2017.07.10-Wisconsin Dells, WI

2017.07.10-Wisconsin Dells, WI

We arrived in the Wisconsin Dells early enough in the day to take one of the tour boat rides.  The Cambrian sand rock formations around here are very interesting and often very colorful.  Our boat stopped at two places.  Of course, there were concessions at each stop.  ☹  The first picture is as we were leaving the dock.  The second picture is Witches Gulch.

 This last picture is Stand Rock which the native Indians used as a gathering place.  While we were there a German Shepard jumped from the rock on the right to Stand Rock on the left.  Then, with some coaxing from the owner, he jumped back again to the right.  I made a video of the jump but the file is too big to include.

Yesterday we ventured into Baraboo, WI.  Not a very large town, but it is home to the Circus World Museum and it is the former headquarters and winter home of the Ringling Brothers circus.  We both felt a sense of circus excitement while here.  Directly across from the Circus World Museum we found a local bee keeper and bought some local honey.  One can never have too much honey!

Then Jerry saw a sign for the International Crane Foundation and off we went.  This place is doing a great job of helping the many endangered species of cranes.  The Foundation is the “only complete collection of crane species in the world,” according to their literature.  We took a guided tour and saw 14 of the 15 crane species in the world most of which are endangered.  This picture is an African Grey Crowned crane.  She has heavily imprinted on humans and so far has ignored all opportunities to bond with a male crane.  They are trying to get her interested in the male next door, but so far no luck.  Their web site is www.savingcranes.org

These are one of several Whooping Crane mated pairs held by the Foundation.  Believe it or not these two are over 30 years old and have raised several chicks.  At first they stayed on top of the hill across the pond from us but, after some patient waiting, wandered over our way and gave us a good close up show.  Breeding Whooping Cranes, the most seriously endangered species of crane, is one of the Foundation’s primary missions.