Months ago, when the bug was new, I began an online quest for the perfect mobile for us. I looked into what would be the most entertaining for a newborn bug and read up on how to choose one that served more purpose than just decorating the nursery. At the completion of said quest we found ourselves in the possession of what I still think is the downright neatest mobile in our price range, the Nature Pals mobile by Tiny Love. It played nature sounds and had soft glowing lights and warm smiling faces on the little creatures. The name stuck and I often put The Bug down saying “Lets listen to your nature pals!” in my best mommy voice.
When I say “Nature pals” these days it has an entirely different meaning. Despite our close human neighbors and the high daily activity in tha campground, the wildlife is relatively fearless. It’s a ton of fun to live in close proximity to the woodland creatures and I have vowed that I will take even their most annoying moments in stride. For better or worse, we’re neighbors.
Birds. SO many birds. Humming birds and morning doves, little finches and wrens, big mean blue jays, and pairs of beautiful crimson cardinal. Mr. Owl, whom I never had the pleasure of meeting in person, comes in fairly close in the early hours of the night. A pair of red-headed woodpeckers eat at my feeders twice a day with at least one (maybe two that I see separately) coming in to learn how to eat with their daddy. Evidently it is the male woodpecker who teaches the little woodpecker babes how to forage. I’ve watched them for weeks now and I’ve observed the whole process from the fledgling flying in with dad to see where he’s getting the food that he eventually feeds her, to her eating by herself while dad watches from the branches way above. Only in the past seven days have I noticed that she comes alone. Kids, one day you’re regurgitating suet for them and the next they’re off on their own…or something like that.
Of course there is also He Who Must Not Be Named. He eludes me still. I’ll type his name only after I’ve seen for myself that he is here. So far the Pipeline Daddy has been the only one to see and photograph him.
The search continues.
Rodents of all varieties make their home here in the campground as well. Droves of fat grey squirrels do their acrobatics on my bird feeders every morning. I’m begining to feel as if I single-handedly started an obesity epidemic among the local squirrels. We’re like natures fast food burger joint. Would you like to super size your sunflower seeds and peanuts Mr. squirrel? It’s red guys though that create the real problem. They’re territorial it seems. I’ve caught them fighting with the Blue Jays and the doves and on more than one occasion have had a yelling match with pipeline daddy. They’re not afraid to tell you how they really feel right to your face. I can admire that.
It’s very lucky for the chipmunks they’re adorable, otherwise we would have big problems. They are my nuisance diggers. Every potted plant I tried to start (and more of my garden bed that I’d like to admit) ended up ripped apart. With a tiny bank of sunflower seed left in the spot where my plants should have thrived. Such is the mentality of a chipmunk. They don’t understand that the feeder is always full but they have a great concept of loosely turned up dirt and how it’s much easier digging. (Saving for winter my butt. To me it looks like unbridled gluttony)
The chipmunk population was brough under control by a muscly black stray cat who has moved in. I don’t pet him. I would certainly fall in love with a rambling rouge like that, so we keep our distance. The garden is under his patrol now though and chipmunks don’t take the time to dig there on his watch. Even the particularly clever one with no tail has gone missing. He’s either smart enough not to hang around when there’s a cat about or maybe he’s gone to the great bird feeder in the sky. Rest in peace No-Tail, you are missed.
One night I was sitting here in my outside office typing away and smoking cigarettes when I noticed some action on the bird feeder. It was a dark night and strain as I might I couldn’t make out what could be stealing from the bird feeder after dark. I tried twice to get closer but the creature (s) bolted before i could discern anything but the white belly in the darkness. (My mind raced. Certainly it was a rat, the very henchman of Satan. With black devil eyes, unpredictable movements, and a greasy bald tails. There’s little in the world I hate more than rats.) What I found out later, from one of Daddy’s coworkers is that the mystery creatures were likely flying squirrels. He had seen two on his bird feeders the night before. And pipeline mommy breathed a sigh of relief. (really, anything but a rat.)
The king of our brazen outdoor pets is by far the raccoon. He’s been sneaking in for quite some time I believe. Shy at first, he started by stealing the suet block ment for my woodpeckers. First out of the feeders and eventually just the whole plastic wrapped kit-n-caboodle.
Rocky Raccoon and I are on a first name basis at this point, which is nice because we see a lot of each other. He’s no longer afraid to walk within just a few feet of me while I’m out here. He raids the feeders while im watching but it’s when I go inside for the night that his real fun begins. He moves rearranges the furniture, inspects the tabletop (which includes emptying the ashtrays and knocking over anything in his path. He also does a nightly inventory of our garbage. Our agreement is, in a nutshell, daylight hours on the porch are mine and when it’s dark is his outdoor lounge time. We live here, and he does too.
We have quite a menagerie of co habitants. I’m really getting used to their company. There is a long list of people and things I will miss when we move on. Our nature pals are somewhere very close to the top.
Pipeline Mommy 