Another ‘oasis’ to be lost

By Peter A. Morris

Jassandra called me to look at something the other day, in the garden that is home to "Our Tree" as well as an old bird house standing about eight foot above the long untended grass. At first I did not see anything, then, from the bird house came flying a stream of old nesting materials in an almost continuous stream, dried leaves, grass, twigs it must have been full from previous tenants.

This went on for a few minutes then out popped a Flicker, the brightly colored woodpecker, and no doubt for a breath of fresh air! Just a while and he was back inside tossing out the remainder of the old, ready no doubt for the new.

As we were watching his grand performance, I noticed in the long damp grass, the tracks of a family of raccoons that had tracked across earlier that morning on their way to check out the garbage bins in the area and a few offerings from some neighbors.

The Robin that had staked out 'our tree' for himself was singing his heart out and letting everyone know this was his tree and woe betide any feathered soul that tried to encroach it!

He was quite happy to let the dozens and dozens of little one share it and of course, the crows and occasional raven was alright as they did not try to steal his top sprig! The many hummingbirds were too fast anyway and were gone almost before they arrived. Chickadees, Siskins, Purple Finches, Crossbills, Juncos by the herd and a variety of warblers plus so many others visit ' Our Tree,' which soon will be re-placed by a hole in the ground and then five town houses to be built on its place.