Don’t Know
By Dr. Everett Vreeland
In the midst of a blizzard I am recalling three days ago. In bright sun the phragmites (swamp grass - reeds) nod in unison with the wind. Their feathery tops catching sun and appearing magical as the seed crowns reflect the rays as a single shining torch. Some think that this plant is an invasive danger. I consider it, in the natural course of botanical things, a transient gift. Bitterns, rails, redwings, and others call it home and nursery while canoeists know it is a place of rest in big winds and is everywhere - in fresh water or salt.
After the storm one of the feral (well fed) cats crouched in the bird feeder waiting, evilly, for hungry birds to arrive. Nan said “let nature take its course.” I immediately concurred and busted the feline butt out of there. Natures course would be no feeder - smart birds - and hungrier and more athletic cats.
The day before Christmas and rain and warm weather prevail. The swamps and water courses are all over-full now and wait for freezing. All that room under the ice means easy going for beavers, muskrats, frogs, turtles and a real crowd of larvae including mosquitoes.
Birds in the feeders are wet but really happy and not bothered by rain. Very large squirrels are the same and crowd out most of the birds except chickadees and nuthatches who bravely go where other species put caution over valor.
Most water holes not iced over at this date, have small groups of ducks, often mallards, hanging in here and probably don’t know that plenty of food lies one day’s flight to the south. Many geese are the same and we bear witness now to the development of strains that simply do not leave as long as there is open water somewhere near. The “wacko” strain. I often see mergansers and mallards crouched on ice with air at 0 degrees and looking totally in misery with comfort as close as the Chesapeake or the Carolina swamps. I have been frustrated all my life that I cannot converse with them, yet at -8 degrees the feeder is mobbed with happy appearing birds of many species who spend all day seeking food and sleep in some frigid roost in frigid night.
The ready wood gets lower and the sun country draws closer.
