Right On Time
Of the black vultures' return and nature's teachers
“In most indigenous creation stories, humans were the last ones created. Around us are many teachers.” ~ Linda Hogan, Chickasaw poet and novelist
Thank you for reading along with me these first weeks on Substack! I appreciate and welcome new subscribers, as well as your shares, hearts, and comments, and I look forward to learning more about how nature sparks your curiosity.
Last week I shared info about how to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count 2024 coming up this week. I hope you take a few minutes to learn more about it and then plan on 15 minutes to observe and share what you see. All the how-to’s are at the event website link above. I’d love to hear about what you see!
Clover Returns to the Barn
Two weeks ago, I shared the story of Clover’s emergence from my old barn in July 2023, 11 weeks after hatching in May.
Weeks of frenetic bird energy ensue each time a black vulture fledgling leaves the barn: imagine toddler meets chicken meets Red Bull. As the fledgling finds its confidence and builds wing strength, the parents patiently take turns feeding and preening. Flight lessons happen daily from the barn to the fence, to my roof, and then lower deck. My indoor cats recognize the landing thumps and run to the deck doors to bump noses and beaks against the glass.
My cats seem excited to see their vulture friends again. The VeeVees tap the glass to get our attention as if to introduce the newest member of the family.
Everyone is curious.
Last year, Clover’s confidence grew quickly and the last I saw him/her was at the end of July, just four weeks after leaving the barn. For three days after that last sighting, the parents returned. They checked the barn, flew to the fence and my roof, to my decks, and round and round again. It was evident to me that they were looking for Clover.
My imagination is apt to run wild, so I naturally worried that something horrible had happened to the young vulture. Just like in 2021 when one of the adults never returned days after the egg hatched, leaving (presumably) the female parent to raise Poppy on its own (with very limited support from me, as guided by a wildlife rehabber.)
I could only hope that the youngster had found the larger family community and would be reunited with its parents. And I had to accept that I may never know.
…and then this Monday, Clover returned with its parents, the VeeVees, as I have affectionately called them since 2020.
Year 5 Begins
And just like that, a fifth year of observation begins as this black vulture couple begins their mating dance leading to egg(s) incubation and hopefully one or more hatchlings come May. Clover will soon leave the parents and spend time with the family flock, which likely (hopefully) includes its siblings from earlier years.
Four years ago I noticed these birds among bare winter branches and then paid attention. Today, these clever, funny creatures have returned to their safe space to nurture more young. What an honor to be trusted by them.
Currently Reading Adding To My Collection
Recently my niece asked me how many books I read each year. I stumbled and mumbled a bit about retraining my attention span (which is actually a thing I’m working on) and fessed up to being more in a collecting phase than a reading phase in recent years.
But I (nearly) completed The Covenant of Water last year, and am progressing through the first of Edwin Way Teale’s seasons series beginning with Wandering in Winter. So I’m getting back on track.
However, today I added to my nature book collection by purchasing the pocket-size The Natural History of Selborne first written in 1789 (below), a gift from Anne to Jane in London, September 1972. The book is a collection of letters about the author’s daily walks and observations in Selborne in the county of Southampton, with a significant focus on birds. Before I knew anything of the content, I was compelled by the crinkling delight of cellophane in my hands. Perhaps in the future I’ll write about my love for old cellophane book covers and track down some history about their use. For now, I simply revel in the instant feeling of time travel to the elementary school libraries of my childhood.
“One of my neighbors last Saturday, November the 26th, saw a martin in a sheltered bottom: the sun shone warm, and the bird was hawking briskly after flies. I am now perfectly satisfied that they do not all leave this island in the winter.”
~Gilbert White, Letter XXI to Thomas Pennant, Nov. 28, 1768
Just four minutes…
What birds do you notice this week?
Outside your home or office? At a favorite park?
Or chirping outside your windows as you wake in the morning?
How many different songs do you hear?
Journaling prompt…
I have borrowed a teaching from a yoga teacher I admire:
“Take imperfect action.” ~Allie Van Fossen
This is a guide for my daily living that helps…
to fend off procrastination
to make progress even if it’s messy
to take the first step whether I know what all the other steps should be
to build new and better habits
It’s a practice that has helped me click ‘publish’ on this new Substack adventure knowing that each week’s newsletter is an offering for us to curate a more curious, nature-centered life. It is also filled with my photographs using my phone or a basic Canon camera I found on Facebook marketplace.
Your turn…Journal for a few minutes on the idea of taking imperfect action.
See where it leads you…
If you enjoyed this week’s edition of “A Curious Nature”, I hope you may choose to subscribe, drop your thoughts below, or share with a friend. Thank you!
What a great gift and opportunity to study/observe black vultures! Wonderful pictures and story. Thanks for sharing.