84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 20 1993 On being - OHi Joyce Bupp a^Bßl a farm wife -And other hazards My recent yearnings for signs of spring have been fulfilled. On a dark and drab morning, damp, chilly winds riffled the ponds’ surfaces. On closer study, more was stirring the pond waters than March gusts. Geese? The geese were back! I grabbed the field glasses, kepi ever handy on the microwave, and started counting. Eight mature Canada geese, each identical in greyish-brown feathering and tell tale while face stripe. Same num ber of last year’s flock of parents and six offspring. Could it be? But wait. Five more off in another comer of the big pond showed up in the glasses. Plus a couple of mallards hanging around the lower edge of the gray, wind-swept meadow waters. Even as I watched, though, the smaller flock of geese departed to the noisy accompaniment of hon king protests. Their loud, argumentative calls could be heard even behind out lightly closed doors. Well, the behavior hadn’t changed. But could it really be “our” mating pair of geese, back for a fourth hatching season? Only when we could get a closeup view of the male, identifiable by the smattering of white feathers in his sleek black head, could we be sure. When we slowly approached the pond, the big birds swam to the distant bank, eyeing us with caution and perhaps distrust. "Did you see the geese?” asked a voice when I answered the phone that morning. It was neigh bor “Bobbie at the bathtub” as she usually identifies herself. (The old bathtub in the cow lot adjoining ner house serves as a watering trough.) Bobbie shares our affec tion for these beautiful birds that have graced us with their fascinat ing presence since The Farmer devised them a mid-pond meeting site four years ago. A week of squabbling ensued. The flock of five did not return. But, a second pair showed up shortly afterward. Run off from the pond, they took refuge in the hayfield several hundred yards away. Honking arguments con tinued for a day or two. Occasion ally, the two pairs shared the waters, but in distant comers. Could we hope for a second nesting couple? In previous sea sons, the original pair eventually chased off all potential squatters in “their” territory the entire meadow and both ponds. Even while the two pairs vocal ly sparred about who was going to claim what, waves of honking sounded overhead. “Vees” of geese streamed steadily north ward, groups of a dozen, of thirty, of fifty, and one flock The Farmer spotted and estimated to be at least 150 birds. Early one morning late last week, a smaller pair of feathered friends turned up in the little pond. We figured the mallards had relo cated, until a closer look showed the unmistakeable crested head and colorful markings of wood ducks. While the female investi gated the wood duck box we installed last spring, the male paddled around beneath it, on guard duly. A year ago, a pair of wood ducks had similarly explored the box, then mysteriously departed. The wooden nest box later became home to a family of red-winged blackbirds, while a family of wood ducks was spotted weeks later in the stream that slices thor ugh the heifer’s pasture. When the wood ducks returned a second morning, we crossed our fingers. Soon after, the goose pair came marching purposefully tow ard the smaller pond and we • Winter's frozen ground'conditions reduce soil compaction during spreading. • Freezing and thawing helps distribute the lime through the soil to correct pH. Hi-Calclum rtin limestone haven’t seen the wood ducks since Having chased off all other pre tenders to their turf, the geese have calmed down and quiet reigns in the meadow. We finally Tom Jones Performance To Benefit Preservation YORK (York Co.) The Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County welcomes the exceptional sound and unique showmanship of the one-and-only Tom Jones on Tuesday, May 4 at 8 p.m. at the Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center in York, for one perfor mance only. Tickets for the performance are $75 for Patron tickets which will include a catered reception fol lowing the show. General admis sion tickets are $45, $35, and $3O. Tickets went on sale Monday, March 15, at the Strand Box Of fice. Proceeds from the performance will benefit the land preservation work of the Farm & Natural Lands Trust, York County’s only private non-profit land preservation or ganization. In his native Wales, he is known as “Jones the Voice.” To day, Tom Jones is one of the en during personalities in the music entertainment business. His unique vocal power, ability, and charismatic persona make him one of the most respected, admired and loved performers of all time. Bom Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales, Great Britain, on June 7,1940, his father worked in the coal mines, while Profit from winter lime application " " Hl-Matfnesium edged close enough for a good look and, sure enough, the lar ger goose has a scattering of white feathers over his head. “Our” geese are back. And we’re thrilled. his mother tended the house and the two children. Tom began sing ing at an early age and by 1963, he had gained notoriety with his own group, Tommy Scott and the Senators. Late in 1974, he landed a record contract and his first hit “It’s Not Unusual.” An avalanche of gold singles and album were soon to follow: “Delilah,” “Help Your self,” “Love Me Tonight,” and “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” Continuing into the ’7os gold hits came with “I (Who Have No thing),” “She’s A Lady,” and “Tom Jones Live at Caesar’s Pal ace.” By the end of 1970, Tom had sold more than 30 million discs in all categories around the world. Tom enjoys a consistent touring schedule 10 months of the year, both in the U.S.A. and abroad. He lives with his wife of 32 years, Melinda, between their home in Bel Air, CA and their country home in South Wales. This event is not part of the re gular Strand-Capitol Season, and is presented by the Farm & Natur al Lands Trust of York County. For tickets or additional infor mation, call the Strand-Capitol Box Office at (717) 846-1111 or the Farm & Natural Lands Trust at (717) 757-7012. "V- For praaipt delivery contact your local Martov Limestone dealer or call Blue Ball, Pa. (800) 233-0205 (717) 354-1370
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