Ponderings

Ponderings

Noel Laflin

4-28-15

About nine years ago a covey of bulldozers, posthole diggers, and fence layers all gathered at the old ravine across the street from our home in El Modena and set to work.  They stayed a few months reconfiguring the land below.  When they eventually left and water from nearby foothills was allowed to fill the newly-lined ancient basin, we had a pond now surrounded by a sturdy fence and a well-defined track upon which to walk, run or bike.   It was a lovely transformation.

Soon, waterfowl of all sort started showing up in order to test out the new digs.  As fish had been introduced as a means to keep any potential mosquito population in check, the wild ducks, coots, egrets, and gannets found the reclamation site acceptable to their taste.  Hawks, owls, and crows also moved in, spotting new tasting opportunities as well.

 

Over time, turtles began to appear – at first just one or two – but at last rough count there now seem to be at least twenty of all sizes gracefully sliding through the blue-green water and reeds. They’ll climb the bank and sun themselves daily.  We have all noticed quite a few juveniles lately.  The pond must also be to the turtles’ liking as their numbers increase yearly – as do those of the ducks, coots, egrets, gannets, hawks, owls, crows, and fish.

Three or four domesticated ducks have mysteriously appeared within the fenced-in pond over the years.  They have adjusted well.  It may not have been legal to have dumped the former pets here, but I suppose their new surroundings beat whatever small yard or cage or tormentors they once endured elsewhere.  They co-mingle with the others in friendly fashion.

Canada geese have also taken to the pond.  Their classic, distinctive honking from afar and swooping descent upon our small body of water can be mesmerizing.  The pair or two that yet remain this late in the season lend an air of domestic tranquility to the scene.   Their graceful, long, bent necks and bobbing heads can almost lull one into thinking that they were anywhere other than the middle of suburbia.  I hope they stay to raise a few goslings in our local neighborhood pond and forget about flying north for a while.  We’ll see.

Much of the neighborhood gathers here each morning and evening, as do I, to take in the cool tranquil scene - some walking, running, or biking off dinner; others letting the kids run wild; and those who are here to feed the ducks – although posted signage advises otherwise.

 

However, the ducks, coots, geese and crows are mostly pleased that some folks can’t seem to read.