The property we live on was logged about 2 year ago.
When we first looked at it there was nothing but weeds and some brush.
This past winter, with all the rain, things have grown up quite nicely. There aren't so many bare spots with just dirt and the leftovers from the loggers. It has been a nice treat to be able to get up early in the morning, sit out by the table and listen as the birds announce the morning. This is one of my daily rituals. It's what gets me moving and sets the tone for the day.
As I was sitting this morning I noticed there wasn't much in the way of bird calls. This is a bit strange as usually it is a nonstop concert of sounds; many of which I cannot identify. Also part of the morning is a visit from our outside kitty, KeiKei. She adopted us last year and is a great hunter. In fact I've stopped feeding her because she got too fat. (yesterday she ate a rabbit!) Anyway, she was on my lap and perked up, green eyes big and drool dripping from her mouth. (she has a bit of a drool problem when she gets excited!) Then the dog started to growl and I heard a light swishing noise behind me.
A deer. A DEER, RIGHT BEHIND ME!. The cat took off like this was dinner for the next month. The dog got up and away the deer bounded (is that a word?), right up the bank behind the house.
So, thus far in the past 24 hours I've seen:
1 newborn fawn, I assume mom was in the bushes somewhere
1 deer that visited me this morning
1 mama bear and 1 cub across the canyon
5 elk grazing on the hillside above Thomas Creek
Ah, spring has sprung.
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