WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY

… this time with my camera in hand.

You may recall this recent post, wherein I visited Council Point Park a few days after the massive amphibious vehicle munched through all the vegetation along the Ecorse Creek shoreline, felling every tree, many containing squirrels’ and birds’ nests, plus unearthing countless turtles, flinging them from the depths of the murky Ecorse Creek.

Before that devastation began on May 8th I wrote our City’s mayor to ask if the project, already one month late commencing, could not wait until after nesting season, but was told “yes, this may be hard on animals for a bit, but in the long run this project will be good for the wildlife, flow of the water and good for cities from Dearborn Heights to Lincoln Park.”

Well, alright then.

I had no choice but to accept the doom and gloom that ensued from that May 8th rampage.

Day after day of seeing tree debris all along the shoreline was so disheartening.

The trees that once graced the shoreline remain, albeit reduced to either stumps or trunks about five or six feet tall. Some of the stumps are even sporting new growth.

So essentially, that initial destruction could have occurred on the other side of the Park first, sparing the nesting critters’ habitats for the time being … but I digress.

Maybe with no haste to mow down everything in sight, both in the water and on land, this mangled park bench might have been spared?

The mangled park bench was located at “The Point” where the project ends as the Creek is wider there. The bench at least provided a good view, unlike this park bench located on the other side of the Park.

Unbelievably, just in the past ten days, the same mammoth amphibious vehicle has removed all that tree debris parallel to the walking path. I sure would like to think it was because of my June 4th e-mail suggesting the piles of dry debris be removed before the Fourth of July when neighborhood folks gather in the Park’s parking lot to shoot off large fireworks, same which can be seen and heard at my house one mile away.

After all, just one errant firecracker with all the dry debris … well you can imagine the scenario for yourself. Let’s just say neither Smokey the Bear, nor Linda Schaub, would have been happy.

So yay, the debris is gone and Council Point Park did not go up in flames. Weeds and long grass have overtaken the shoreline landscape. But the debris has not been totally transported from the venue – some of it is now piled on the opposite side of the Ecorse Creek awaiting final disposition.

On May 12th, I declared I would not take my camera to my favorite nature nook for a very long time. Sure, the non-profit organization Friends of the Detroit River will put in native plants along the Ecorse Creek shoreline … great. But it will be a long time before this once beautiful park looks whole again.

Okay, I’ll step down from my soapbox now.

So what changed my mind about picture-taking at the Park?

A few ounces of feather and bones with an oversized yellow beak gave me a new perspective on the Park and propelled me to once again hook my camera case onto my fanny pack.

In an upcoming post I will be sharing my Mama Robin and offspring experience that helped me shake off the bitterness that had permeated my soul over my beloved Council Point Park.

But today, this post will center on a walk taken a month after the initial destruction.

Once on the walking path, it was like old times with the camera … so what did I see?

I already knew this would be a peaceful Sunday morning meander, with zero construction work and no incessant humming by the various earth-moving machines as had become the norm. In the near-silence I imagined that if I closed my eyes I could pretend the destruction and debris were gone and the squirrels would race toward me, Blue Jays and Cardinals would hover nearby, then gravitate to the Safe Haven Tree to await a “drop” of sunflower seeds and peanuts, shelled and unshelled. Rex the Red-bellied Woodpecker would swoop down near my feet and Harry the Great Blue Heron would give that horrible screech since I interrupted his breakfast fishing expedition.

So expectations were high for some nice nature shots as I arrived at the entrance to the Park, the day after I discovered the Robin family. Before I could peer at the nest, I spotted this Cottontail bunny who immediately froze in place. “I thought I was alone” he or she seemed to say as I evidently had interrupted dining on clover. It didn’t move for the longest time, so I quietly shifted my bag of goodies to my left arm, so I could pull the camera out of its case.

I got the one shot above before the bunny bolted over to the fence and began quivering, so I cooed at it, but it remained parked by the fence seemingly terrified of me. Concerned my furry pal might bolt into busy River Drive and be killed, I got this shot, then left so it could eat in peace.

I next headed toward the Pavilion area where a few Sparrows flew over and one black squirrel was dancing around my feet, careful not to alert anyone else I had arrived, so it did not have to share any goodies. I spread some peanuts and sunflower seeds, then headed to the other two places I leave treats.

“Can you see me now?”

I generated some interest as a few squirrels popped up on their haunches to ensure I didn’t miss them – “yes I can see you” I told them.

Soon a few more of those boop-on-the-snoot-cute squirrels were scurrying down tree trunks …

… and/or peeking around a tree trunk like the featured image up top.

You’d think I hadn’t visited here in ages as my furry friends eagerly chomped on peanuts, a dramatically pared-down crowd from the 30-40 plus that greeted me daily in the past. There were a lot of gray squirrels as their nests were not near the project. I figure some got their “get out of jail card” validated and were finally allowed to leave the nest. They were running everywhere, a little apprehensive about the human that was lurking nearby. I think they took their cue to approach me from their parents.

Parker ambled over, asking for double peanuts, some for him, some for his shadow.

I miss the black squirrels, which are few now as there were many nests along the shoreline and those trees are gone. I think some have relocated to the neighborhood and a fellow walker who feeds the squirrels told me he saw a man bring a Havahart capture/release cage to the Park and as he lifted the trap door, two black squirrels scurried out.

There would be more critters as I happily clicked away.

There was one Canada goose. The rest were already gone, along with their goslings. Their departure was imminent once I saw all the large flight feathers littering the grass like you see below.

The Mallards are long gone, since the onset of the project, with the exception of the Mama Wood Duck and her ducklings which made a cameo appearance, never to be seen again.

I tendered a few more peanuts as I walked along the perimeter path, then, shielding my eyes from the sun while glancing at the cringe-worthy landscape, I saw Harry who, having been denied his usual fishing spot on the now debris-covered cement ledge, was standing on the opposite shoreline.

I zoomed in for a close-up.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed one of the “spared turtles” languishing on a log enjoying the sun’s early morning rays.

The morning was young and I had no plans to go to any other parks as the winds were clipping along at 15 mph and gusting to 25 mph … at a big shoreline park it would be uncomfortably windy. Besides, the fishflies had returned to Wyandotte, along with the annual Swiggin’ Pig Music Fest and Carnival and it was free fishing weekend at all Michigan parks, so I would stay put.

With a little more spring in my step I went along the perimeter path two more times, camera in hand.

If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!

I saw this Mama squirrel sitting on a branch near ground level, but she scrambled up into the tree immediately as I approached.

To lure her to ground level I laid peanuts on the path in the dappled sunshine …

… but no amount of coaxing could get her back to the path to eat them. There she sat, rather defiantly, perched on the branch, refusing to come down.

In this photo I thought she wore a rather pained “I am weary with the world” look – raising her kits was clearly taking its toll on her … and her body.

I glanced around, hopeful for a sign of her little ones to no avail. I think she considered me a pain with this look.

I thought Mama might have a change of heart here, but she steadfastly remained up in the tree.

And then something colorful and poignant.

While waiting for Mama Squirrel to get an attitude adjustment, I noticed a flag flapping vigorously at a nearby memorial tree.

In the past I have written about several of the memorial trees in this Park and about this tree, in particular. At the base of it at one time were some painted rocks, a children’s plaque about “Grandpa” and a tiny gnome.

This is Grandpa “Bill” Lee’s memorial stone.

There has been a metal American Flag near the memorial stone for some time.

But on this walk I noticed some new items, so I went over to investigate.

I couldn’t miss the red-white-and-blue wind chimes that were tinkling with each gust of wind. Were they new as well?

The grandparents must have liked birds – I see a theme in the wind chimes. The wind chimes here were also swaying in the breeze.

Then I saw the bright-red flower and stepped to the other side of the tree to take a photo.

I saw this sweet message nearby.

That’s when I saw the second memorial stone under the tree. This was a new stone, even if “Betty” had passed away several years ago.

Grandparents loved and missed deeply.

After three miles walked at the Park, I headed for home, another mile to go.

I am joining Terri Webster Schrandt’s Sunday Stills Color Challenge for July: Red, white and blue.