szescstopni @szescstopni@qoto.org

Masza photobombing Vuko.

#IdąPsięta #wetlands

I've been living in the #wetlands of #Polesia permanently for the past eight years and this is the first time a saw a beaver in the wild (that small bump in the water). When I was taking the photograph I didn't know it was there, I just wanted an image of the small dam under construction. My wife saw that beaver moments later. I tried to take a photograph but the settings were wrong so nothjng came out.

Vuko cosplaying a #beaver.

#IdąPsięta #DogsOfMastodon #Polesia #wetlands

Managed to catch a wildlife photographer in the #wetlands. More rare than the moose.

#Polesia

I just had my XKCD-806 moment. There's a company from which I've already bought some equipment for our #LoRaWAN project in my #wetlands. But this time I had some questions and called them. I pressed the number for tech support and heard that I need to use the form on their website and got disconnected. Why bother with giving a number that won't get me to talk with a real person? I called again, but this time selected payments. Of course someone picked up. No, they don't have a line to tech people, they don't know about xkcd or shibboleet. Please use the form on our website. I asked if this approach is why they named their company Botland. No answer. But they promised someone will call in two hours.

https://xkcd.com/806/

Bruno is very visible, almost as if he got repeatedly boosted.

#IdąPsięta #DogsOfMastodon #Polesia #wetlands

After a sudden shower during another hot day the fog is rising on the #wetlands of #Polesia. This is just a brief respite. The coming days will be worse.

Today was very hot. It got a bit cooler just before the storm so #IdąPsięta and I went on a short walk near the house. Fortunately a tractor passed here recently, otherwise walking in the tall grass would not have been possible.

#Polesia #wetlands

A ditch in the #wetlands of #Polesia – or maybe I should call them the *former* wetlands of Polesia. It should not be dry.

Western Polesia got fucked up in the 1950s when a huge canal, the Wieprz-Krzna Canal (don't try to pronounce it) was built to turn wetlands into farmland. Farming yields increased for a few years but then fell to levels lower than before. Over 73% of wetlands were destroyed between 1956 and 2006. And the process is still going on.

Another ditch nearby is full of water. It has been recently cleared and is draining whatever is left of the water here. The clearing of the ditch was financed by the local environment protection agency.

Sufficient signal at almost two kilometres from a gateway just 6 metres high, through a dense forest. Soon it will be 14 meters up. My 27 yo testing platform seems to have an issue with the radiator but today was unusually cool.

#Polesia #wetlands #LoraWAN

At last some water in this desert. But it's flowing out – it will get worse.

#IdąPsięta #wetlands #Polesia

Can you see the #LoRaWAN distance sensor that will, once properly mounted, measure the depth of water in a ditch on our border, in the #wetlands of #Polesia? I hope potential thieves won't see it either.

An important day – ministers of the European Parliament approved #NatureRestorationLaw. As usual, Poland voted against it, along with Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden. The Austrian minister voted for – and she is now facing serious troubles at home for her brave move. Maybe there's still a chance for our disappearing #wetlands.

https://www.dw.com/en/eu-ministers-approve-contested-nature-restoration-law/a-69382916

A small ditch in the #wetlands. It was cleared recently and managed to drain the wetland meadows of water at a time of #drought. But some small land owners are happy – they'll be able to mow their meadows and get paid for that. Otherwise they could face financial penalties. So the huge wetland meadow is being destroyed so that people can make some money. This is just one small ditch – there are many more of them here, usually much larger. It cost a lot of work and effort to clear them – vegetation was taking over. And the money came from a local environment protection agency.

We managed to call Masza off before she plunged into what is supposed to water but is now just mud.

#IdąPsięta #DogsOfMastodon #wetlands #Polesia #drought

Follow that tractor!

#IdąPsięta #wetlands #Polesia

A storm is coming.

#Polesia #wetlands

Sending quite a strong signal from here. This means our #LoRaWAN seems to be functioning properly at last.

#Polesia #wetlands

Tractors invading our wetlands. It wouldn't normally pass here, but we have drought.

#Polesia #wetlands

Going home with the groceries. Through Big One. Big One is a small hamlet near our home. At least that's what we call it, because the first part of the hamlet's name translates to Big and the second is a homophone of One.

#Polesia #wetlands