Friday, May 15, 2009

Nature, sweet and lovely

Dare I write a post with no photos? How very unlike me, but I want to try.

This evening I strolled across the road to peek in on the Bluebird nest. I was happy to find 3 little mostly naked baby birds, small but strong, begging for food. There were originally 5 eggs, one of which did not hatch and had been moved up into an unused corner of the nest. I am unsure of the fate of the 5th egg. I checked on the other 2 nest boxes, finding them still empty. I wish our little Bluebird family well.

Then I went over to the garden to thin out the greens. I love to just sit in that garden plot. It is situated in a field that is surrounded by woods on 3 sides. From the edge of those woods come the songs of so many bird friends... White-eyed Vireo, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-winged Warbler, American Goldfinch. A flock of Cedar Waxwings flies overhead several times, as well as a small grouping of Barn Swallows. Looking around, I notice Mama Bluebird perched in a tree right at garden's edge. Quiet as can be, watching me: that mean lady who flushed her from her nest. We watched each other intently, then, in a flash, she headed off to find some food for her nestlings. I see a Robin and a Cardinal, and I am aware of how happy I am that the song of the Robin, a bird that now seems so "common," still brings me joy.

On the way back to the house a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher gets me attention. She's buzzing quite loudly, and I see that she has a meal in her beak. As she flits around in the tree, another Gnatcatcher calls from across the road. She responds and takes her meal with her. To a nest, I wonder? Sure enough, I find their nest in a tree close to the road. A very tiny, beautiful nest. It is the first time I've tracked a bird's nest like that, and I surely never would have seen it otherwise. Hopefully I will visit it again to take photos. Most importantly though, I hope it will remain safe and that her brood will be successful.

A light mist begins to fall, and I know some bad storms are off to the west, heading our way. Our creek will run strong again tonight. I look forward to sleeping with the windows open, listening to the rain. Listening to nature speak to me.

5 comments:

FAB said...

Heather. It was worth doing & we should all do more of this. I often feel that many of our readers only really look at the pictures. This is evident from the comments.
Well done, I certainly felt what you saw & felt thro' the words.

Kathie Brown said...

Nature is already speaking to you and you have become one of her many voices. Well done and sweet dreams!

Kelly said...

...I love reading journal entries, and yours is wonderful! When you write about your experience, you remember the tiny details of how you felt. You don't always get that with a photo. Keep it up. Before I took photos, I would write all of my entries in my field guide. I'm trying to get back to some of that. When you go back to look at a photo, it's nice, but when you go back to read something you wrote...you feel more.

Ginnymo said...

How lucky you are to be able to peek into a nest. I sometimes just sit or stand at my open window and watch the birds and listen to the sounds in the woods. Without my camera. I listen to this one lone Tufted Titmouse, forever calling, it seems, for a mate. I can hear him way in the distance. Sometimes I whistle and he comes near, only to be disappointed that it's not another Titmouse. At least that is how I feel..Ha! I hope he has a mate. I feel sorry for them if they don't. I hate to think of a mate getting killed out there. But it happens. Love your post Heather, even without pictures.

Heather said...

Frank - Thank you, and thank you for taking the time to read. I think it is a challenge to draw folks in without any "eye candy".

Kathie - Thank you so much. Turns out that bad weather kind of fizzled out before it got to us!

Kelly - I'm often lazy to write, which is kind of a shame. It engages a different part of my brain I suppose, and that part is a bit rusty (I used to spend LOTS of time writing). Even to write in my field journal feels like a bit of a chore, so I try to make quick notes. That's better than nothing.

Ginny - It's nice to sit and listen without trying to capture every little image. Each method of observation has its pros and cons. I'm glad you liked this one.