Making A Comeback

Each season is different just as each year shows different balances in flora, fauna. It highlights the resurgence in some species and a decline in others.

Ten or more years ago, the deer population in this local area declined dramatically because of a nasty wasting disease that spread through the population. It was like mange where it showed patches of hide bare from the hair rotting at the roots of the poor animals. The deer had a hard time putting on enough weight during the summer months to last them through the winter. Few offspring were born during the worst of the disease.

It has taken several years, but the population is now on the incline and we see deer regularly when we go through the woods or around the fields. There are a group of four that love to spend their time under the big old growth fir tree at the edge of the 6 acre hayfield, the clover that grows there is an attractant and now that the grass is three or four feet tall, hides them when they browse.

The last two years had given us swallowtail butterflies in abundance. We watched them for hours as they flitted around the pollinator hedgerows. They paid special attention to the flowering daphne with their sweet scent. This year I have only seen a handful of the beautiful species, while hummingbirds are zipping around on this incline year.

The most notable of the revivals going on this year is the quail. Forty some years ago, we would see quail nearly every day. We would see evidence of their ‘mud baths’ where they flopped around dusting themselves on the trails in the woods. Many times a group of them would run along in front of the Gator on the trails like a mini parade in the forest (they seemed to think we would always slow down for a parade, they were right).

A quick look through google states,

Like peacock tails and a lot of other goofy feathers, quail crests (or plumes), which are actually made of six separate feathers, are apparently for impressing potential mates.

Over the years the quail had declined to the point where we rarely heard their ‘whoomp, whoomp’ thrumming calls, see evidence of mud baths or catch a glimpse of them around the farm. But this year the familiar sight of their distinctive plumage on their heads leads me to believe this species is currently on an upswing. Welcome back little fellas, it is good to see you again.

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