Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Nature Preserve Quest

I had another one of those days off yesterday. Three cheers for state employment! By the afternoon, I was ready for an adventure. I was searching for hiking trails in the county and I came across the Acres Land Trust Nature Preserves. I had no idea that such an organization existed, but lo and behold, there is a nature preserve a few miles from where I live!




In two minutes, Bo and I were on our way. I love that dog; he is always up for an adventure. We hiked the trails and stalked the fat squirrels. This particular nature preserve contains a circum-neutral bog. What ever that is, it's one of only fifteen in Indiana. I think I could tell when I was nearing the bog because I started sinking, and I felt the need to walk a little more quickly.

And I saw several papa cardinals.

When I was young, I remember anxiously looking out the kitchen window at Bertha's house staring at the bird feeders. All of the kids wanted to be the first to see the vibrant red of a male cardinal. When one was spotted, we'd yell, "Papa cardinal, papa cardinal!" And we'd tiptoe up to the window, daring to get closer and closer, hoping the beautiful bird would not get spooked and fly away.


 See him? Squint a little harder. Yep, that's the best I've got...

Still, whenever I see a male cardinal, I say in my head (or outloud!), "Papa cardinal, papa cardinal!"

There are 56 of these nature preserves. I have decided that I am going to visit each one. Along the way, I want to go back to my biology days and brush up on tree identification. It'd be fun to be able to identify birds as well, beyond the obvious breeds. For some reason, I feel as though that is good knowledge to have.




55 more to go!



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