Our Temporary Pond

This temporary spring pond, with its weatherbeaten navy liner and homely green hose, may never move the poet's pen or animate an artist's brush, yet the birds have been composing any number of airs around it, and frogs and toads have proclaimed it paradise.

Weighted down with a winter's worth of snow and sleet and rain, our pool covering has become a haven for robins and bluejays, mockingbirds and mourning doves, slate-colored juncos and black-capped chickadees. Even as I type this, a carefree pair of cardinals is cavorting by the water's edge, the male's scarlet finery artlessly outshining his bride's sensible garb.

Aside from our neighborly band of regulars, the pool has one or two celebrity patrons who drop in for refreshment while in town. Topping the A-list was a regal Great Blue Heron, once seen eyeing the murky shallows for frog and fish and insects. Impeccably attired and statuesque against the shabby pool cover, our high-heeled heron was like some ornithological Princess Diana, pausing briefly to be seen rubbing elbows at the local greasy spoon.

Here is an account by Theresa, age 10:

"One day I was reading to Margaret, when I saw an enormous form beat down from the sky. 'Oh my goodness, what is that?' I cried, jumping to my feet. Margaret said, 'It's probably just a hawk.' We tiptoed over to the French doors and peered out to find the biggest heron I had ever seen in my life. It was as tall as me, majestic and blue gray. Usually, I see herons from a distance, but this one was only a few yards away. He dipped his head into the pond and took a long drink. Then he saw us, lifted his legs under him, and flapped over the trees. We watched until he disappeared from view. Margaret sighed.

'Next time we read this book,' she added with a grin, 'I'm bringing my nature journal.'"

Only this morning, Margaret (8) noticed a ground-feeding woodpecker hunting and frolicking near the water's edge. Here she tells about it:

"Today, while we were sitting in the family room, I saw a large tan bird speckled with black and brown like dappled sunlight. On the back of its head, there was a cherry red splotch. It had a different build from other birds, a slender neck and a beak like a long lance. At first I thought it was a hairy woodpecker, but we looked it up, and it turned out to be a Northern Flicker.

"I saw it on the left side of the pool covering bathing. It hardly seemed to notice the squirrel and Starling drinking beside it, and the Robin rinsing itself close by. He lifted out his two wings and took off like a kite that had just been tossed into a thrashing wind. He landed on the bricks and started pecking in between them, probably to get baby snails and small insects and grubs. I saw him fly into the empty rosebush, its bare branches thrust out like talons. He hopped out again, followed by a very plump Robin who bumped into the pool covering. The Flicker marched into the bare strip of garden. We could hardly see him camouflaged against the brown ground. He was pecking in the dirt, probably looking for grubs or maybe sowbugs."

Last spring, a Northern Harrier visited faithfully for an entire week, sometimes perching low in a silver birch outside our kitchen window, rendering our entire family mute and motionless, so afraid were we that the fascinating creature might soar off and out of view.

(To be continued . . . . )

Comments

[Account Deleted]

Alice, this is just lovely and what a parade of birds you've had!!

[aonther fan]

You can tell this is a very literary family. Your joyful descriptions of nature are quite lively and reflect wide exposure to many types of literature. Thanks - this is great inspiration to admire the wonders of Creation! :)

[Rebecca]

Alice, I really enjoyed hearing about the birds that frequent your yard. Your daughters' narrations are so neat to read!

[Crizel]

Margaret & Hugo - Channing, you're amazing! You caerutpd so many special moments perfectly. Thank you!! We're so happy you were part of our day!May 21, 2011 8:34 pm

[Harish]

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