Back....kinda

Sorry I haven't checked in sooner, things have been crazy. My company was underwater for a week and I just got back to work today. The rescue is fine, no damage or outages, so we're good there. Jeanne probably appreciated the extra help with both Bryan and us there.



Work is crazy now. Will check back later.

Yikes!!!! Literally underwater or the roads. Glad you are OK!

Both. Majority of the roads are still underwater, some roads and bridges were washed out/damaged and need to be repaired. Twon next door is still being evacuated and the president is due to come look this weekend.



http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/08/ga031storm_mills_15azip_1.html



This airport is next door to my building where I work....

Not fun! Be safe!

Need me to send you my hip-boots ? That suxs. Watch out for the snakes. PS you don't need boots,you need a boat.

Bryan droved down to our old area to help the greenhouse manager where he worked as they were 3 ft under water. He said they started by using waders, but were sick of being pruney after 2 days so they switched to kayaks.... yeah..... kayaks.



It started raining again last night heavily and isn't supposed to stop until the weekend. As mentioned, the rescue is in an awesome location and besides a bunch of downed trees (which we expected, seeing as we are surrounded by 25 acres of woodland preserves) we had no power outages and no damages. A few minor leaks but that was nothing compared to what the rest of the state is now facing...



The only issues we are personally facing now is that with all the recently standing water, the mosquitoes are monsterous, massive and many.... I woke up this morning covered in huge lumps for bites. These ones are potent to the enth degree!

Do you have West Nile virus there? If so, the mosquitoes may represent real risk for human and bird alike. I'm not sure what you can use around birds to limit mosquitoes except mosquito netting, but...

Yes, they have found the virus in our area, but like you, we have no idea how to avoid them. We've been keeping the buildings closed (but only because a black momma bear and her three cubs have been curious as to what all the noise in the building is) but aside from that, not really much we can spray that won't hurt the birds.

I wonder if you could lure in a bunch of mosquito hawks? They are ugly, but they do eat the mosquitos! Sort of the "There's always a bigger fish" approach.

Put up a Purple Martin house for next year.

ScooterNScotty wrote:

I wonder if you could lure in a bunch of mosquito hawks? They are ugly, but they do eat the mosquitos! Sort of the "There's always a bigger fish" approach.

this is kinda off topic but I thought mosquito hawks really ate plant juices or something along those lines?

moa wrote:

this is kinda off topic but I thought mosquito hawks really ate plant juices or something along those lines?

The larvae may eat mosquito larvae, but you appear to be correct! Some things you learn so young you forget to question. Good lesson for me!

We seem to have an inordinate number of very large spiders who produce some pretty huge webs and we are hoping that helps.



The purple martin box is a good idea. We're also installing bat houses.

Gambusia in standing water sources help a lot. I've heard some people even put them in their livestock water troughs (SnS - horse troughs, too?). Contact your local vector control and they may have some. Here in San Diego, the county gives them out for free upon request.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambusia

I don't know if gambusia survive the winter in NJ.They might they're pretty tough critters.We used to put them in our ponds and they'd freeze over and the gambusia would still be there in the spring.Interesting fact,they are spread by wading birds,the fry hide in the feathers and are transported from pond to pond.We see them in the rain water pools at the beach and couldn't figure out how they got there.

henpecked wrote:

We see them in the rain water pools at the beach and couldn't figure out how they got there.

Spontaneous generation-Didn't your momma never tell you nuthin'?

Seriously, my parents are immigrants and my mom was thoroughly convinced goldfish came from mosquito larvae and mosquito larvae came from nowhere.

Not heard of Gambusia in troughs, but most places I've boarded have automatic waterers supplemented by the occasional bucket, so it hasn't been an issue. Fly predators in the manure are popular though.

Never heard of gambusia... is that like ambrosia?