo and barnyard grasses and then flooded - this year the flooding was sponsored by the thousand year rain in October and we are ready and receiving ducks early accordingly
Two of the catfish impoundments have been managed for low growing water tolerant shrubs and are beautiful in the fall. They provide great refuge for the ducks and also good hunting for those that like the bush hunting experience.
And of course we have the old tried and tree green tree reservoirs already filling lightly with water, waiting on the first frost to really turn the water to them.
But the Catfish Farm isn't just for Ducks
Quail, Doves and Turkeys have a better home here than most places
And Deer and Hogs are well taken care of too
We even have a bear and a big cat terrorizing everything right now - the bear tore down this feeder and our duck pen. Unfortunately, no season for bears in Marion County....yet. She has cubs too.
And the cat
Of course, a lot more animals are more fun (and legal) to watch than to hunt - that's more my style anyways as you can tell from this photography
Heron's roosting on an old duck blind that has been taken over and remodeled by our pet Beaver
The Pet Owl Cowboy
Resident Heron taking flight
After facing off with the 3 legged Alligator who lives in our fish pond
And the property manager's personal favorite pets, the snakes!
And the mascot, the pet Raccoon Gussie!
I think the things I enjoy the most about this place though, is the smaller creatures and the sunsets
This has been a long post and it doesn't contain everything that has been going on, but these are some of the things we are putting the most time into, and enjoying the most. Our kids, our home, the Catfish Farm. The other recent posts talk about some of what we're learning through it all. We thank God for the lives we've been given to live, and for the beauty with which He decorates our days and displays his glory.
coming in for a landing with no regard for the trackhoe running on shore   IP Pond jap and corn seperated by a row of cattails - beautiful  |
