Today, while out working in the pasture, I met two large birds of prey. They hung out in the large tree along the fence of the pasture. I am not sure what kinds of birds they are, but they made the typical cry of a raptor. Seeing them reminded me of my goal to visit Eagle Island, which is a park near the city of Eagle. Eagle is north of me, and this afternoon seemed like a good day. So after a couple hours of raking sticks, leaves, and cow pies in the pasture, I headed to find the 545 acre park called Eagle Island.
From the park--The two black shapes in the field are some sort of large wing-spanned birds. I thought they might be herons, or vultures.
Closest I came to seeing any eagles at the park were these nests, which could be found in most large trees. I heard the skree of a hawk at one point off in the distance.
Turns out the park's name is a misnomer. Eagle Island has no island. Instead, it has a lake, which is an old section of the north branch of the Boise River. Like an oxbow, but it incorporates two curves, so would that be a double oxbow, or is there another term for that? I walked the trails for about an hour. It was rather desolate there, being the middle of winter. In the summer, the place must be hopping, with a water slide, concession stands, and a frisbee golf course. Most exciting, there's a place to park horse trailers, and the 5 miles of trails are all open to horses! I could see Berhwood and I cruising around there someday...
Winter cattails, doing their fluff release.
Lichen on fallen log. This is the shade of yellow that I saw on the Albert Rim. So maybe it was lichen...
In the park there are some interesting buildings. I wish I'd taken photos of them; not sure why I didn't. The prison dormitory, dairy, slaughter house, and prison warden's house all made me wonder what the history of this place truly was. After a little net-search, I found out that the land was given to the local government in 1977 and turned into a park. Before then, it was the Eagle Island Prison Farm. The purpose of the farm was to help the main penitentiary be self sufficient. Idaho Prison Board bought the land in 1922 for $72,000. There is a fish hatchery built on the land in 1939, which is still in use.
Beautiful white birch. Made a striking contrast against the gray sky.
I found this link to interviews with guards from the "old pen" as the main prison is known, and two of the interviews are from a guard who worked at the Eagle Island Prison Farm. The farm and Old Pen closed around 1973. I will be listening to the interviews on a day when I have wireless high speed access, because it says it will take 2 hours to download and watch it on dial-up! Here it is for the curious: http://www.boisestate.edu/history/issuesonline/spring2005_issues/gallery_remember/gallery_remember1.html
There are videos on youtube of tours of the old prison farm, as well, for those interested in seeing more.
As I was driving away from Eagle Island, I saw this multi-shafted light in the sky to the west. Has a "Close Encounters" feel to it, eh?
And here's tonight's sunset, snapped through the windshield at a stop sign. Best I could do. By the time I stopped, it had faded.
9 Days Until School Starts!!! WooHoo!
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