Thu 1 Mar Fisherpersons take note: The first fish of the year have been sighted at the Captain's float. Now, it is true these are only minnows... but no fish of any kind have been seen since November. This calls to mind the question of when the last herons were seen... which is at about the same time. Actually, this happened yesterday, and the fish were almost hugging the sand in the shallows, so it was easy to imagine them trying to soak up warmth from the sun from both above and below. Today none could be found to be tempted with bread, despite the same strong sun. You will note the water temperature has dropped a degree, bit it is hard to believe that 44 degrees is a magical threshold for cold-blooded swimmers. Still... stay tuned.

Fri 2 Mar The clear vistas of winter are already giving way to the haziness of spring, as the once sharp outlines of trees and branches are fuzzy with the knobs and extrusions of new buds and swollen tips. The squirrels are eating the tree buds... but only those interior on the branches. One might think there was a danger that the squirrels would eat too many buds and harm the new growth of the trees, but they cannot reach those buds at the end of the branches because of the slenderness and suppleness of those smallest of branches. Those buds they can reach without falling off... they do. Upon reflection, this might seem to act as a natural pruning symbiosis, as those interior buds are more likely in any event to be shaded out by the younger buds at the tips of the branches. Thus, the squirrels can dine only on what they can reach, and the tree's growth energies are channelled to the extremities where it is most needed to grow and compete with neighbors for available light.

Sat 3 Mar Sitting in the big room... waiting for Members to ring the bell on such a beautiful day... forlornly... gazing out through the trees... it was only by the merest chance the Caretaker saw the young squirrel disappear into the Sycamore. The hole was actually at the end of a large limb where the branch had fallen off, and would have been undetectable from the ground by any roving human eye. The squirrel did not reappear, so there was a certain smugness of the "now I know where you live" category. Yet also there was a certain aspect of being one of fortune's favorites at being so lucky a witness... as though being initiated into one of "The Mysteries." Just another lesson in how we are surrounded by so much that we do not even see... and how seldom we take the time or have the wit to look. More incentive for you to visit your Island.

Mon 5 Mar It was that time of the morning (0330 Hrs) when the friendly universe is reduced to the area beneath the comforter when the sound woke him... out of place as it was in the normal background consciousness. It was the sound of serious slurping!!! Wait a moment... slurping??? Wakefulness did not come all at once... only as the mental list of possibilities lengthened without conclusion. The cats had never been known to make such a noise... and it was clearly coming from their water bowl in the kitchen. He stole from bed softly, reluctant to wake the Caretaker's Wife. When the kitchen light came on, he was more surprised than Petey, the possum, who seemed to quit slurping from the water bowl grudgingly before turning to the wall where the built in cat door was. Alas, Petey seemed unable to distinguish where the flap was in the wall for the cat door... seemed clearly more tranquil than bright... and finally ambled over to hide behind the small kitchen garbage can. You may ask where the Island watch-cats were during this event. In fact Miss T came in the cat door at about this time... walked over to Petey so that they were nose to nose at six inches... where they seemed to acknowledge each other with familiarity and without so much as a raised hair on either side... and then Miss T went about her business. A chair was brought up so that the Caretaker could sit and use a stick to open the cat door flap from some (small) distance, the intervening garbage can removed, and words in a comforting tone were used to encourage Petey towards the now apparent hole in the wall. Petey seemed not at all alarmed, but very confused about what to do next. Finally he stuck his nose in the corner as though to hide, although the image of an ostrich is less useful than that of a child turning to hide his face in his mother's dress. Who would have thought that such an ugly animal could look endearing? When the Caretaker's Wife finally roused to question the commotion, husbandly instincts caused him to use reassuring words, although he later suffered harsh comments for "luring" her into the kitchen by using misleading words such as "small" and "cute". However, as Petey huddled in the corner, even she had to agree with "endearing"... only... how to get him outside? Eventually Petey was coaxed into a cat carrier and taken outside. One wonders how possums manage to get along and survive in the cruel world.

Thu 8 Mar The absent geese have returned, having been gone during this cold spell associated with the "storm that wasn't." Most of them flew in after dark... and it sounded as though others arrived well into the wee hours. There was an almost full moon and thus plenty of light... and surely some goose expert would confirm that they are active flyers in such circumstances. Certainly they are active squabblers... it was difficult to sleep with all their carrying on... you have heard us comment before on how obnoxiously loud they can be... which is why we can confirm the interesting observation of how they quieted as soon as the moon set in the early morning hours.

Mon 12 Mar With the stirring of the spring bulbs we also get the stirring of our own Island mole to feed upon them. Although there is not so much of it yet, the telltale tunnelling can be seen all over the Island. We have decided to name the mole after whoever wins this round of the Survivor TV program, because with at least three black snakes on the Island, the moniker is deserved. Not only that, but where does Mr. Mole hang out when the Island is under water??

Some of you may recall last summer when Blackie, our resident black snake patriarch, one sunny Saturday gave many Members an all afternoon lesson on black snake courting and mating while he and his lady hung upside down from the big tree near the swimming area. It was clear to all from whence came the concept of the caduceus used in medical insignia. Anyway, with hungry little ones on the Island this spring, and with mole the preferred item on the menu for Blackie and his family second only to egg of goose, the smart money is that Mr. mole will not be around long this year.

Tue 13 Mar Today we are expecting our first day with air temps in the 60's... and while the fish have not been seen at the Captain's float since that one day when the water temp was 44 degrees... we have nonetheless seen the first blue heron of the year. A few cormorants are also back for the first time since that one sighting during a warm spell, but one suspects these waterfowl probably hang out in the tidewater and are seen here this early only when they probe the northern perimeter of a warm air mass. The ducks are constant... and the gulls... but only our two goose couples are ensconced on the Island, although small gaggles come and go. The real inspiration is in the small flock of robins that have hung on and the increasing bird song heard on the Island.

Wed 14 Mar Let the record also show that today we have seen the first forsythia blooms. There are also the first bluebell buds showing... but it will be several weeks before the main show begins. Other plants making an appearance are the violets, trout lilies, and bleeding heart. Grounds Supervisor Trip Reid was down for a spring inspection and noted our daylilies are much more developed than his. The grass is greening and making a spurt... there are only 4 geese to crop it... and it is heartening to see how much survived. Yesterday the up Island paths were raked and sown. It is that time of year when everything is coming on quickly... with many wondrous changes day to day. Do not miss it!!

Fri 23 Mar The river is already at 7.85 and continues to rise. Even at the 7 foot level the up Island paths are under water, waves are lapping at the base of the big tree at the swimming area, the river nearing the top step of the bottom set of steps at the towpath, and the Island is much smaller.

Hearing what sounded like a soprano owl in the daylight at midday, we went outside to see that the morning doves have returned. Of course, it is not possible to confirm that all the differing returnees this season are the same neighbors from last year... but we like to think so... and in the case of the goose now nesting in the great tree root ball near the Captain's float, it is a pretty good guess.

Thu 29 Mar The runes were cast... the bones were thrown... the Oracle consulted... and most importantly, the noon weather program watched for the 7 day forecast... and as the signs were propitious... the water has been turned on in the Clubhouse with the expectation that the night time temps will not drop below 40 degrees for the next 7 days. Rejoice... the toilets upstairs are back on line and the sink in the kitchen works. No longer will you have to bring your own drinking water.

Excerpted from the Caretaker's Log at sycamoreisland.org

-- Doc Taliaferro, Sycamore Island Caretaker