MUSINGS FROM THE RIVER TRAIL

I had a great many wildlife sightings on my cruise down by the river today.  My hometown of Hutchinson MN is blessed to have the Crow River running through it. Along it is a beautiful river trail system that once was the Luce Line Railway.  It includes a wildlife sanctuary, playgrounds, ball fields, horseshoe pits,  RV/camp grounds, boat landing, etc. I go down there almost every day during the warm seasons.

Today, on my way in to the sanctuary area I heard a large number of Crows, along with a Blue Jay, raising a very loud rucous in the trees across the river from me.  They usually don't do that unless there's a predator present.  I waited a while but whatever was bugging them wasn't budging so I moved on.

A few yards further on, a Crane was perched on a dead log stretched out over the river, along with a family of Mallards.  We sat/stood and looked at each other for a very peaceful period of time and I moved on. Again just a few yards further down I turned around to look back at the Crane again and smelled something very foul, the smell of death and decay. Sure enough there was a dead bird, but the stench was too strong to just be the bird; there was also a young, very small buck lying dead amongst the Milkweed Pods and yellow Lambs Quarters. I felt so sad and wondered what happened to him. My first thoughts were that I hoped no one had harmed him, then I wondered if  maybe he'd succumbed to the recent heatwave.  It's a mystery I'll ponder for awhile.

On the way back I heard an Eagle across the river near the same area where the Crows had been.  The sound stopped me in my tracks.  Sure enough, a fully mature Bald Eagle flys out of a tree that's in the backyard of that white art deco house across the way.  It was amazingly beautiful. I watched it soar for awhile until I realized I was late to get home.

I went back down later and this time it was 13 Turkey Buzzards, many dogs on a walk, and my shrink...hehehe...

Along with beautiful wildflowers and a baby turtle as well, it was an adventurous and memorable trip along the Crow River.  So that's what the Crows were so worked up about...hmmm...