Community Cookout

Posted by Amy Jones on May 3, 2010 - 16:50 PM

We continue to struggle with the weather and our burn schedule, but we caught a break last Tuesday and burned Pokorny Prairie near Schuyler. The burn was pretty – billowing smoke, steady flame, the contrast of thick brown grass and the charred ashes left behind. The clouds were beautiful, the surrounding fields an amazing green, but what made the day memorable were the guests that came for dinner.

Swainson’s Hawks from miles around saw our smoke and came to see what was for lunch.  At one point Adele counted 21 hawks circling the property.  They’d glide and swoop and occasionally land in a puff of black ash as they pounced on mice and shrews and snakes and who knows what else.  It was amazing. 

At times it was difficult to concentrate on the fire. So every now and then we’d take a break and take some photos. Check out the Pokorny Scrapbook for more photos from the day. There are also a few pics of prescribed burns at Griffith Prairie, Bader Park and the Aurora Public Schools outdoor classroom.

We’re still hoping for a couple good days for more burning, so keep your fingers crossed. After burning we start fencing, and building fence doesn’t seem to attract nearly as many visitors. 

I can’t imagine why.