I’ve been working on this entry that replied to some of the comments I have received, but that will have to wait until another day – I just got inspired! After work I went for a walk around the park. Not on zoo grounds, in the park. I took the path by the lake. I was not alone. There was a pair of muskrat frolicking in the water. That’s right, muskrats. Rats that have webbed feet and waterproof fur and spend most of their time in the water. And there they were, the first ones I’ve seen this year. Frolicking even. The grackles are back from their winter stay in the south. They are in the park (and zoo) by the hundreds. A noisy lot they are too! The red-winged blackbirds have made their way back to the park and zoo as well. Both these and the other birds that have come home are beginning their nest preparations. Conveniently the flamingos are starting their spring molt and many of these birds will line their nests with bright pink flamingo feathers!! I saw my first mockingbird of the season too. Mockingbirds are a favorite of mine as they are the state bird of Tennessee, which is where I’m from. And mockingbirds truly mock – there was one that spent a few days in a tree outside my window giving a dead on impersonation of my cat Pudge’s meow. Finally, as I was finishing my walk and heading back to the zoo to get in my car and go home a huge red-tailed hawk flew from a tree and soared right over my head. He was taking the remnants of his final catch of the day back to the nest with him. All I could do was stand there and say, “Wow”!
Often we think we have to go to far away places to see cool wildlife. All we really have to do is go outside. Walk around your neighborhood. Take the entire family to one of the many fantastic Audubon refuges in the state. Go to a pond or wetland – the turtles and frogs will be back and visible soon. Just get outside and discover all the wonderful wildlife we have right here!
