field notes:

4.11.2003

When my dog climbs out of the bay, she shakes that water from her coat onto me. It's pack behavior. She wants me to "know" where she's been--in the most visceral way--by sharing wetness with me. I had a similar urge today after I took my first swim of the spring, first swim of the year. I came out wet and wanted to shake my hair onto somebody, only nobody was there.

Instead, I've let the salt dry in my hair. I can smell it now and I'll smell it through the night while I dream. My dreams will carry the knowledge of penetration, of diving through one of earth's fragile surfaces.

My neighbor told me that swimming is seasonal, that many things in life are seasonal. That's wise. Tomatoes are seasonal too, if you want flavor. More and more I find that the best things are worth waiting for, and require waiting. People and tomatoes ripen over time, water warms and the clouds part, and certain dreams will only come true in the spring.
posted by Lisa Thompson on 5:19 PM link | comments []

4.7.2003

There's a trail at the top of the Inverness Mesa that winds above First Valley and this time of year overlooks an Osprey nest. With even a mediocre pair of bins one can watch the entire process of nesting. The nest has been constructed now, and there's a pair of Osprey attached to it. Each time I've gone to look, one of them is sitting in the empty nest while the other hunts or perches nearby. I'm fairly confident it's been the female nest-sitting because of her more-prominent "necklace".

Just before the trail overlooks that nest, there's another nest on the left this year. It's awfully close to the trail, and I worry that its occupants won't be able to handle the stress of being disturbed regularly. This trail is used by locals daily.

We've found three other nests in the vicinity, all visible from the trail. Could it be that the Osprey are hunting together in some cases? I've seen them return from the hunt at the same time more than once. I suppose that could be coincidental with such a large concentration of Osprey in one area. If I've seen 5 nests in a single watershed, how many are there really? And how many along the ridge, and in other watersheds?

We're excited about the main viewing nest because we saw an Acorn Woodpecker peeking out of a hole in the snag just below the Osprey. If that is to be a nest then we're in for a real treat. Acorn Woodpeckers are cooperative breeders. Paternity is shared, and sometimes maternity as well. Early in the season, there is some "egg tossing" practiced by the females, but eventually the raising of the brood becomes cooperative.

It would be fun to watch some of that taking place. I'd especially welcome the sight of a newly hatched woodpecker--I wonder if they start out with that bright red head plumage. I wonder about their gestation period. Could we have Osprey and Acorn nestlings at the same time. That would be scopeful!

posted by Lisa Thompson on 9:08 AM link | comments []