BUZZARD: MAID OF THE LAND

I know most of us don't see the beauty possessed by Oregon's Turkey Vulture (Buzzard). But in the pix below that beauty is readily apparent as these two spread their six foot wings to capture the sun's rays. Perching high above the forest floor in the limbs of an old growth fir, the color and shine of their feathers is exhibited. Having just visited a small dammed-up creek, they had wet feathers. This is their "clothes line" method of getting dry.

As scavengers they are a useful resource keeping the forest floor cleaned as they "vacuum" bacteria which could infect passing birds and mammals. While they rarely kill their meal, preferring older carrion, they hunt with keen eyesight and an excellent sense of smell.

You may see them as they soar the thermals in the hills and valleys of Oregon. When you do, give them a salute for the beauty and grace they bring to our land. And give them a thanks as they "clean-up" our favorite hiking spots, farms and forests. I don't know about you, but that job is not one I would "relish" so I tip my hat to the lofty Buzzard as he quietly goes about his life sweeping, dusting & mopping up.

GOOD SPIT-GLUE

Let's all try thinking about life as a Cormorant for just a minute. The electrical towers built in the tide flats of Coos Bay are constructed of metal girders. They tower hundreds of feet in the air above the tide lands. Wind buffets them hard enough to suck a good idea right out of your head and blow your feathers off if you are a bird. Yet these hardy birds build their nests on those thin metal girders during the rainy spring days with the wind tearing at the twigs like a hungry monster. This is where they lay their eggs. This is the first life these little fuzz balls know. In the pix below, the daddy perches next to Mom, reaches behind her and feeds the two hungry beaks reaching up. Mom perches there on the thin ledge ready to assume her position as "blanket" for the babies as soon as he has filled their crops with regurgitated fish. 

All that is going on while the wind whistles through the metal girders. Consider this: What kind of "glue" do they use to hold that nest onto the metal?  Consider the determination these critters have to propagate life and carry on. While they are considered "evil fish eaters" by local fishermen since they do consume "our fish" I suggest we have a lot to learn from them. If we lament our poor showing on a fishing expedition, let's hone our fishing skills. Knocking the wondrous attributes of nature is not going to cure anything or put fish in our nets.

The Cormorant numbers have exploded in certain areas where they have no natural predators. I do understand the implications of that. But, when human beings intervene we generally make matters worse. Maybe, just maybe, they have a good lesson we need to learn. And it's not about using good spit glue to hold a nest on a metal girder. 

RIVER SONATA FOR YOUR EARS ONLY!

Arriving at Camp Sherman my trusty companion Sophie and I were met by a gentle breeze, overcast sky and 86 degrees as we pulled in at 3:30 PM. The campground was nearly empty so we got our choice of a riverside camp. By the time the van was unpacked and camp set I had consumed a bottle of ice water and iced decaf coffee latte and was ready for a walk.

Many small wild flowers are in full bloom. The larger bodacious ones will arrive later in the summer. But for now these microscopic blooms are every bit as beautiful if you get down on your knees with your nose two inches from them. That's what I did on my afternoon walk. I took pix of each and every species I could locate. Get down, take pix, get back up, etc for about a mile.

While on this walk I saw three Spring Azure butterflies. It is impossible to capture them in a pix since within the blink of my eye they will have moved in every way imaginable. I just have to be satisfied with a sighting.

To experience the river walk without actually going, start by putting your eyes on the pix below, take a deep breath and imagine your incoming breath arriving on the gentle breeze as it wafts through Spring warmed pine thus delivering a hint of new pine, old pine, new verdant vegetation with eons of the old.

Your foot steps fall upon a path strewn with layers of old pine needles creating a magic carpet ride as you silently glide along.

As you go the river sings to you. It's one of the oldest songs on Earth. The whisper of water as it slides over declining river beds meeting with various obstacles as it goes. Each impediment offers a different tone creating a melody heard only just this once, by you, hosting your own private Chopin as you walk.

Piercing and sometimes melodious birdsong punctuates the sonata. The sonata of the river, sung only for your ears. Don't miss it.

METOLIUS MAMA MERGANSER & PIGGY-BACK BABIES

The Metolius River in Central Oregon is filled to the rim with surprises. While on the river walk trail this week I encountered the family pictured below. Mama Merganser with nine golf-ball size fuzzy babies. As they scrambled to hit the river and safety the water churned like a motor in a bath tub. It only took a blink of an eye for all nine ducklings to be lined up and ready to hop aboard Mom's back for the ride to the center of the river. They were all aboard and 30 yards away before I could count to two. It does look like Mom's "hair" is standing on end doesn't it? If I had nine little ones to shepherd around mine would probably fall out. Continuing on down the river trail as I snapped pix of the beautiful river my eyes came upon a bump on a log. Indeed, it was another female Common Merganser sunning herself. She had no chicks around so she was living the good life sitting there in the sun. Notice how tame her "hair" is compared to her sister.

Give me a note in the comment field if you want more posts along these lines...

THE BEAR'S DEN

Have you ever hiked or explored the Elliot State Forest in the Coast Range of Oregon? There are critters living everywhere.  The pix below is a bear's den.  A real bear's den.  In our family it is the famous (for personal reasons) "The Bear's Den".  I believe wilderness should be trod upon carefully but trod upon nonetheless.  If our (YOUR) wildernesses are not used, development will ensue.  Can you stand that? Just think, no place for the critters, no place for us critters to observe, no place to wander. 

Spring is here and summer waits in the wings. This is the time when we need to get out and really smell the flowers, or the "sign" left by critters, or the Mother Earth as she spreads her verdant arms to embrace all life as we know it. You don't have to "hike". You can take a road trip with the help of a good forest service map and then get out and walk along a mountain road. You may want to pitch a tent or sleep in your van like I do next to a stream.  But the important thing is to get out and do it. You will make memories to be fondled and played with in your "diaper and dribble-cup years" that will put a smile on your face and drive your care nurse crazy.  That's almost a "two-fer", two good times for one.

Since we all only get to do this earthly trip once, I hope you treasure each day and make the most of it. Go stick your head in an old bear's den. He might grump, but throw him an apple. That will shut him up and give you time to retreat. Actually, the chance of you catching a bear in the den is pretty slim. But the chance of catching wildflowers, birds, small animals, maybe an elk or a deer are pretty good.

You will love every breath you take in the wilderness. Treasure THAT!! And remember when it comes to our wilderness we have to use it or lose it! So USE the heck out of it, leaving no trace of yourself and taking life-long memories to be treasured over and over again.