Snow and Sparrows

Snow and Sparrows

February 16 and 19, 2015

Evening

Snow!!!

Nice, fat flakes, lots of them, falling thickly, steadily, over a long period of time.

It was our first deep snow of the 2014-2015 winter, and I was very happy.

Nothing transforms a landscape as completely and suddenly beautiful as a good, deep snowfall. I was happy for the small animals, the dens, the roots, tubers, corms and seeds that are insulated and protected below. I was also happy that there would be plenty of moisture to replenish the water table, as well as Cottonwood Pond.

The thick layer of snow obscured the presence of water, the Seep, the winding of the creek, the edges of the pond, the mud piles, the Cottonwood Trunk, and logs. It was difficult to see where these began and ended, or sometimes where they were at all. The area was a collection of vague shapes snuggled under a thick comforter.

At the same time, there was accentuation. Vertical tree trunks were bold, dark spires. The Root Ball looked like a giant chocolate cookie being dunked edge wise into a bowl of marshmallow fluff. A smear of brown on a white palette showed where dirt had fallen at the entrance to the Cove. The arc of the Bent Blue Beech was drawn like a line of ink when the snow-covered top side accented the dark lower side.

First, a tour in the snow around Cottonwood Pond …

  The Creek

 Still Snowing

 From the Southeast: Barkless Log, Inlets, Bent Blue Beech

 Fresh Animal Tracks Along the Outside of the Barkless Log

 From the South

 From the Southwest

 From the West – the Seep

...ending at the northwest end of the Root Ball, where “little pond” is normally visible.

It was here that I noticed a movement and heard a fluttering sound.

A sparrow was darting among the sticks and weeds near the Root Ball Top and  Cottonwood Trunk. By the dark spot and streaking on the breast, the gray and rufous cat, the black “moustache” and black line behind the eye, I could identify it as an American Tree Sparrow.

There was a pair of them. One or the other would sometimes disappear into a dark space in the Root Ball Top, then dart out again, to stop on a branch.

How deep was this place in the dead vegetation of the Root Ball Top? In contrast with the surrounding snow, it looked like a small cavern. Were the sparrows using this as shelter from the snow and cold? But, they were darting in and out. Were they finding food in there? Were they considering it as a future nesting spot? I wasn't sure if it was deep enough, and made a mental note to check it again when the snow would be melted. 

Thinking of the Water Snake that was coiled around an infant Maple sapling on top of the Root Ball last May, I wondered if this would be a good nest site choice. But, then again, no place is invulnerable.

 I also made a mental note to spend some time there through the season, to see if the pair of American Tree Sparrows were still hanging out there, and if they would be carrying nesting materials to that same place.

February 19, 2015: