visiting with CWU faculty and students.
Last October I built a bird feeding station shown in my post #13872. Using two posts from an early fence and two new ones. The station got mounted about chin high. There was a cross-piece, a 2×4, about halfway up.
Recently, one or more of my resident Yellow-bellied marmot clan developed the habit of climbing up to the seed-placement level, moving the wire mesh aside, and having a breakfast of sunflower seeds.
The smart thing I should have done prior to placement of the feeder would have been to cut 4 pieces of rigid tube PVC {plastic} pipe and slid those over the posts. I didn’t. I might de-construct the set-up and do that. A few years ago, I saw such a thing on a web video regarding keeping racoons out of feeders.
For now, I have placed pieces of metal ridge cap, it takes two per post, around each. And I removed the 2×4 cross-piece. I watched one of the marmots approach and seemingly dismayed at the change. I did not see it trying to climb one of the covered poles, so I think it was using the 2×4.
I made the change Thursday morning and will confirm success after another few days. I hope.
Wednesday, the Joyals (from Marquette, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula) came to EBRG. The have relatives in Spokane. We meet at EBRG’s Red Horse Diner. Last year, my post #13741 of May 4th has a photo with Ann and me. This year, we had one of the servers take a photo of the three of us with a few of the diner’s signs as background. I expect Fred will send a copy when they return home. They have an intention to move to Tucson that will shorten the drive by 400 or 500 miles.
I returned to town for an early evening end-of-year and awards party with the Geography Department. Years ago the meal was sort of a pot-luck affair. At some point they switched to prepared sandwiches, chips, fruit, and canned drinks. There are a half-dozen sources of funds, some from now deceased or out-of-area donors. One donor has aged out and no longer comes. The daughter of a donor came this year for the first time. Nancy and I were regulars since, I think, 2011.
The dollar amounts vary from a few hundred to one of $2,500 with most $1,000. The total is $26,500. The relatively few students and the number of awards have the effect of some students getting 3 or 4 awards. After Nancy died, I have been giving the department money for 4 $1,000 awards, so I get my picture taken with four students. The University calls these “current use” funds in contrast to “endowment” funds. I’ve been working to fulfill that commitment made 4 years ago. A payment next January from a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) of retirement held mutual funds will complete that. Thus, in 2027 the “Hultquist Awards” might come from the endowment rather than current-use money. Sometime soon I’ll be meeting with faculty and CWU Foundation folks to discuss such things.
Meanwhile, the weather has been cool and gusty. Winds into the high 30’s mph. I haven’t seen the resident skunk for about three days. There are a couple of young male deer about with spike antlers. I’ve only seen one older with a large set. I saw 6 elk on my trip to the pétanque gathering on Thursday — on the slope going into the Columbia Gorge, 10 miles east of me.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John