Big and beautiful? Yes they are!
I saw them once again this morning as they took to flight from the east corner of our spacious, newly-fenced goat pasture that half circles our revamped meltwater pond.
This pond has no inlet or outlet and is obviously fed by freshwater springs that bubble up to the existing water table level.
The birds that I am talking about are a magnificent pair of sandhill cranes that have occasionally been dropping in to satisfy their need for aquatic food, whatever that is.
They seem to be stalking through the long grass area, just north of the fenced-in pond, where our goats occasionally congregate. I have not checked the stats but I imagine their wingspan is greater than eight feet.
I think that the big birds are possibly searching for the numerous young thumb-nail-sized toads that have just recently morphed from wiggly, wobbly pollywogs to small hopping toads that have left the watery area in hoards searching for more lucrative small insect areas. No doubt there are a number of large leopard frogs in the grassy areas as well.
As I turned from watching the huge birds as they disappeared from sight, an excited killdeer, followed by her four newly-hatched chicks, scampered across our driveway very close to me.
As I watched them, I was soon to learn why mom killdeer had brought her brood from the garden area to the graded coarse sand of the driveway. The heavy rain, from the night before, which had just recently stopped, had brought down oodles of small flying insects. The young killdeer, which take longer to hatch (28 days) than most other birds, are able to run and feed themselves almost immediately.
As they fanned out, covering the width of the driveway, there were very few insects that they missed. The killdeer is actually a shore bird that has adapted well by moving inland when pioneers cleared the forests for farming.
These young birds paid no attention to the larger worms that were stranded on the gravel, but these were soon gobbled by a number of pairs of robins that seemed to show up from nowhere.
Within view also were six young barn swallows that had just left their nest the day before. They sat in a row along the top wire of the paddock fence, waiting for mom to bring them their lunch, which she poked into their gaping mouths going from one to the other while still on the wing fluttering before them.
By the way, folks, just a passing thought, but I’ll be at the Flesherton Farmers Market from 8am until 1pm on July 26 taking part in their annual Author’s Day.
I’ll have ample copies of my four published books, which you’ll find are a valuable keepsake of historical memories. They make ideal gifts for moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas, and those who are hard to buy for.
Books carry the seeds of thought across the deserts of generations yet unborn. I’d like the opportunity of seeing each and every one of you there.
Take care, ’cause we care.
barrie@barriehopkins.ca
519-986-4105