08.29.09
The Great Green Summer of 2009
This has been a good summer, a green one literally. For the last several years our area has been in a serious drought. For those of us that traditionally raise, can, and freeze vegetables, it has been a really long row to hoe. Our brown lawns of the drought years turned again to green this year and the garden harvest has been great.
Aside from all the green color in lawns, vegetable and flower gardens, the birds also flourished this year. The drought was hard on them as well. During the last months of the long drought, the number of Northern Cardinal sightings dropped drastically. Other birds that were normally plentiful were also lacking in numbers. Obviously, they had to go where they could easily get water. Once the rains started during the winter, the birds returned. As spring of 2009 came into full bloom, the birds also multiplied with nests in our peach trees near the vegetable garden and shrubs in and around the front and back yard. Several also made their nests in the nearby pine trees. Our bird houses were filled several times over with different bird families. It was a great feeling to have the birds back and witness their growing families. Our grandchildren advanced in their bird watching skills with birds all around the place. The birds just made the good green earth seem whole again.
One thing about this spring and summer that I noticed, was that the birds nesting and feeding all around our vegetable garden provided natural pest control for the many bugs, worms, spiders and other critters that tried to invade the young growing vegetables. The Mockingbirds, Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Flycatchers and others had daily feasts from our garden. I came to realize just how helpful birds are to mankind. Pest control is normally a big job, but not so this year. I’m not sure why because with the rain, the little insect creatures also flourished. I just know it seemed like more birds returned than had left during the drought and even though the insects were plentiful, the birds were able to manage them. It dawned on me that watching and feeding wild birds is more than just a hobby and pleasant pastime. They provide man with much more than a beautiful sight and song. They are an important part of the eco system. Bird watching and research becomes really important when we realize how valuable their presence is to man and to the earth. Keeping watch so that species do not become extinct and keeping the earth a safe and friendly place for birds to flourish becomes our obligation, not just a hobby. The summer of 2009 provided deeper insight and bird watching became a more serious activity indeed for me and the grandchildren.
This has been a good summer, a great green one.
