Cleanup Day Brings Out Folks

How many Sanctuary on the Park residents does it take to clean up the neighborhood? No joke, it took:
-Thirty or so to pick up a year's blown-in collection of litter, cans, wrappers, sticks, stakes and various other items.
-One (Bob Hill) to drive a pickup to collect 20 sacks of junk. -Four to cut down the dead pine tree.
-A dozen to fix up the birdhouses.
-Two to make frozen Margaritas (Ralph & Janet Hanna).
-45 to drink the Margaritas plus the beer, coolers and sodas.
-20 to bring chairs and tables for the crowd to use at lunch.
-Eight to fetch a dozen or so washed-in golf balls found in our now-arid Lake Sanctuary.
-Four to weed the colorful and attractive entrance flowerbeds.
-One (Joe Dirks) to get the low-down on Jordan Road.
          The early risers gathered at the Hannas for Krispy Kreme donuts, coffee and orange juice and to kibitz about Jordan Road. Teams armed with spikes, pruners, plastic bags and saws fanned out, leaving no wisp of waste untouched.
          The hungry crowd congregated beneath canopies to enjoy the ample lunch of fajitas and all the fixings catered by Amigos. Bob Toll, park superintendent, attended the lunch for the second year. As might be expected, Toll fielded lots of questions about the Jordan Road closure. (See the article on Page 2 for more information about the closing.)
          Many thanks to Andy Tysler for providing beer and coolers and to the Social Committee for arranging for the food and Margaritas. Once again our Cleanup Day was a huge success and we appreciate all those who participated. Thanks also to Joe Dirks and Ted Grabrowski who sprayed the thistles in the common areas of the Sanctuary. The rains came the first time so a second spraying was done on those that weren't starting to die.

Contributed by Senior Reporter Jim Banman

Note: It took from our first contact with the US Post Office in October until May to get the postal box moved on Maplewood. But, now when it rains and snows residents won't be standing in water and slush to retrieve mail and that deicer bucket can go away forever.


Homeowner's Meeting

The next scheduled meeting of Sanctuary HOA is Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00pm at the home of Dennis and Kris Donovan, 6127 S. Carson St. As always, all homeowners are encouraged to attend with comments and questions.

Wild Bird Habitat

          During the recent Spring Cleanup, we were able to reinforce the habitat stanchions, weatherproof those not occupied and take an inventory of each one. We used boiled linseed oil for the weatherproof, a natural product without chemical ingredients. We found a sitting mom in the last 12 days of incubation in one habitat and another one with fledglings. We left these undisturbed.
          All of the Bluebird/Swallow habitats were occupied. We also had two with eggs; one Tree Swallow and one Blackbird (photos on our website.) Their approach gives true meaning to the term "feather your nest." Interesting to note that they never use their own feathers in this process. Tree Swallows have 1 or 2 broods a year, incubation is 14-21 days and the fledgling stage is also 14-21 days.
          We were disappointed in our first efforts to attract Flickers or Kestrels to those habitats. We do have 2 Redwing Blackbird nests. Three of the remaining habitats were also taken over by blackbirds, who have 1 or 2 broods a year. We will continue to work on the other Flicker/Kestrel habitats.
          If you have been watching, you noticed that the Wrens and Chickadees had nests in the Sanctuary. They even took over the Swallow habitat at Murlin's house. It was fun to watch the little female Wren fend off the Tree Swallows who also had their eye on the habitat. A good point to remember if you may be planning on installing a Wren/Chickadee habitat is be sure to limit the opening to 1-1/8", preventing the larger birds from taking over.
          Thanks to Mal Jones, Ron Robinson, Allen Kortz and Sam Searcy who helped with the habitats. Their efforts were much appreciated.

Contributed by Jim Murlin, resident Birdman

Hate Graffiti? We have bought some graffiti-repellent paint so we can cover up the "tagging" in the spillway. We're just waiting for a day (cool and dry) to get down in the vault and get it done. Interested in helping? Call Joe Dirks at 303-699-9439 to volunteer.