Red-Winged Blackbirds

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Red-Winged Blackbirds

There was the distinct sound of a cell phone going off out in the middle of nowhere. Above the loud chirping sound of the frogs was the sound of a "rrrring-rrrrring." I looked up in a nearby tree and saw two black birds singing to each other in their 1950s ring tone. Even with a dog not too far below them, they didn't shy away from their interesting interpretation of a man-made modern invention. Later that evening as I was looking at the pictures, I realized that the birds were red-winged blackbirds. I had heard some friends mention that they had seen them hanging out at Angler's Park, but I had yet to see or hear them.

I didn't get my morning walk today, so Sadie and I went to the park for a 2 mile walk. Usually at Angler's Park there are some ducks in the marsh, and that's about it. Today, however, we were fortunate to see the red-winged blackbirds, a plover wading in the marsh, and some wonderful demonstrations of ducks landing and swimming about in the marshes. We also stopped to watch a team of youth soccer players go through their paces as they prepared for the up-coming soccer season. The weather was very comfortable (in the 50s). Tomorrow is going to be just as nice.

It was another good day on the Riverwalk.

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"DON'T TRADE YOUR DOG FOR AN ELEPHANT"

(JUNE 19, 2010) This morning we saw some lovely sights as we ventured to the Riverwalk at 6:15. The mother mallard and the six babies were out at Dan Daniel Park and the flora and fauna were plentiful. But, one comment made by a regular Riverwalk biker/walker stayed on my mind as we ventured forth. He said, "One bit of advice: Don't trade your dog for an elephant." What was the meaning of that? I pondered that question throughout my walk until I saw a water moccasin swimming close to the shore.

EXPRESSIONS

(JUNE 1, 2010) Often we see expressions in animals that are similar to humans. Sadie sometimes swallows a moth she has been stalking, and the look on her face says, "Sheesh. That didn't taste very good." The picture above shows some interesting expressions on the faces of a goose family. There is the gosling looking up at the adult with respect,, the other goslings looking over the adult goose with an inquiring look, and the adult in the background showing stress. Within this one photograph is captured many emotions.

SHALL WE GATHER

(MAY 25, 2010) People gather each morning to walk or ride bikes together on the Riverwalk. In addition, there are many "gatherings" on the river each morning among the wildlife there. The waterfowl gather to communially dip in the river or fly off together to graze in the rich meadows or just sit on a log in the middle of the river - watching. There is another type of "gathering" that goes on as well. Look closely and watch the swallow and the bluebird and the robin and other songbirds gather nesting for their homes or food for themselves and their off-spring. Look closely and see the insects gathering whatever they need for sustenance - the small bug drinking from the rain water "gathering" on the leaf or the bee gathering nectar from the budding flower. All of this is the age old activity of gathering by the river.

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT

(APRIL 14, 15, 2010) There have been many changes on the Riverwalk over the past two days. The search for the young 5 year old who fell out of the boat near Dan Daniel Dam, the small flowers that were once there are now gone because of the cooler weather, and the river has gone down because of the drier weather. However, amongst these changes there are some constants: the same people we see every morning on our walk are there, the river continues to provide a home for wildlife, and robins can be spotted along the trail.