6 days and count-ing

My first count as county coordinator is less than a week away. Long-range weather forecast is calling for 30s to 40s and partly cloudy but dry.
Drove my new site, 142, last evening. It's not far from home and has a road running right through it. I didn't see a lot of water. Farm fields, yes, but few marshy areas. If nothing else, it's a beautiful area for a walk. Very nice, palatial homes and many mature oaks adjacent to Maple Ave. The site is north of Wales between Hwy. 18 and I-94 and the only parallelogram-shaped site in Waukesha. I used to roam the area 25 or more years ago in my aluminum recycling days, and it's since then changed a bit.

The other site in this view, 51, is the site I've counted the last 12 or more years. Not really knowing what the other sites looked like, I always thought my site was best because it was at Retzer Nature Center, which is beautiful. I never had to trespass on private property! Problem was there weren't a whole lot of cranes. I've been skunked there on more than one occasion. I was happy to share this site with a new counter this year for that reason. I'm looking forward to new territory, and hopefully more cranes.

As many counters as can make it will be meeting at Deb's Main Street Diner in Dousman after the count. I'm hoping for a good turnout.