I have enjoyed the weather that we have been experiencing so far this winter. Unfortunately, it will not do anything to help with the drought that we have had the last couple of years. Not only does it make it hard on the farmers, but our creeks, lakes and streams all have had to suffer. As I have driven past areas where ponds once thrived, I have found most are either dried up or close to it. One of the side effects of this is what it does to the wildlife that existed in those small bodies of water.
If you have ever taken an evening drive in the country, you have no doubt driven past a swamp or pond and heard the many forms of wildlife that exist therein. As the sun sets you can be serenaded by the sound of birds chirping as they busily prepare for the night ahead. There are also the sound of frogs speaking out from somewhere in the water. You may also hear an occasional fish jumping or a muskrat, beaver or otter swimming. While at our cabin, all of these things can be heard while sitting on the shore of our little lake.
While awaiting the time to come when I can return to our cabin, I, from time to time, will sit and dream of such things. If I close my eyes, I can almost hear the noises of the evening (not to be confused with my tinnitus) and long for the sounds of the trumpeter swans and loons calling or of frogs making that distinct croaking sound. I have been awoken by a loud splashing sound, only to discover that it is the sound that a beaver makes when slapping its tail on the water.
I can almost feel the evening dew as it settles on the lily pads, bull rushes and pencil reeds for the evening. As I lay awake in bed at the cabin, there are many sounds of birds calling in the forest, many of which I do not recognize. This always puts my mind in a curious state, but some of these I have to leave to my imagination. These are the call of certain birds that I only hear at night. There are occasional sounds of the wolves calling or of a pack of coyotes that seem to hang out across the lake. I recognize the difference in a wolf call, which is more of a howl, compared to a coyote which is more of a yipping sound.
Next to fishing, watching wildlife is probably my favorite pastime while at the cabin. Over the years, I have had many instances where I have been surprised by the sudden appearance of a bear, deer, badger or martin. One time, while sitting by the campfire in the evening, a deer ran past us and surprised the heck out of us. A few minutes later my grandson, Taylor came up from the lake and asked if we had seen that deer. He said that, while coming up the hill from the dock, a deer had run right in front of him. It had to be the same deer that ran past our campfire a short time later.
Until next time: With the dry conditions in the area, it has been predicted that we will be vulnerable to wildfires. With the high winds that seem to blow every day, the chance for those wildfires increases. Can somebody please unplug the fan!
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