Some of the fun of spring around here is to find birds’ nests and other creatures’ homes around the surrounds near our house. This year I know the robin has settled under the screen porch, and the Eastern wood-peewee has nested somewhere out back but I have not found their round muddy, mossy house yet. It may be they are using last year’s which is still up under the screen porch in a different area from the Robin’s nest. I’m waiting to see if a sparrow or goldfinch sets up a home in the hydrangea; looks like someone is fluttering to it often but I have not seen signs of nest building. I had hoped that pileated woodpeckers would find a nice snag and bore a nest hole very near our house. So far they have been wary Woodys and avoided the closeness to humans when creating houses.
A squirrel nest came crashing down this winter from high up in a beech out front. I’m waiting to see if someone rebuilds or decides that branchy foundation unfit for rehabitation. Chipmunks are glad to tunnel under the front porch again; I have already seen one back there this year. We had a moley-mess when the snow cleared from the lawn. This year’s winter seemed more challenging for moles and there were more tunnels up at the surface in the grass than ever before. Now the ground has thawed I see the tunnels are going deeper so the lawn will be whole again.
Now is the time to find things out there, for the leaves of plants that obscure your view through trees and shrubs are not matured and snow that blanketed holes of active warm-weather creatures has melted. And time is short, for each day there is a bustle of growth among competing plants. Soon the woods will be a green leafy maze no longer penetrated so easily by naked eyes. Go house shopping now and get to know your natural neighbors.
©2008 Stumpar Scribbles
