Photo Page 0603

The month of June, 2003 -- less rain and more sun. It is a time of renewal and some ease after the colder and wetter months before. It is a time of parenting, and little ones, and parental concerns.

	There were times when the park had many Canada Geese. Three mated pairs chose to raise their goslings in the park, but most of the geese were stopping briefly to be convivial.




	Pigeons were somewhat prominent at the entrance to the park primarily because of one very prolific pair who have successfully raised many bright new pigeons to soar above the town. This is one of the pair.




	As usual, the ducks were the dominant larger bird, at least in terms of obviousness. They have no instinct to actually dominate anything, except for mated drakes who worry sometimes about their genetic continuity. The handsome fellow below is relaxing as he slowly molts -- his spiffiness is slipping away, but no matter, it will come back long before next mating season.




	The muskrat was featured on a photo page now withdrawn. But here he moves about in the high water sine-waving his strange tail, busy on muskrat business.




	A bull house sparrow (if you'll allow the term) contemplates the flowing water below him on a bright day. Few can match his kind for sheer busy-ness and enthusiasm for the next fillip of fate.




	Though the rain was less than in previous months, it did rain at times. Here we find a subdued bird quietly waiting for those heavy droplets to go away again. But if they persist, and hunger comes, then one must do what one must do, wing into the soggy air and forage in the dripping vegetation.




	One of the many babies of the season, this very young fledgling robin is sound asleep and hidden inside a fir tree. Its roost is about 12 feet from the ground.




	About mid-month, a car show was held in town and car fans come from near and far. There are some quite old cars in the show and I could not resist photographing this one -- an American-LaFrance Fire Engine Co., Inc. racing car from deep in the last century. Just as certain train engines always seemed more "train-like" than others, this seems to embody a proper look for a serious racing car.




	A trip to Hyner View in Clinton County found some hang-gliders doing their amazing stuff and...well, I had my camera.




	This seems like a real good way to view the Susquehanna River. Odd, isn't it, that we humans discovered how to enable ordinary folks to glide like this only after we had developed international jets and rockets to the moon.




	It's goose time for the next four shots. These goslings had lost themselves in the joys of fresh grass tips, and now feel they should catch up to the rest of the family.




	Already taking on the grand bearing of the Canada Goose, the goslings stay close to parents and carefully watch all the proper goose behaviors of the adults. It must frustrate the short-necked babies though to see their parents casually reach down into the water and feed. Patience, little ones, in 5 or 6 weeks, you can sit on the water and feed on the bottom too.




	This is a telephoto shot of a tired parent goose yawning. Two of the reasons for the tiredness are snoozing away in the foreground. Notice the new chinstrap pattern on one of the goslings.




	This gosling is taking a break from grazing. One can see the new tail feathers. All over this bird's body, the feathers of adulthood are growing with explosive speed, though most aren't visible here.




	As I gazed into the old mill race, this pigeon landed and looked questioningly at me, as you see here. Its nest is nearby, and it is maybe wondering what my interest might be, and should it fly to its nest, or wait awhile.




	The two pigeons on the left are young ones -- the adults have a white cere. The flapping bird is trying out its flying muscles and is indeed about to fly from the nest. Flyers long for the sky, and it is a big moment in a bird's life to leave the nest and graduate to fledglinghood. But pigeons don't cease being babies instantly -- they still want to be treated in the way you'll see in the next image.




	I don't know about you, but I get the feeling the young ones would like to be fed. Pigeons generate a "milk", a nutritious fluid they feed their young. This fact has always impressed me about pigeons. It would seem to be a strong evolutionary feature in their favor. Also, they can drink using their beaks as a straw, that is, without tilting back their heads. Give these birds a few millions of years and who knows what they might achieve!




	The last four shots are of -- surprise! ducks. These five are intrepid mallard ducklings, stout hearts, brave, inquisitive, tough as iron. The world is rough on birds of all kinds -- very very few live long enough to die of old age. It speaks well of the human heart that it warms in the presence of such as these. Yet let us have a hope, fond or not, that they grow to oar their way through the vastness of the sky in coming Springs and Falls, and that they succeed in having their own little ones, and those, of course, as cute as these.




	I watched Mrs. Duck for a while one pleasant afternoon, and admired her quiet persistence, albeit not always effective, in keeping some sort of order in the ninefold baby horde.




	I saw, toward the end of day, that some ducks had tucked into this beautiful bower back in a peaceful channel of slowly flowing water. Some sympathetic part of me imagined joining them, perchance to dream of Canadian sunrises and ancient flyways and honkings high in some starry night.




	As good a shot as any to wind up this month -- a night shot of long exposure showing the ducks arrayed by the water, politely accepting of the buildings, lights, cars, even strange night prowlers with cameras, such as yours truly. Animals and plants are out there 24/7 in all weathers, as we were, once upon a time.