Sep 4, 2010 by Naomi.

Although I closed my eyes while resting my forehead on my folded forearms, try as I might I could not sleep. Rest, yes. But sleep, no. A full stomach only stimulated synapses and thoughts jumped around wildly. What’s the difference between birds and mammals? I am asking brain wise. Visually feathers are obvious when comparing two legged critters. And just as obvious is the head size which would lead one to expect smaller brains would think less and expect less from the rest of the anatomy. Studies are being done to determine if that is really the case. Sure, animals react in much the same manner when confronting danger – fight or flight, whichever seems more practical upon immediate impression of the danger faced. There are complex measurements made quickly because there is more than size of the danger. What about the quality of danger? Death? Desperate injury? Slight wounds? Humiliation? Pride? Individuals make instant decisions taking all those degrees into consideration. Even within the mammalian spectrum animals make the decisions according to their experiences. Can we extrapolate the same about birds? Some birds mate for life. Couples stay together and raise offspring until one or the other dies. Others mate for a season to share parenting. Still others join only for copulation. In all cases the end result is continuation of the species providing the offspring survive to reproduce as well. These are the gamut of thoughts that run through my mind in less than the time it takes to type one sentence,. So what? I have to do the job I came here for. I now make a big decision. Since I cannot get into the Internet from McNary Ed Center. I put random thoughts aside because visitors have not flocked in for education. I close up computer, lock the doors and go home.

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Sep 4, 2010 by Naomi.

At the present time we, the USFW staff and volunteers, at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge have no idea if visitors stop on weekends and I am spending this Saturday to gather statistics. One couple stopped in because the Refuge was on their list of places to visit just off US-12. They were pleased with what they found here and I encouraged them to stop at the Whitman Mission. They could tour the museum and hear the story of the missionary who mis-used the Indians and was later massacred because of her abuse. The day is clear and the temperature was 77 F at nine am when I came to work. I assume it is somewhat warmer now although a very light breeze ripples the water toward the north side. It is a very pleasant day to enjoy the outdoors. Double crested cormorants perch on the logs to preen and dry their feathers after diving for lunch. California gulls preen also. I do not see them flying about. American coots sit upon the water and suddenly disappear to surface some distance away. I can follow their underwater direction by the surface current they cause in their movements. A large fish surfaced for an instant and I watched the wake of its dorsal fin and it did not come up again. White-crowned sparrows feed on and below the hanging feeder at the edge of the native plant area. I can see birds in the phragmites but not clearly enough for identification. From past observations I assume they are March wrens. Western painted turtles are basking on one log to warm their reptilian bodies in the summer sun. House-finches and Goldfinches are vying for perches on the hanging feeders. White cabbage moths flit among the sunflowers. A dragonfly searches valiantly for a mate to consummate its one purpose of its short life time. Hornets and wasps float around me on the deck. I’m happy that I do not emit the pheromones that attract them. Nor do I seem to be in their way to welcome a stinger as I once did in the base of a weed I was about to pull. That instant gave me a big fat lip I reported on at the time. My dark blue vest absorbed the noonday sun and I happily retreated into the Center. I could very easily settle in for a nap – without my lunch yet! At 1 Pm I had 10 and one half oz Fred Meyer vegetable beef soup. Hot and very filling. More of my green plums. I lay my head on my arms on desk in office. A little nap?

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