* Size: 40-49 cm (16-19 in)
* Wingspan: 66-75 cm (26-30 in)
* Weight: 250-350 g (8.83-12.36 ounces)
As I've written before, living where we do we have the joy of seeing many different types of wildlife. Seeing a deer standing in our backyard eating crab apples off the ground in late summer is simply a normal everyday thing but still really exhiliarating.
Sometimes we'll have wild turkey pecking in our driveway at the gravel or coons digging around our deck at night scraping for any morsel of food. At night we can hear the coyote screaming or some little critter crying out in pain. Heck, there was one night I was driving home and a badger was crossing the road, which kind of gave me the creeps.
We used to have a dog named Roland, a shepard husky mix who would come home every spring smelling like a skunk and would be locked outside for a couple of nights until he smelled better. It wouldn't matter though because he would sleep right next to our deck door anyway.
Moles, possum, muskrat, vultures that sit on dead trees in the valley, eagles feasting on dead deer carcusses left to rot on the side of the road,...wow, now that is a sight to see. Those are some BIG MAJESTIC creatures which awe me everytime I see one.
Birds, there are so many different types out there, I have often thought it would be a good hobby to take up bird watching/photography. My favorites have to be the hummingbirds, so little and curious. One day I was out on our porch enjoying the view and suddenly less than six inches from my face was a little hummingbird in my face just hovering there looking at me. It must have remained there for about 30 seconds before is flitted away but I stared it down in astonishment. I had never been so close to a creature that moved at such quick speed. In looking over at the feeder, I saw that it was empty and wondered if perhaps this little guy was trying to tell me something. Some days we have had hummingbirds looking in our picture window at us, sitting on the window ledge just watching. Makes one wonder what exactly these creatures are thinking.
When the weather was warmer a couple of weeks ago and the sun was shining, I was out on my deck for my ritual smoke taking in the beautiful day. We have a very large and most favorite tree in our yard that I admire even when there are no leaves on it. The height alone is worth the ogle to me. While standing there 'killing myself' a large bird flew into that tree about midway up. Much to my glee it was one of those very large red-headed woodpeckers pictured above that I never knew the name of. Now, I have learned something new, thanks to Pat and his mental encyclopedia that never ceases to amaze me, and can refer to it as the Pileated Woodpecker.
Now, for the 12 years that we have been residents here, we have only seen this particular species less than 5 times. It is with great excitement that I write this because as I stood frozen while at the same time trying to move as slowly as I could to the railing of our deck to get a closer look, 2 more of these birds landed in the same tree. 3 all at one time. And what a ruckus they were making. I could recognize one cacawing in the woods now at any time if I were to hear one and realized that they were present more often than not after that day. These birds are so large. I saw only one in my life before we moved out here and that was when I was a little girl of about 8 and it scared the crap out of me. I didn't want to play outside anymore that day because I thought it would come and peck my eyes out or something. Too much Alfred Hitchcock.
Of course by the time I had made it to the railing, they had all flown away and seemed to be 'arguing' with eachother. But I could hear them screeching back in the woods the whole time I was outside. For as much as I don't like my house, I just love our property and tell myself everyday that we are so lucky to live where we do. Both Pat and I and all our kids just love nature, exploring in the woods, finding weird bugs, and each year when the grass is green and all the leaves are blowing in a gentle breeze, Pat and I will stand out on our deck and just take it all in and tell eachother, "This is the reason that we moved to one of the most beautiful places in MN".
One must already think I'm loopy from my little Valentine to Patrick among other things but this entry probably solidifies that more so now. I am easily awed by things, love to experience little things that many don't recognize and often wonder if many people who live in such beautiful places 'stop to smell the roses' or are they just oblivious and taking it for granted.
What a thing to ask oneself....
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