I've written before that our road will face some changes in the future, and that we will most likely loose old trees in the process. We've also been concerned that an upscale outlet mall is being built a mile and a half west of us, near the end of the road we live on. The mall developers bought ACRES of land that was boggy in nature, and we couldn't figure out what they had planned.
First, the heavy earth movers came in and restructured the land. It was shaped oddly, in ways that didn't seem conducive to parking lots and buildings. It turned out we were right about that. They wanted to put the buildings right along the tollway, and to accomplish that, they had to recreate a boggy habitat on the land further north.
They must have made an exceptional committment because we've watched some really remarkable activities take place. They've created a number of very wide, fairly shallow ponds, and in the center of these ponds you might find huge boulders or large trees lying on their sides. Men and women have worked for several months planting trees and reeds to create a habitat that invites wildlife.
But, there's one kind of wildlife that we rarely see, which seems to be making it's home there. I've been reading the Roger Tory Peterson "Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies" to try to determine just what the birds are. We can't get a close look at them, so we're going strictly by shape and guesstimates of size. The birds are either herons or egrets. We've thought they were snowy egrets, but after reading the guide, I think the white ones could be imature Little Blue Herons. It's really difficult to tell without a closer look.
We also have Little Blue Herons or Great Herons. THey have a pale, ghostly, look about them, and you have to search carefully to see them sitting at the side of the ponds. They could be mistaken for the shadow a small passing cloud might leave.
The most astonishing thing I've seen, though, is a pure black version of the smaller white birds. I've only seen one, and it was very striking. According to the bird book, all these birds must be irregular summer wanderers. The mall developer must have used the creation of a habitat for the birds as a market strategy.
I've seen these birds in their natural habitat in the marshes along the Gulf Coast. I'm delighted that they have chosen this area to visit. And just maybe, I can forgive the outlet mall some of what will come our way, in return for some time with these beautiful birds.
Comments (7)
I just wanted to say that your blog is a breath of fresh air.
Thank you.
Posted by margi | July 29, 2003 4:27 PM
Posted on July 29, 2003 16:27
Thanks, Margi! You never know what you're going to find around here. Some days I'm right in step, and others I march to the beat of a different drummer.
I've enjoyed my visits to your blog. Keep on rolling!
Posted by Buffy | July 29, 2003 5:03 PM
Posted on July 29, 2003 17:03
I guess someitmes out of every 'evil' can come some good.
Posted by Dr. D. | July 29, 2003 9:06 PM
Posted on July 29, 2003 21:06
You are, I'm sure, a bird's idea of heaven with all the birds that hang out at your place in the winter ~ now more birds heading your direction ~ you'll have to walk out of your house with an umberella not to recieve little presents from them *smile* ~
Posted by Jamie | July 29, 2003 11:05 PM
Posted on July 29, 2003 23:05
I love seeing the little blue and great blue herons in the marshes around here. Haven't seen any egrets though.
Posted by bogie | July 30, 2003 5:47 AM
Posted on July 30, 2003 05:47
(laughing) yep, Jamie....you're right about that. I suppose we're lucky that we don't have the right habitat for the herons here, or I'd be schlepping bird seed and fishies all day long. We tend to loose our cardinals during the summer, and I was pleased to see that they have begun to return.
Bogie, I'm west of Chicago. Are you in this area, too?
Posted by Buffy | July 30, 2003 11:25 AM
Posted on July 30, 2003 11:25
Nope, east - way east. New Hampshire
Posted by bogie | July 31, 2003 6:21 AM
Posted on July 31, 2003 06:21