As I write this, we are in the midst of COVID.19 world wide pandemic.
Are you WASHING YOUR HANDS? WEARING A MASK? Limiting your grocery essential outings? Are you stressed out in this homebound environment?
Although, at this time, playgrounds, golf courses and many public areas are ” Closed due to COVID.19 “… several of our County Conservation trails and lakes and ponds are open to family hiking, fishing or even skipping rocks…to clear your mind and relieve some stress. Something about “going for a walk” helps to burn energy and let the grandchildren get outside and enjoy close family. BE CERTAIN TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE!
Thankfully, our natural world is unaware of this terrible human decimation. Our environment is improving ! Our wildlife and birds are reclaiming their habitat. Our waters are better quality. Our skies and mountain tops are clearing! Me thinks Mother Earth is placing us in “time out” to see our natural world with clearer vision and appreciate nature…and family and time.
Our birds have returned – even our Easter snow and record setting NW Iowa low temperatures can not discourage them.
We have enjoyed finches and red winged black birds and our constant friends- the cardinals and blue Jays.
On the lake, the pelicans have arrived by the hundreds. And our transients – two pairs of loons – ride the windy white caps and sing their high forlorn song across the water. The Canada Geese are nesting on the muskrat hut toos. We have several pairs of Trumpeter Swans around our wetlands which delight our slow early evening drives to scout the area.
Eagles soar on the wind updrafts and we have enjoyed using our spotting scope to check out a couple nests near. The owls are communicating and the lovely doves are nesting. Even the red reasted Robin’s are bopping across our yard and have even carried a few of my colorful yarn strings which I scattered to the trees for their nests!
We have enjoyed the bird feeder visitors SO much!
I encourage you to consider placing one and soon hummingbird feeders! We have enjoyed hearing the high pitched gray tree frog’s singing as they have made their presence known!
My husband’s Grandmother from rural Woodbury County took pride telling us years ago about her survival of “Flu Pandemic of 1918”. Although she has now passed, she and her generation of survivors were incredibly enduring! No inside water, or bathrooms. No furnaces or electricity. Few automobiles – if any. Outside, physically hard chores. Farm food and folklore medicines. AND she and their quarantined household – survived!
May we also survive these difficult times. Please take time to step outside. Enjoy Nature. Eat right, drink water, exercise and obey the recommendations to LIVE ANOTHER SEASON and enjoy our CREATOR’S amazing world!!
Submitted by
Maureen Reeves Horsley
Nature Lover
Lost Island, NW Iowa
