Yes, that's scary when you can see the water rising and don't know when it'll quit! Your land sounds idyllic!! And not having livestock also sounds more relaxing!
Meanwhile I've been thinking about how your began this post - Robins...there have been so many of them in the Cap/First hill area this year, and they stayed all year, they are overtaking the starlings, and that's saying something!! Its near the UW arboretum here in Seattle and there have been flocks of 20 or more birds - its crazy, I think because they don't have natural predators and humans are feeding them, and appreciating them - their populations have taken off! I haven't check birding sites online to see if anyone else is remarking about them, but I'd be surprised if they weren't! The other thing that has always been funny to me, are the Robins and pigeons here in PNW are so fat compared to the Robins we had in Michigan, and I remember their red being brighter then these Robins in Seattle...Anyway BH - good luck with your creek flow! I hope the neighbors get it together and remove the dam
Good luck
