Page 18 - Sentinel April 2017

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE The bird bath requires frequent filling due to the warmth and
Susan Peters... the many birds it attracts. This spring is a banner one for rob-
ins. One or two hung around all winter. Now the bird bath
Fast Forward into Summer?... and pond have become the meetup singles bar. And the scene
Happenings...Quick Takes is not limited to the robins. Doves, towhees, finches, red-wing
blackbirds in their colorful amulets, chickadees, woodpeckers,
OK, this is becoming an old, jays, juncos, all paying the cover, or maybe offering a song for
tired refrain: WHAT winter? the price of admittance. The bluebirds have more subtle ways
This weekend is in the 80s. for courtship, stealthily sneaking a drink before heading back to
It is warmer than Miami or their waiting mate. Since we started our sprinklers six weeks
Cancun. Spring break in the earlier than usual, the robins are enjoying the appetizer menu of
Rockies! And thunder storm predictions for tomorrow! It is worms and grubs. Yum. Could I have mine with chocolate dip
mid-March as I am writing this. and sprinkles? Such delicacies remind me of my high school
biology banquets that were a good match for realty show chal-
Lilacs are budding out. Daffodils are starting to bloom. The lenges.
willow tree is covered in its fuzzy catkins that attract bees by
the hundreds. And the wasps are cruising, looking for a date. The birdy choir rehearsals have begun. Throw in a few squawk-
This is the earliest in over 20 years here in Larkspur that we ing crows, and I am running for my noise cancelling headset.
have put out the yellow jacket trap. Once the wrens chime in, I am all ears to their beyond beautiful
arias.
The fear is that the continued drought will continue past spring
making for a long summer without our trees getting a good But wait, things can change on a dime and we can suddenly be
drink to stay healthy. No water, the trees become weak and plunged into winter. The past two years that has happened and
mistletoe moves in, draining the trees of moisture, and inviting killed many of our ornamental trees and bushes.
the insects. Ones such as pine beetle, spruce bark beetle, tus-
socks moth – the one that devastated stands of trees in the Perry Happenings
Park area a few years ago, Emerald ash borers, and a plethora This is your chance to partner with biologists in a gorgeous
more can and do kill hundreds of trees.
Continued on page 19

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Page 18 - April 2017 Perry Park Sentinel