Farming/Nature

Flying Crows? Caw, Caw, Caw

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One November night in an attempt to get away from my roommate’s clutches, I toddled down to the triple on the other side of the dorm where my friend lived. There, as the skies were darkening, my friend told me about the night she lost her dad. He had been ill, but the story was still heart-wrenching and almost beyond belief, as I had led a sheltered existence, thankfully, in that department. I must say she was a good story teller, eyes bugging out, pregnant pauses, hands gesticulating as she filled in the details of that awful night. One of those details, which has stayed with me for all these years, is the part when a crow flew into the window and became trapped in their house on the dad’s final night.

Farming/Nature

Autumn Color at SHS

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The bright color of these gorgeous maples along Sheldon Street by the high school was nicley captured by the photographer three years ago. No matter what year, it gets us in the autumn mood.

Farming/Nature

Rabbits, Rabbits Everywhere

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Recently, I had a chance encounter with a wildlife biologist in the woods. It was on par with meeting a rock star, and I briefly lost my ability to speak, which is something my family has been wishing for.  I hung on her every word as she talked about migratory birds and habitat until eventually her narrative turned towards rabbits. Most of the rabbits we see in these parts are eastern cotton tailed rabbits. They were introduced in the 1800s and have multiplied as rabbits are known to do. They have done so at the expense of the native New England cottontail.

Farming/Nature

Waldo… “Revisited”…

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As previously reported, I first spotted the barred owl in late December during a freakishly warm spell, in a heavy rainstorm. He became a frequent visitor for almost three months. During that time I was surprised to learn that an almost supernatural creature of the night could bask in sunlight by day, arriving in the morning, and tucking into that favorite cozy spot to take advantage of the warmth of the rising sun. I was relieved but truly amazed that such a large bird of prey, in a winter season offering him very little food, would openly perch in a tree, over an active bird feeder but would still rather doze off than desperately hunt the songbirds or even the squirrels below. Then, at dusk, would fly away to hunt more favored but elusive prey.