Walk in the Woods
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| Carolina Chickadee |
December 19, 1998
Shafts of sunlight filter down through the canopy of oaks, white ashes, and elms to the leaf surface of the ground. Like a spotlight in the theater, they focus our attention on fallen leaves. The outside temperature today is 66 degrees and the sun is shining. It is one of those near perfect fall days.
When we arrived here at Woodvine (our wooded, winter home at College Station, TX) over a month ago, the leaves on the trees were still so thick that our satellite dish could barely penetrate them to find the satellite. Now we get a good signal with little difficulty. Most of these brown, auburn, yellow and red leaves now carpet the forest floor. These dry leaves function as a burglar alarm for deer -- they can hear the neighbor’s dogs or coyotes coming by the sound of canine feet on crunching leaves. The dogwood trees retain most of their light pink leaves that stand in contrast to the dark green background of yaupon and holly leaves. Dogwood leaves provide almost a perfect match for the color of the western sky at sunset.
We were due some good weather because when we first arrived, we were met with several days of rain and hoards of mosquitos. Subsequently, we have had several weather systems that moved through – each providing heavy rains. At times we wondered if our motorhome might either sink into the mud or float away. After the rains, Wixon creek flooded over the low bridges leading to town, so that a normal 12-mile trip required a 30-mile detour. In time the numbers of mosquitos have declined to the point of almost non-existence and the soggy, sandy soil has dried enough to support the tires of a moving 20,000 lb. motorhome. We realize the advantage of living in a climate where it actually freezes and kills some of the insect varmints -- at least during the winter.
A walk in the woods this morning was delightful. The usual congregation of birds was present. Above the treetops, the turkey vultures soared on semi v-shaped (dihedral) wings as they searched for the remains of deer that local hunters shot and could not find. In a distance, we heard the loud, raucous “wuck-a-wuck-a-wuck-a” calls of the pileated woodpecker. But it is the small, hard-to-see birds that were abundant. Both golden and ruby-crowned kinglets flitted about as they foraged from ground level up into the canopies of the largest trees. (A feminist might complain that some man named the ruby-crowned kinglet, because only the male sports a red crown patch; the crown of the female is yellow.) The striking black cap and bib helped identify Carolina chickadees. They worked in pairs as they searched -- sometimes hanging upside down – for spiders under leaves. A pair of Carolina wrens entertained each other on the woodpile, probably waiting for spring so they can build another nest in their favorite spot -- next to the radiator of our motorhome. A handsome pair of tufted titmouse showed off their orange sides and black crests in the morning sun. I can hear the “peter peter peter” vocalization if they are very close.
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| Golden-crowned Kinglet |
But like an astute preacher, I noticed that somebody was missing from the congregation. Then, finally, it made its appearance. Almost always seen as a single, shy individual, the brown creeper landed low on the trunk of a large oak and began its spiraled search for spiders up the trunk of the tree -- using its tail as a prop to keep from falling over backward. Its color patterns closely match the bark of the post oak so that it is almost perfectly camouflaged until its movement gives it away. When threatened they may flatten, spread their wings and remain motionless to improve the camouflage.
This gang of small birds form some sort of loose alliance when foraging, maybe to help watch for sharp-shinned hawks that have recently migrated from Canada and need a little-feathered protein. Sometimes we can search for hours in our woods and see very few birds. Then we come upon a congregation of them and if we do not scare them, they will ultimately come out into the open where a ruby or golden crown color or some other marking give away their identity. Their alarm system is not triggered by our voices as we chat about characteristics and behaviors, but one sudden movement and they are all gone. Although humans are likely their worst enemies because of the destruction of mature woods by human development, these birds do not appear to be attuned to the sound of the human voice. It is quick movements like those of accipiter bird hawks that scare the bejesus out of them.
Pat and I return to these woods every winter while we visit with our friendly dentists, doctors, dermatologists, surgeons, nurses, radiologists, oncologists, optometrists or anyone else who wishes to inject, probe, thump, inspect, scrape, quiz, sample blood and stools, freeze skin, rob or humiliate us. Every year we return for more! But while we are here waiting for our appointments, we get to stay at Woodvine – it almost makes this maltreatment acceptable. Dentist fixed a broken tooth and filled a cavity. The doctor could not find anything seriously wrong with either of us. Optometrist found evidence of early stages of glaucoma and cataracts while Pat was obtaining a new pair of glasses (with progressive lenses). The mammogram was clear. My high platelet count seems to have undergone a spontaneous remission. Hooray! Now we are free to enjoy some carefree travel and exploration until we return next year and start the process all over again.
Next week we will unhook the electricity and telephone connections that sustain us in these woods, stow the awning, outdoor rug, and table and head for New Mexico. Christmas and New Years will be spent on the ski slopes of Taos with children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. Pat and I hope to be able to keep up with our three and five-year-old grandkids. After Christmas, there is a wedding in Colorado, another in California, and a baby in Virginia – guess our next year has been planned for us.
As we enjoy the company of our family and friends during the holidays, we hope that you will also be in the company of friends and family. May your holidays be a time of excited relaxation, good times and great friendships. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
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