Yesterday a chickadee flew off with a walnut half in his or her beak. The walnut half was bigger than the chickadee’s head.
This morning a chickadee and a tufted titmouse returned. I’m sure it’s the same chickadee. The chickadee flew off with a walnut half and the titmouse looked around for possible danger. She flew away, came back from a different direction, and flew off with a walnut half.
The birds come to the feeders first, the squirrels follow. Squirrels are less fearful and will sit in front of me eating nut after nut until the supply runs out. I see physical differences in the individuals who visit in the morning and in the afternoon visitors. This morning, two squirrels showed up when I typically see one.
One reason we have a problem with global warming is that humans think we’re the only species with communication and technology skills. Just because we cannot understand, doesn’t mean that other living beings cannot communicate.
The squirrel appears to have run out of walnuts. She looks inside, knocks on the window, jumps up to the top of the window frame, and leaves. I have no doubt she’s watching and waiting for the window to open.
I grew up on a farm, watching both domestic and wild animals. I learned that they do communicate and they have the ability to create and use technology. We are just not sophisticated enough to understand them. If you don’t believe me, the adventures of my Maine Coon Cat, Lola will prove my point.
A light, misty rain falls. I am grateful we only had a thunderstorm, not a tsunami. My hiking buddy Heather is a marine geologist. She not only believes that global warming is real, but that 2050 is an optimistic estimate of the rate at which we continue to do damage. Nature cannot be synthesized and marketed.
I’m amazed at how we humans can observe physical conditions and conclude that they will not have an impact on our lives. Hurricane Katrina has taught us very little. I wonder how many New Yorkers realize that we’re on a fault line. I watch a stream of single-occupant SUV’s pull into the mall parking lot and wonder what it would take to get the drivers’ attention.
I’ve always fled to the woods for peace and safety. I understand and respect blizzards, thunderstorms, and the wind’s strength. I still see patterns and marvel at the adaptability of other living species to their shrinking habitat. I’m off for a hike now, before the weather or the habitat changes.