Yippee! Growing on Wednesday 8/4/10

Rain poured throughout most of the day, but the sun broke through at 6 p.m. as our crews arrived. We worked in sun — and it did get hot, thank you summer sun — until we were done at 9.

Our last pallet of building materials from Lowe's south Anchorage store was delivered in the rain earlier in the day by John, who showed expert skill at maneuvering the forklift. Thanks to Lowe's South store manager Alvin Gamboa and our project contact Sydney Schellinger, for all their support in making these materials affordable and available to the project.

Terrance Smith and his volunteer Scout crew continued work on the west leg. His next step will be building the gathering platform with a great view of the original, undisturbed bog.

Looking into the bog from the west leg. Terrance and his volunteer crew of Boy Scouts.

Meanwhile, the volunteers from our Bowman school community continued transporting and connecting sections along the south leg. We also reached the spot where a gathering platform will be built, with views of the forest.

The evening's community crew working on the south leg.

When finished, the boardwalk will go through three distinct habitats in the park: restored wetlands, undisturbed bog wetlands, and forest. Large platforms built along the paths in the middle of these habitats will give people a viewing stop.

Moving sections on the cart to the south leg, threading a narrow corridor through trees
and turning a tight corner by the fence, that separates the park from the neighboring golf course.

ANIMALS of Tanglewood Park

Moose takes to the water, see story below; frog marvels

Duck or grebe?

Dragonflies like this clear-wing help control mosquitoes.

Tanglewood Park is rich in animals, large and small.

Here are a few pictures of animals seen during summer 2010 work parties. The sand hill cranes (shown on the main page at right) migrate through the park during spring and fall.

Wood frog in the grass; Oh froggy, I love you so!


Emergent frog with tail remnant; holding mature frog correctly for a brief closer look

Story of the Moose

Last Saturday morning, a man walking his dog in Tanglewood Park told us to watch out for a moose nearby. Soon we saw a young moose heading our way, munching as it came, stripping leaves from the branches in that non-stop feeding frenzy of summer.

The moose continued eating...

...until it came in full view near the south end of the Tanglewood Park boardwalk construction zone.

The moose looked at the us. Some of us were working on the turn by the bridge. Others were carrying materials here and there. Three boys were catching frogs and their parents pulled them close to avoid the moose.
We watched it.
We marveled at its strong muscles and glossy coat. We watched it devour leaves as it moved closer and closer. Its ears flicked back and forth at times, but it didn't seem to mind too much that we were in its dining room.

The moose ate its way closer. It was a little curious about the wagon of tools, but it avoided walking on the planks. It ate a while longer at the trees by the bridge. In the meantime, the volunteers backed off their tasks and gave the moose plenty of room. It moved on...

...along the path by the lake, and then cut through the bushes to the water's edge where it cooled its feet and drank.

After a bit, the moose started moving back up the hill, when suddenly, the noise of children running along the path spooked it.

It jumped into the lake with a splash ...

...and swam to the other side.

We heard the moose plunge into the water. We talked about having never seen a moose swim, although we knew they do. The water was deep and covered its head for a few seconds. It grunted loudly. Maybe this was its swim. Maybe it was scared. But the moose swam well.
It was almost to the other side before his feet touched bottom, and it safely emerged.

Saturday 7/31/10 Eagle Scout Project, West Side of Boardwalk, Underway

New energy came to the boardwalk project on Saturday with Terrance Smith, his crew of Boy Scouts, and help from the Anchorage Park Foundation's YEP crew.

Terrance Smith, YEP crew member James Amundsen, & crew leader John Hill

Terrance is working on his Eagle Scout rank and is taking on construction and installation of the west side of the boardwalk. This will be about a 700-foot section with a gathering platform.

In the meantime on Saturday, long-time community volunteer/biologist Mark Schroeder, who has been involved with this project since its inception three years ago, worked on installing sections to make the turn at the south bridge.

Having this turn in place will make getting the sections to the south leg soooo much easier, as any of the 7/28/10 crew can attest, after wrestling the cart around the turn on uneven, soft ground!

We also had LOTS of animal sightings Saturday. And the sun came out!

The three boys, who came with their parents to the work party, turned the day into nature explorations. Wood frogs seemed to be hopping in all directions through the grass, when you started looking, which the boys did! They also found young, emergent frogs still with the last of their tails. Dragonflies were flitting about, and a young moose ate its way through our work site, then jumped in the lake and swam across.

See the Tanglewood Park Animals post for more pictures.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the pictures!

Thanks to our business partner Lowe's South Anchorage store for the loan of the lumber cart. Works GREAT to wheel completed sections to the end, and eliminates many steps of heavy carrying!

Pizza and cookies for lunch, a welcome break in a 7-hour work day.