The Loudest Bird

The loudest bird is invading west Texas. I hear long, long, long before I see 'em. In fact just minutes ago, I pulled up to the pavilion, got out of my truck and heard this loud, shrill.

I looked to the source of the sound and thought; 'they must be just over that hill.' I mean they sounded within walking distance. So, I got back into the truck and headed toward the southwest pasture. I parked, looked, squinted and listened. I could still hear 'em--but couldn't see 'em. By this time, they were so loud--they had to be hiding in the grain within yards of my truck.

As it turns out, they weren't in the field at all. I looked up, more up, more up and finally straight up and there they were... flocks and flocks and flocks of Sandhill Cranes.

This is the time of year (now through January) that they migrate to wherever they migrate. They're tremendous and very loud. They're so big that when they take off they apparently go straight up. They kind of circle to gain altitude. Slowly, but surely they spread giant wings, shrill back and forth and climb to at least Cessna heighth.

They're at sight to see. Come visit and see for yourself.
Bill Robertson
Mgr., Windmill Ranch Preserve
Snyder, TX.
325. 573.1200

The Ranch & the Space Station

I just saw something I bet you didn't see.

I just saw the international space station flying overhead the Windmill Ranch Preserve. Not only did I see it, I heard it too--clear as a bell.

I friend of ours called to talk about the price of iron. In signing off he said, "by the way, go outside @ 7:47 and look in the southwest sky. The int'l Space Station will fly overhead. It'll look like a star, only moving.

So, we turned out the lights and looked to the southwest. And, there is was. At first, it wasn't exactly what I expected. It was moving with lights blinking. It kinda looked like a plane. But, I watched it with a lot of oohs and aahs.

Then, Terry, the friend, called. He exclaimed, "see it!"
I said, "yeah, low in the sky."
This time, he exclaimed with a little more enthusiam, "No!! Look straight up!"
"Oh... yeah... WOW!!!! There it is! I see it", I yelled back into the phone.

If that's not enough, I could hear it too.

Just like Terry said it would, the int'l space station zoomed from northwest to southeast, clear as a bell.

Good thing he called back to tell me to look up. Otherwise, I would have thought a passing Cessna with blinking lights was a scientific crowning achievement passing overhead.

Bill Robertson
Mgr., Windmill Ranch Preserve
325.573.1200