I love to go walking in the woods. It’s a special place with its own sights and sounds. Long ago I decided the best way to enjoy it was to STOP often to take in my surroundings, LOOK all around me, and LISTEN to all the unique sounds. That way I don’t miss out on anything!
When I walk I always do it quietly. If I am walking with someone, I encourage them to whisper and to walk slowly. Loud and sudden noises will scare away many creatures. After you walk by they may decide to come out of hiding. This happened one time when I looked back and saw this brush rabbit in the middle of the path.
and then unrolled again.
I sometimes see unexpected things on my walks. I came across a drama that surprised me. A butterfly was flitting from plant to plant, and as soon as it settled, a yellow jacket landed on it. This happened over and over. I didn’t know a yellow jacket would eat a butterfly, and this looked like a losing battle. I felt sorry for the poor thing. It was one of those nature lessons one learns when observing nature.
On one of my walks I heard a loud chattering noise. It didn’t sound like a bird. What could it be? I looked up, and there was a squirrel, leaping from limb to limb, tree to tree. He seemed to be very agitated and clearly didn’t want me there. He finally flattened hmself on a tree branch and kept an eye on me. I walked on and left him in peace.
I don’t often see deer on my walks, because they usually do their foraging at night and bed down during the day. But this one was out for a stroll.
Not far away his companion woke up long enough to see what was going on, and then settled down again.
Besides all the animal life in the woods, there are plants, some good and some bad. I learned the importance of staying on trails when I spotted a neat looking bug next to the trail. I got on my knees to take a photo, and unfortunately I didn’t notice that poison oak was lurking in the leaves. It took me a few days to get over it, and I never made that mistake again!
On the good side there are often different kinds of fungi in the woods. This has got to be the granddaddy of them all. It has the cute name of chicken-in-the-woods. It was growing out of a tree stump and made quite a sight.
I’ve often seen holes in the woods, and wondered what might be inside. I read someplace that there are people that “knock” on the top of a hole to see if some creature might come out to check to see what’s causing the disturbance. I wouldn’t want to do that, because you never know just what that animal might be!
The woods are not a tidy place, and you might wonder why somebody doesn’t clean it up. But all the fallen trees and litter on the floor of the woods has a purpose. They gradually decay and provide nutrients for plants and trees to grow. They also give shelter to small animals, and their bark provides food for some larger animals.
Every walk into woodlands can bring new adventures. Nature is never static – it’s constantly changing, even if the changes are not always noticeable. Go for a slow, quiet walk and make discoveries of your own!
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