Bob – Page 12 – Notes from Bob and Ellen

Cardinal Nest at the Farm

This week we are at the Hargrave homestead near LaCrosse for Father’s Day. Sitting in the TV room with my dad we noticed a Cardinal fly into the camellia bush just outside the window. I wondered if she might be there for more than just a casual visit and when we looked more closely discovered the nest. It must be hot enough during the day that she doesn’t have to sit on the eggs so I snapped this picture without disturbing the bush while she was away.

Last week at Hickey’s creek I found 4 Florida Scrub Jays on the Palmetto Pines loop just after the turn south to return. The literature mentions that they will post sentinels to keep a lookout for predators. Sure enough one sounded the alarm and I looked up to see a Swallow-tail Kite overhead; really not a danger to the Jays, but alarming nonetheless.

Tarflower (actually in Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve)

Also noted at Hickey’s Creek were blooming Tarflowers (Bejaria racemosa) —http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Tarflower/tarflowe.htm

Back to Kenya

Ellen and I are planning on being in Kenya from mid-August through November this year. We will be on staff at the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Missionary College in Eldoret and I will spend some of my time working on the creation of an ECHO East African Regional Office. We’ll try to keep you up to date.

Summer Birding

It is after mid-May in southwest Florida and a general depression has descended on some birders. The daily frantic and expectant searching for new warblers passing through has tailed off, the days are getting hot and sometimes it seems like the only birds around are grackles and house sparrows.

But a quick check in a field guide reveals that some gaps in the year list can be filled by birds only found here in summer. My personal favorite is the graceful Swallow-tailed Kite. I can lose track of time watching one quarter a field, wheeling, soaring, dipping and turning with apparently effortless ease. The first sighting reported for Lee County in e-bird this year was February 18th. I saw my first of the season in early March.

So what else should I find here in only in the summer?

Yellow-billed cuckoo — Reported in the county (on April 17th this year) but I’ve only seen it on the family farm up near Gainesville.
Common Nighthawk — The “Bull Bat” of my childhood. Shouldn’t be too hard to spot once the insect population explodes! Earliest arrival this year recorded on April 10th.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird — First record on March 29th. I usually see an individual or two when the red flowers are in bloom around the house and work.
Gray Kingbird — Reported April 4th. I saw two today driving back from lunch.
Purple Martin — This year reported on Feb. 1. There are some Martin houses at Franklin Locks; maybe tomorrow.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow — well, they get reported most of the year, I just need to get out and find them.
Chimney Swift — March 16th and I’m starting to see them regularly.
Summer Tanager — Someone reported one right near where I live on March 2nd. I have only seen it at the farm.

So there is some birding to look forward to. The strategy is to get up early and bird before the day gets too hot to enjoy!

In Niger

In a message dated 1/11/2009 2:11:17 P.M. Central Standard Time, behargrave@aimint.net writes:

As I write I am hearing the imam call the faithful to worship from the closest mosque. Our three day program for Homeschooled Missionary Kids here in Niger is finished – Wow – It went so quickly! The children we worked with were from 5 – 11 years. Their parents’ passport countries are Australia, Korea, England, Canada, Singapore and the US. They work in Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin and Ghana and are involved in church planting, agriculture, theological education and support services. Many of the local people in this part of the world are from other religious backgrounds. The climate is hot – conditions harsh – Challenging places to minister… It was so good to be able to bring support to these folks. While Debbie, Joanna, James and I were working with the children, a great team was working with the parents enabling them to do a better job of educating and raising their kids in this part of Africa. Thanks to many of you for enabling me to do this important work!

We have been served well by the local missionary community – transporting, feeding, exchanging money – wow – missionaries have really gone out of their way for us.

Today was spent relaxing…

Actually an unbelievable day thus far! We left at 7 AM to go look at giraffes about an hour from town. I almost didn’t go as we saw giraffe quite frequently when we lived in Northern Kenya – but I love giraffes and also the group here – so decided to go –

The first giraffe we saw had two legs and hooves sticking out – yes, she was in the process of giving birth!!! Our guide, who has done this work for twenty years, said that he had never seen a giraffe give birth! – Mama hid from us for a bit when the actual birthing happened – but then we found her about a half hour later with her new calf! We watched mama licking the calf as he made wobbly attempts at standing – but unfortunately, we needed to leave before he/she got completely on his feet – This was certainly a first for me!

Next we went to a campsite where those of our group who had never had the opportunity to ride a camel got their chance – and the rest of us relaxed under some mango trees enjoying a picnic of shish kebabs over a fire… A boat ride followed on the Niger River viewing hippos. Now many of my colleagues are shopping – but I opted for a shower and chance to catch up with you all! In an hour or so we will go to the weekly English worship Service at Sahel Academy –

Tomorrow, we will provide an in-service for Sahel Academy and its students. The team who worked with the parents will be doing some training with the staff of the school. Joanna and I will be part of the team working with the Sahel elementary school students. This time I will be helping with the program, not in charge of it which will take off a bit of the stress.

I appreciate your ongoing prayers as we have two more very full days – Joanna is not in top notch shape physically and is resting right now… A couple of other staff are also not feeling well. Now am hearing an exuberant Christian worship service with drums in the background…

God bless – Love – Ellen