Wildlife moves in

Jun 26, 2005 by Naomi.

Wildlife is flourishing in my backyard. Mourning doves, California quail, and little brown warblers that chip, chip, chip beyond my vision delight me when I step out the back door. House finches sing heartily from the telephone wires. Earlier this morning robins scolded the squirrels which paid no attention as they listened to my voice and watched to see if I made any quick moves in their direction. Crows aren’t around much since nesting season but they will come at dusk to rest for the night. They find lucrative lunches where the garbage is that means their dining is in parks and streets.

I sit with a beer and contemplate the possibilities to welcome more wildlife by cutting a tall black walnut tree from under Douglas (he’s my 50 year old fir) and by forming a barricade with thorny shrubs to fend off house cats for ground nesting birds. I feast on wind fall apricots. They are really bird falls dislodged during snacktime. I pick and clean the pecked fruit before the earwigs and other critters crawl in.

The thermometer registers 99 degrees but a breeze blows the heat and insects away for my comfort. A wonderful place for a day in my life - a backyard never completely private!

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