Idling through July's ides

It's the Ides (a day falling roughly in the middle of each month) of July. Fawns have reached the point where the scamper and gambol in the back yard without mom's accompaniment. Twice this past week, "our" two fawns have been observed for extended periods with no doe in sight.

two fawns, where's mom?

Photo by J. Harrington

This morning we noticed several families of geese with the goslings almost fully feathered. Soon they'll be exercising their flight muscles. Less than a month ago, they looked like this.

late June goslings

Photo by J. Harrington

Do you think it ironic that, about this point in the Summer when human parents may be reaching their limits with home on vacation young'uns, moms in the wild are getting ready for the kids to leave home? How often have you heard the phrase "they grow up so quickly!"? Do you suppose geese and does or other avian and mammalian moms have a comparable perspective? Don't you find idyllic Summer days conducive to this kind of philosophical speculation, or have you concluded that this is a bunch of anthropomorphic nonsense? If the latter, take a deep breath, sit down in the shade, and read some Mary Oliver. You can start here.

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