Mt. City Montage
by PAULINE TOM
James Polk sent word last week that a little lady bluebird chose one of his nestboxes. She laid a fifth egg and started incubation on Thursday. The proud father is hanging around close to protect the eggs. James projects that a mid-May fledge. “The joys of birdwatching!” The Garraways white eggs with splotches hatched as Ash-throated Flycatchers. Their nestbox sits on the far side of the house, so they had a tough time getting a close-up look at the parents.
Through our office window, we got a good look at some Ash-throated Flycatchers as they built in a front yard nestbox. Sunday before last, the nest contained one white egg with purplish splotches. When I “NestWatch’d this past Sunday, I found five. She started incubation on Thursday, the same day as the bluebird at the Polk’s. According to the “Nest, Eggs, & Nestlings” chart on the Texas Bluebird Society website, they’ll hatch in 14-16 days and fledge in 13-17 days.
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One thing most don’t want to see is a venomous snake and Judge Beth Smith sent an email warning of rattler and coral snake sightings from Plum Creek and Blanco Vista, in parks and along paths. They are seen in Moutain City, too. New home construction is driving the snakes from their usual territory.
Rick Thomas replied to Judge Beth, “In case some don’t know, the latest recommendations for what to do if you get bitten by a poisonous snake are:
Stay calm and immobilize the bitten area so it doesn’t move around.
Try to keep the location below the heart.
Remove jewelry or anything that would be a problem when the area swells.
Get to an emergency room ASAP.
None of the stuff we were taught as kids, like ice, constriction bandages, or sucking out the venom apply anymore. They can do more harm than good.”
Call Mr. Thomas at 393-1986 to relocate an unwanted snake after 4 p.m. and on weekends.
How would you remember to keep the location below the heart, rather than above the heart? In most instances, if the “victim” is human, “below the heart” will be easy since snakebites are usually on the arms or legs. Cradled in arms, a dog could easily be upside down.
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Remember the wiener dog races this weekend. KissMe runs on Saturday afternoon. Dr. Bob says BoD’s racing days are over. We will leave BoD home, so that he will not be fighting to get out of our arms and onto the track. That BoD … he loved chasing the dog running in front. Over and over through the years, BoD got second in his heat.
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Remember to send tidbits. [email protected] or 512-268-5678. Thanks! Love to you, Pauline.
