Growing up on a farm, I would often find myself seated on an
old tractor, pulling some form of tillage equipment across a
darkening field. It was a time that required concentration,
yet demanded daydreaming. I enjoyed the work more when it
allowed me to watch the birds. There were days when I would
see a Killdeer run ahead of the tractor. This beautiful
little bird that named herself, was worried that the beast
that was the tractor would destroy her nest.
Calling
the Killdeer's nest a nest is to use the term very loosely.
It is little more than a slight scrape in the soil. She lays
her eggs on the ground in an open spot where they blend
extremely well into the landscape. As the tractor and I
roared nearer to the bird's nest, the mama Killdeer drooped
a wing feigning a terrible injury. She hoped that this
performance would lead me away from her nest and her
precious eggs.
Why
would any beast intent on doing a dastardly deed, as the
tractor and equipment apparently were, want to bother with
some measly eggs when it could easily prey upon a
broken-winged and delicious looking bird like her? I always
carried a few tile flags on the tractor with me- short
pieces of stiff wire with red, plastic flags attached. I
would shut the tractor off, dismount and head in the
opposite direction of the Killdeer and her dramatic acting.
I could tell when I would be getting close to the nest, as
the bird would abandon her broken wing routine and flutter
at me. Sometimes I would find the nest; sometimes I would
not. When I did find one, I would mark it with a flag and
make sure to drive around it with the tractor.
The nest
was such a tiny speck in the field that its loss in the row
had no real impact on the crop. I felt so good after I had
found and marked a nest. It gave me great pleasure to look
back and see the tiny, red flag flapping in the breeze. Was
I changing the world for the better? Probably not. Was I
changing the future of the entire Killdeer species? Not
likely.
What I
was doing was changing myself. I was doing a good thing for
a tiny creature that was somewhat dependent on the kind acts
of humans. In a small way, I was demonstrating to the world
that I cared. The love of birds and nature cannot help but
make you a better person. The next time you are searching
for something to make you feel good, do something good.
?ŠAl Batt 1999
Hartland, MN 56042
SnoEowl @ aol.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the
Mailbag:
(Re: In
God We Trust)
When I'm
not so tired to fight falling asleep, I'll let you know
about a reply from another travelor who enjoys the
inspiration emanating from your column. Suffice it to say
this letter was very interesting, but not important enough
for windy explanations, but a Re: you received, did, and
that was RE: IN GOD WE TRUST!! and it worked very well
indeed. Always knew when the chips were down, and you had
no one else to turn to, that GOD would always be there for
us if we only ask. Thank GOD, I am nearly whole!!!! And
that is a good enough reason to be Joyous for no other
reason than a great feeling of peace and unexpected
happiness as well. Thank you for publishing your daily
columns........................
GO WITH GOD!
Leona
*** *** *** *** ***
(Re:
Take a Bough
That
Margo is good at taking us on some delightful adventures! I wish she had
been my friend as a child!
Betty King
*** *** *** *** ***
(Re:
Baseball Season)
Bob, I
enjoyed Annettee's writing today!
Betty King
*** *** *** *** ***
(Re:
Bad Dream)
That was
hysterical! What a story teller Loren is! Thank you for
the laugh and a great start to my day!
Ginger Boda
*** ***
*** *** ***
(Re: Bad Dream)
Bad
dream by Loren Moore, I too had a dog that would have bad
dreams, he would whimper and jump in his sleep all night
long. It made feel so sorry for him.
Carol Roach
*** *** *** *** ***
Re: A
Bright Spot in the Rain
What a
wonderful story Margo has written about her family heritage and her yearning to know about
her roots in a bright spot in the rain. This story warmed
my heart and apparently her singing warmed her mother's
heart as well
carol roach
*** *** *** *** ***
(Re:
Friendly Fire
Such a
tragedy for that young man. I too witnessed two compadre
pilots die from this terrible disease, contracted from
tainted blood. Glad there are good screening processes now.
Mark Crider
*** *** *** *** ***
Re:
Starfish: A Bright Spot in the Rain
This
outstanding story brought back many memories of my 3-week
vacation in Great Britain several years ago. We were very
fortunate to get rain only ONE day and that was in the Lake
District of England. I remarked at the time, "How could
there be lakes without any rain?" We made the best of it;
I got to use my "brolly" (umbrella) which I'd planned on
having to use more often on our trip. One of our nicest
days was spent
in The
Trossachs at Loch Lomond. What a lovely place!
Nancee Donovan
*** *** *** *** ***
RE:
Starfish: House of Horrors
Good
idea!! After all, laughter cures (some) sickness.
Nancee Donovan
*** *** *** *** ***
Re:
Starfish: Sand Castles
This is
a winner in my boat!
Cherril Gillette
*** *** *** *** ***
(Re:
Starfish: House of Horrors)
It takes
a lot to make me laugh out loud when I am alone by myself,
but this story did it!! It sounded like a "comedy of
errors!" That poor woman must have been totally exhausted
before the end of the day. If she has any more funny
stories like this, I hope she'll write about them.
Interesting to read.
Nancee Donovan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blessings to you.
Bob Johnston
Minneapolis
Starfish @ Ripplemaker.com
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