Category: wild life
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quick thinking quacker
Our first winter on Setter Lake taught us a lesson in survival. It was early winter and there was snow on the ground and the lake was largely inced over though a deeper section on the further side from us still showed water. Sara, Tara, and I exited from the kitchen door and started our…
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Gavia immer
The hauntingly beautiful cries of the common loon ,Gavia immer, across Setter Lake always sets my heart a-singing. . Although I thoroughly welcome and enjoy the songs of the many birds who stop at our bird feeders as they traverse northward, it is the sound of the loon in the budding or diminishing day that…
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the ubiquitous lysichiton americanus
‘In the ancient days they say there was no salmon. The Indians had nothing to eat save roots and leaves. Principle among there was the skunk cabbage. Finally, the spring salmon came for the first time. As they passed up the river, a person stood upon the shore and shouted, “Here come our relatives whose…
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the “official” herald of spring
The vernal equinox occurred two weeks ago (March 20th) by the calendar and two days ago we heard a flock of geese pass by during the early morning. But now, spring “officially” has arrived at our Setter Lake – the yellow skunk cabbage (Lysichitum americanum) shoots are emerging from the lake edge’s soggy, organic soil.…
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nothin’ common about the common thrush
In June 1853, Thoreau wrote of an enchanting encounter with the Wood Thrush: “This is the only bird whose note affects me like music. It lifts and exhilarates me. It is inspiring. It changes all hours to an eternal morning.” http://birdnote.org/show/henry-david-thoreau-and-wood-thrush Hear! Hear! David Thoreau’s poignant prose about the elusive common thrush resonates with anyone…