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July 30, 2020

The View From Dry Creek Hill

Charles Prokop                        
www.DryCreekHill.com

This has been a very good year for squirrels. We always have a few of those bushy-tailed tree rats stealing dry cat food and trying to get our bird seed, but it’s a squirrel circus out there right now. I’m guessing that squirrels weren’t too successful at social distancing this spring.
We also have more small birds than I’ve ever seen before. I’ve come around the corner of the house and startled clouds of young birds using the cat water bowl for a bathtub. I’ve even seen a pair of Inca Doves, and it’s been years since they’ve been around here.
We’ve watched more than one young fawn race crazily around our yard as mother drinks from the water tub. Yesterday, I thought something bad was happening in the cedar down front. When I got there I discovered a herd of whitetails resting in the shade while a few fawns played tag. Either the fawns are maturing extra slowly this year or the deer were just as busy as the birds and squirrels.
While we have been feeling offended and fighting about rules, regulations and restrictions the furry, feathered world seems to have been going about its business with even more success than usual. I can’t help but wonder if there’s a lesson somewhere in there.
I’ve turned off a lot of the noise in my life. I’m doing my best to keep my attention on things I can do something about and things I like to do. The time will come when I can do my part about things I now can only gripe about, but it’s not yet that time.
Maybe I’m a squirrelly bird-brain, but it seems to be working. My world is looking a little better. I may see if the fawns will let me play in their next game of tag. They’ll be all grown up before I know it.