The area nearby, far from the nonsense and stupidity of Lost Angeles, is blessed with abundant parks, and this morning I took advantage of beautiful springtime weather to enjoy one such.
Birdwatchers and waterfowlers alike will be happy to know that the next generation of Candian Geese is secure, with multiple breeding pairs shepherding herds of 3,4, or 5 quail-sized goslings, fuzzy and yellow, all over the lawns until they're big enough to fly off and return home for the summer.
And a pair of khaki Campbell ducks apparently stopped off here to bring up quite the large brood, which mini-flock was patrolling the lawns for insects, and the occasional leftover picnic fare.
I came upon a painted turtle hurriedly mounding sand over her nest eggs in a sunny spot, so provided the skunks and raccoons don't find it first, the ponds thereabouts will also be well-supplied with turtleage for some years to come.
And saw a large smooth softshell turtle out of the water sunning itself; I didn't even know they had introduced those there until today. I had to look it up to even identify it, and it's probably not native to the area.
I hated to leave, but it's refreshing to note, when one spends far too much time amidst concrete, that nature has her own rhythms and seasons, and takes little notice or account of the manifest foolishness of the human race.
6 comments:
Glad you had the time to spend in that park. Most folks don't get to interact in a nature setting. It helps balance the soul.
Ohio Guy
So refreshed to see this! Thanks so much!! I have a yard full of tortoises, a patio stocktank of turtles, and have raised ducks for years!! SURE TAKES THE EDGE OFF THE DAILY SHIT-SANDWICH we all are faced with eating. BEST to you and keep this up and your powder dry.
That's the beauty of living on a farm far from civilization. You get to see this, and more, year after year.
Just two questions. That lake reminds me of the lake in an episode of Star Trek tos They thought nothing was alive on the planet but when they beamed down everything the crew thought of appeared. Sulu the pistol, Bones ran into the black knight,Kirk an old girlfriend and an upper classman from the academy. Do you know if that was the lake? And the other smart ass question..the Campbell ducks. Are they the ones from the movie or the ones the soup company used?
Nice shots of nature doing what she has done for millennia. I have never seen a smooth softshell turtle, Had no idea that hey even existed. I love being out in nature with my spaniels. They see birds I don't even notice.
When I lived in Fremont, CA; the Canada geese were a huge problem in a lake in the town. They lay 50-70 pound dog sized green turds everywhere.
The town, which had set up part of the lake shore as a childrens play area, tried to dissuade the geese from coming there, all to know avail. Border collies, noise cannons, and trying to scare the geese did't work.
Last I saw, my wife and I moved out of CA in 2005, they'd not solved the problem. Naturally, no one could harvest the geese for food.
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