Good News from Unexpected, May 2008
Better late than never. Words to live by whether you like it or not. There are some things in life we just don’t have control over, and I am learning to not get upset about those very things. Technological meltdowns being one of them; the computer crashed in the last week of March, virtually locking me out of everything, including my ability to create this issue of The Beaver Defenders.
When I met Hope, I remember checking out her office here at the Refuge. Although she was no longer publishing this newsletter, the set up was still here. She used an old manual typewriter and used liquid cement to affix her little sketches to the page. Times change.
Speaking of technology, our website just got a facelift. Ann Campbell, owner of Foxglove Systems, contacted us late last year offering to redo our website. She added a newsletter archive and some photographs and is hosting it as well. It is a work in progress, with many more photos and links to come, and she has some great ideas as well. Check us out here, and visit her website at www.foxglovesystems.com, and let us know what you think.
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The beavers are still maintaining their two homes in Miller Pond and are still leaving evidence of a lot of activity. Fresh territory marker mounds are heaping with mud and muck from the bottom of the pond and the feeding/grooming spots are trampled smooth from many beaver bottoms.
I have been harvesting a little poplar every night and waiting patiently on the dam to see if anyone wants to say hello. So far, no show. The beavers are shy and come very late at night or early in the morning. Sometimes they eat the poplar where I drop it, littering the dike and pond edge with bare white wood, but usually they take it elsewhere, leaving nothing behind to give them away. We have had very little rain (so much for April showers) and the Main Pond is quickly disappearing into thin air. This doesn’t bode well for beaver watching this summer.
We have been out and about South Jersey, checking on beaver reports, distributing literature to affected residents and answering questions. Unexpected was invited to some wonderful meetings to talk about the Refuge and about beavers. I particularly enjoyed visiting the Newfield Center After School Homework group, as well as the Burlington County Natural Science Club and the Leisuretown West Nature Club. Everyone enjoyed another sold out evening at the Wenonah Vulture Festival (I actually danced with a very tall, dark and handsome vulture).
Of course the work never ends here at the Refuge. With a very warm winter and spring, mowing has commenced already. And mower problems have commenced as well. Don From Cherry Hill came down to clean out Prothonotary Warbler nest boxes in anticipation of their return in April.
The Outdoor Club of South Jersey
The Outdoor Club of South Jersey arrived on Saturday April 12th for our Ninth annual Spring Cleanup on Piney Hollow Road. Seventeen people pitched in to hike, pick up trash and eat. Chef Maureen outdid herself in the kitchen this year, cooking up delicious vegan dishes like sloppy joes and saag aloo (a spicy Indian dish), and for dessert, her famous tofu coconut chocolate cheesecake (recipes are available).
The bridge is still out on Unexpected Road, and the pricetag for repair keeps growing. Unfortunately, due to inconvenience, there is not much of a police presence along the road. The biggest problem resulting from this road “disconnect” is small gangs of all terrain vehicle riders tearing up the existing roadbed and parts of the Refuge itself.
The township set up two concrete barriers on either side of the hole to prevent anyone from riding through the breach (purposefully or otherwise), but the riders lift their machines over to continue their joy riding. It is literally impossible to catch them in the act, and even more difficult to identify them. They have no regard whatsoever for either private land or township restrictions. Of course, leading a nice relaxing bird walk is out of the question with multiple, unmuffled engines whining through the woods nearby.
We still have not gone to settlement on the D’alessandro Farm, due to some unexpected and extremely complicated title issues. They were very difficult to tease out, but it would appear that things are rolling again, and I am sure we will be going to settlement very soon. You will read all about it in the next issue of Good News from Unexpected.