Christmas Bird Walk 2009
Christmas Bird Walk at Carroll County Parks
Saturday,
Jan. 23 was the perfect day for a
bird walk at both our county parks, Community Park on Rt. 39 and the
Bluebird Farm. 63 degrees and sunny at the end of December is
remarkable just for that. And add in the bird activity, especially
at Community Park, and you have just a great day to be outdoors.
Just about all the bird activity at community park was on the west side, with juncos and cardinals out doing all their aerial maneuvers en mass. They were swooping and diving into the goldenrod seed heads and bright red rose hips. There were just too many juncos to count, along with the tufted titmice, field sparrows, nuthatches and chickadees joining in the fun. We also saw a red tailed swooping over the eastern field, just checking things out for when we left.
The new bridge built this fall by the Boy Scouts was just the perfect site for catching all the bird activity. You just took up a perch yourself and watched the show. The little stream gurgled underneath, offering up a delightful sound track. And of course, the sun lit the set to perfection.
Along a shady bank just down from the bridge, several ferns offered the only touch of green in a largely brown and gray landscape. While trekking along the stream, we noticed more ferns, laid back and waiting for winter to get going. There were also several good-sized bird nests, abandoned of course, in the rose bushes, but even they looked cheery, filled with the dried red hips. Maybe a new tenant will come along in spring and spruce them up.
We
also noticed a new kiosk at the entrance of the hiking trail,
installed by the scouts and waiting for a board for placing the
rules and regs, event announcements and what to look for now. Seems
like some trail markers were getting readied, with several holes dug
and waiting for their poles.
The picnic tables are still under the pavilion, left from the Fall Festival. Look for two new ones, one regular and one handicapped accessible, lately built and placed by Darryl Baker.
By the time we got to the Bluebird Farm, it had clouded over somewhat, but it was still so warm and welcoming. The grounds, however, were waterlogged from the recent downpours but that was not a problem, thanks to the wood-chipped trails through the park.
We found the beginning of a new trail under construction where the huge oak tree stood, and followed it up the hill in front of the restaurant. As soon as we crossed the drive, two deer shot out of hiding and ran up the hill, giving us their white-tailed wave. We could see they and their cousins have been all around the new trail, leaving plenty of droppings and tracks. They know a good thing when they see it, even if it is meant for humans.
We checked some of the bluebird boxes on the lawn but they were clean and vacated, waiting for spring and a new crop of blue babies.
W
hile
walking away from the Amphitheater, we noticed three gray and white
owl pellets under a walnut tree near the Indian Run stream. Guess
this is where he stalked the little furry ones who dare to show
their faces under his tree. Too bad no one was home at the time, we
would have liked to say hello.
It may be cold and wintry, but the county parks are here and waiting for those who just have to get out of the house and into the real world, especially after all the commotion of the holidays, with too much stuff and too much noise. Let the fresh, still air fill you with something too expensive to be bought but too precious to loose, our own beautiful land and sky.