The Daily Bucket is a place where we post and exchange our observations about what is happening in the natural world in our neighborhood. Bugs, buds, birds - each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
February 27, 2012. Gooseville, WI.
Before I retired, a co-worker of mine Jim Buchholz, added an epilogue in his book Wild Wisconsin Notebook.
It might have read like some obscure obituary in the local press announcing the passing of someone few knew or cared about:
"Martha Washington, aged 29 years, died of natural causes at 5 p.m. today, September 1, 1914, at her home. She had no survivors."
Yet, only a handful of newspapers bothered to print the story at all. Martha's only companions at the time of her death were her keepers at the Cincinnati Zoo, who promptly froze her body in a 300-pound block of ice and shipped her to her final resting spot at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. Despite the lack of public interest at the time, Martha turned out to be a unique celebrity, for she was the sole relic of her race - the last passenger pigeon on earth.
Well, on September 1, 1914, that was a notable
going...the last passenger pigeon on earth.
I have noted in the past two weeks that my Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls and Red-breasted Nuthatches have left my friendly feeders for their northern nesting reaches. Three weeks earlier than last year. A day ago I noted that half my winter flock of juncos were missing. Today, none have appeared under the feeder.
That's a noted going...
My beloved Sandhill Cranes have arrived this week in the wetlands to fill the valley with rich, raucous crane song and joyous dancing. Three weeks earlier than last year. The Red-winged Blackbirds are due any day.
That's a noted coming...
The last wild passenger pigeon flying free in the world was shot dead near Babcock, Wisconsin, in 1899. Their massive endless numbers were once counted at 3 to 5 billion.
A simple bronze plaque on a quiet stone monument overlooking the great Mississippi River at Wyalusing State Park, notes:
This species became extinct through the avarice and thoughtlessness of man.
Aldo Leopold wrote about the passing of the passenger pigeon...
There will always be pigeons in books and museums, but these are effigies and images, dead to all the hardships and to all the delights. They know no seasons; they feel no kiss of the sun, no lash of the wind and weather.
What's
coming and
going or
going and
coming in your yard. What's greening or blooming or crawling or buzzing? Who's newly arrived or missing from your neighborhood today?