chapter 467

4/24/2017

Swamp People

high density biomass

We learned in college of the great richness in biodiversity and the very high biodensity that exists in  wetlands. It's a life lesson that my nephew is learning about with the endangered spotted salamander on his new home property out Boston way (not to mention fluctuating water levels). As we rode over a huge 2 foot diameter snapping turtle with a head bigger than my fist I attempted to snap a picture. Failed again, they burrow down into the mud and it's very hard to get them.

We weren't the only fools down there this beautiful spring day. It's a narrow shallow difficult trek down thru this Ballston Creek passage that's only passable at this time of year. A few low rise beaver dams to cross aren't difficult but by mid summer the lily pads are so thick you cannot get through.

Oh, by the way our pair of Cooper's Hawks have re-appeared right behind our houses. Stealth is their middle name. This one came close to protect his mate who I was photographing during her eating of a squirrel. They have some nests up high in the pine trees and definitely like the action around my bird feeder.

I try to not keep taking pictures of birds but it's hard not to. Maybe it comes from my hunting days where stalking and stealth were equally important to capturing that elusive game. Here freshman year college (green Forestry patch) I captured a few Hungarian Partridges for supper with my 12 guage shotgun up on the far hillside under some apple trees. We cleaned them behind the house on the elm stump next to the creek. The valley behind was a hang out where we spent many hours. There were other bird connection: our pet parquet that used to land on our heads, raising pheasants for the Conservation Department, feeding thousands of the neighbors chickens each morning senior year of high school.

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