In appreciation of wild things and those who care for them

“Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we face the question whether a still higher ‘standard of living’ is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free.” Foreword, A Sand County Almanac.

When we were going up back in New England during the last millennium, wild turkeys and sandhill cranes were exotic creatures that lived elsewhere. Even when we first moved to Minnesota, turkeys had only been successfully restored near the Driftless Area in the Southeast corner of the state. There's been a noticeable increase in both turkey and crane populations over the past several decades. We're extremely grateful for that.

Sandhill cranes feeding in hay fields that have been cut and raked, but not baled, flying from field to field looking for better pickings; whitetail deer loitering in uncut fields, attentively watching passing vehicles; humans breaking into sweat at the slightest exertion; must be Summer in the North Country.

sandhill cranes in flight

Photo by J. Harrington

This morning, transporting the tractor to the John Deere dealer to get a transmission fluid change, etc., we saw, and barely avoided hitting, a hen turkey accompanied by a clutch(?) of small, presumably young, poults. First poult sighting of the year. We look forward to seeing more, especially in the back yard, pecking for ticks and other bugs.

wild turkey hens with poults

Photo by J. Harrington

Last night we forgot to bring in the bird feeder that hangs in the front yard. The neighborhood black bear didn't forget to check for a hanging feeder full of black sunflower seeds. The pole hanger is bent (again), but, interestingly enough, there's no damage to the empty feeder. We're grateful for small mercies these days and will try to be more mindful about bringing in the feeders from both front and back before calling it a day.

It's been an almost magical number of wildlife sightings, or other evidence, the past twenty-four hours or so. We'll try not to get spoiled. It's something we've learned not to take for granted, since there are also extended periods when it seems to only living creatures around here, other than the dogs and their owners, are the solid bacteria.

Spotted
(Wetlands Walking)

By Megan Schliesman

Yesterday three wild turkeys
two sunning turtles
one bright green spotted frog
and the small stings of countless mosquitoes

Today the indecision
of an eastern tiger swallowtail
a suspicious killdeer
another misery of mosquitoes
and the sky        the sky         the sky

Winner: Poet’s Choice, Adult

from International Crane Foundation's Poetry in the Prairie

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