Cisco Sonar

Chickadees

By Bryce Neilson

As I have grown older and lazier, I find myself sitting in
the house more.  With the Covid thing, hanging around the house is now acceptable.  One thing I enjoy is to my bird feeder right next to my living room window.  It has been there for 40 + years and over that period I have watched thousands of birds come and go.

   My overall favorite is chickadees, the Black Capped and Mountain species.  They are called chickadees because of their calls, chicka-dee-dee-dee.  When you hear it, it means something is bothering them and it signifies an alarm for other birds and animals. 

 The black capped show up first in the fall, however they can be seen any time of year.  They are the most common with small flocks in the winter.  You don’t seem the often in the summer as they are nesting and feeding their young insects.  As winter approaches the mountain chickadees, distinguished by a black stipe on their face, come down from the forest for food.  You can never really tell how many birds are at the feeder because they come and go so rapidly.  Since the sexes are impossible to distinguish, you can’t keep track of the individual birds. I feed black sunflower seeds and peanut butter because they are rich with protein.  These small birds may eat up to 35% of their body weight daily. 

The chickadees are cachers.  They take seeds as fast as they can and “cache” them everywhere to ensure they will have something to eat later when food gets scarce.  Ornithologists have learned that chickadees not only remember where they hide seeds, but also what caches they have already eaten, what have been eaten by other animals and which ones have their preferred foods. They can remember for over a month after caching and when spring comes, their brains automatically erase all the information and start over in the fall.  In the sprig, I notice black sunflower plants coming up in the strangest spots.

 It amazes me how tiny black and white birds can bring me so much pleasure observing them, but they do.

Ice Waves

Photo by  Lauriann Wakefield

 

Garden City Library

Preschool Story Time - WE'VE MISSED YOU!

We will be starting a simplified Story Time beginning Wednesday, March 10th at 11 am. This will be by RESERVATION ONLY. We can only accept 10 children at this time. Please call 435-946-2950 and reserve your spot. Covid guidelines and social distancing will be encouraged. We look forward to seeing you again!

The library is open today from 4-6pm and back to our normal schedule. Thank you for your patience!

Highlights of County Commission meeting

RANDOLPH, Utah.  February 3, 2021.  Brian Carver with Bear River Association of Government, Mitch Poulsen Bear Lake Regional Commission Director and Niki Weston Economic Development Board Member, met with the Commission to present the minutes and recommendations for funding from the February l , 2021 meeting of the Rich County Economic Development Grant Board. 

Questions about the funding were asked and answered. Applicants were reviewed. A motion was made by Sim Weston to approve the recommendations of the Rich County Development Board. A change was made: Pickleville Playhouse receiving $7500.00 and High Desert Vet receiving $7500.00. Jon Lee seconded the motion and unanimously passed.

Dale Wilson Rich County Road Supervisor met with the Commission and presented a bid to drill a new well at the road shed. A motion was made by Sim Weston to allow the Road Department to drill a new well with the cost not to exceed $15,000. The bid is with Cal-Con from Evanston Wyoming. Jon Lee seconded the motion and unanimously passed. Dale presented bids for leasing a new blade. The Commission would like him to get more bids and bids with different options on the blade.

Krystal Butterfield Rich County Recorder met with the Commission and requested the County resume charging fees for online searches. The County had suspended payments for searching during Covid 2020. A motion was made by Jon Lee to reinstate charging for online searching. Sim Weston seconded the motion and unanimously passed.   Butterfield would like to upgrade software in her office and attend a class for the training. The Commission would like her to take the training so she can utilize the upgrade.

Lyn Weston Rich County Sanitation Supervisor met with the Commission and presented quotes for fixing the trackhoe at the landfill. The quotes for repairs were reviewed. The Commission told Lyn to get it repaired and coordinate dates with Komat'su.

On Wings of an Eagle

 

Photo by Mimi Payne (photo credit corrected)

Bear River Health District COVID 19 Update

 In the Bear River Health Department district that covers Box Elder, Cache and Rich Counties there were 23 new cases of Covid 19 on Sunday March 7, 2021.

COUNTY                        CASES        TOTAL HOSPITAL       DEATHS 

BOX ELDER                    4881               231                               46  

CACHE                            14991              555                               38

RICH                                    135                  7                                 0    

TOTALS                            20007              793                              84 

Update on Market and Ace Hardware construction

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah. March 2,2021.   Mike Moldenhauer, Ace Hardware and Mike's Market, reports that construction of the new supermarket and hardware store is on target for a May opening.  This is a major project in Rich County and will provide access to residents and tourist for most of their needs.  The facility will also house a bank, coffee shop, indoor and outdoor dining.  The supermarket will have its own bakery and butcher.

They are now looking for "Amazing people to join our team at the New Ace Hardware in Garden City." The jobs will be full time, year round with competitive wages. Contact Mike at mike@moldenhauerinc.com.

COVID19 Vaccinations