The Wild life in Village Creek could and does, mean two very different things depending on your generation. First, the obvious, are the late night parties on the beach, many of which I and my contemporaries used to participate. Now my children (not even children any more) bask in the moon light down on the beach. The ‘other wild life’ refers to that of the most literal sense…herons, turkeys, turtles, raccoons, possums, fox, swans, and of course, the dear deer (of which I will say no more).
Of the many benefits we can all share by living on one hundred acres plus of dry and marsh land is opportunity to enjoy (and sometimes not) the abundance and variety of the local native animal population. Rarely a day goes by when I don’t find my self slowing down around a curve to either avoid or simply admire the local fauna on its way.
There was a time when I thought I saw a small bear out in the marsh. Staring out into the early morning marsh light I saw something slow and lumbering, round and black…this went on for days until one morning when I grabbed my binoculars and camera and drove over to the power plant for a better view. The guard on duty said he didn’t know anything about a bear, but there was the biggest turkey he ever saw strolling about…with his plumbs fully extended, from a distance and at 5am, it certainly looked like a bear to me!
The abundance of turkeys (not with standing a few neighbors) in our little Shangri-La is robust and growing. Albeit, the only thing fast about turkeys, is they’re growth. They are otherwise slow, stupid and down right ugly; until they ‘pride up’ as they slowly pivot like fashion models, casually making their way across the road – full brood in tack- one at a time…very slowly…very, very slowly. Turkeys don’t care about the gardens and they’d probably eat mosquitoes if they were a bit faster. They’re keepers.
Herons. Another magnificently large bird, as is the magnificently large target they leave on the road, driveway and roof tops. I believe herons nest over asphalt so as to best camouflage them selves from predators above. The nests are easy to find. Simply look for a 12’ round white splat full of seafood remnants, baby turtles and sometimes frog parts. On a hot August day, when arid and crusty, the ‘Pollock-esque’ feature is topped with a thick layer of buzzing flies. Need I mention the fragrance? Welcome to my driveway. Herons are as grand as the deer and equally menacing. The male heron makes a redeeming and charming ‘hoot like whisper’ when feeling particularly pleased with himself. Flying across our front yard or over the marsh, with their 3’ wing span and neck firmly extended, they remind us of prehistoric birds. Pterodactyls?
If you’re lucky, you’ve seen the red fox and pheasant around the corner on Splitrock. If you’re unlucky, you’ve been hissed at by the swans as they come on the beach stalking small children…we’ve had raccoons nesting in our bath room, possums come in to share the dog bowl, wood chucks trampling the garden and a baby squirrel ran across our bed and up the curtains in our bedroom at 4am. Now that’s wild life! -Lisa McInnis
