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November 21, 2007
The Bird Life of N. Central Idaho
Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I heard a Great Horned Owl. It called and called. Such a beautiful sound. And as I listened, I found myself feeling sad for the owl, who was apparently all alone. And I wondered whether it felt lonely. Or if owls don't notice that sort of thing.
I know cats notice loneliness. I'm sure Quickly is running around the house wailing for me right now. Nothing Dave can say to her will make any difference whatsoever. Because I have LEFT her. FOOOREEEEEVEEEERRR. What a sad situation for a screamy little black cat to find herself in. Knowing the depth of her sadness, as she assures everyone does when she is abandoned, I wonder whether birds can also feel lonely.
I saw a number of raptors on the drive down, all different sizes of them. Some Swainsons hawks and what might have been falcons. Also some Red-Tailed, I think. It's hard to identify a bird on a fencepost from a car doing 65 when you're the person driving.
Which reminds me. I am now absolutely positive that there is a N. Central Idaho organization of drivers whose sole purpose is to slow traffic on Highway 95 to five mph under the speed limit. It doesn't matter what direction I'm traveling or what time of year, I eventually end up behind them. And when I say them, I mean that this occurs with multiple vehicles on any given trip. They most frequently turn up between Whitebird and New Meadows and McCall and Horseshoe Bend. I wish I could believe that they don't exist, but as I said, I know better.
I ran into three separate sets of them this trip. Mind you, I still made it from Moscow to McCall in three and a half hours. Despite the car that was doing 40 in a 65 who I couldn't get around for a good twenty minutes. Which would not have been a big deal in typical winter weather, say storms or broken snow floor. When it becomes an issue for me is when there are clear blue skies and dry pavement the whole way. As were the driving conditions today.
Here's a tip for you slowpokes on Idaho's two-lane highways: if you don't like to drive, stay off the roads. Let someone else do the driving or host Thanksgiving at your house so you don't have to face the wrath of the seven drivers behind you who would like to get to their destinations in a decent time. It is illegal in Idaho to hold up more than three vehicles if you are traveling below the speed limit. I'm just saying. In fact here's the actual language from the Idaho Driver's Manual:
Any vehicle traveling so slowly that it is
delaying three or more other vehicles in a rural
area or on a two-lane highway must turn off
the road wherever safe to let the other vehicles
pass.
Did they do that? NO. Despite having several opportunities. Like big pull-off areas and Slow Vehicle Turnout lanes. Can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine? But seriously. If you're afraid to drive, stay off the road. You're creating a far more dangerous situation than whatever it is you're trying to avoid.
~~End Rant~~
The reason I began this post with birds is because I love them. I think they're wonderful. I have always thrilled to the sight of a hawk along the side of a road, and today I saw at least ten big'uns and multiple teeny ones. It was lovely. They speak of freedom to me, in that wide open spaces/Western skies/no fences kind of way.
One of the few (the very few) things that makes me hesitant to move to a large urban area is missing out on the sight of the hawks and the sounds of the owls. And the pheasants in the front yard. Also the deer and rabbits and moose and foxes and coyotes and racketycoons (though if we stay in the PNW we can get the raccons in pretty much any city). I love the wildlife. It reassures me that the world may be an okay place after all.
And because I'm in a small-ish mountain town with clear air and a view of a snow-ringed lake, waiting for the rest of my family to get here to celebrate Thanksgiving and several birthdays, I'll take a final moment to fill my lungs and wish all of you a breathing opportunity in your busy lives; a moment to count your blessings and hold your loved ones tight. And hopefully a sense that maybe the world is okay after all.
To all my USA readers: Happy Thanksgiving.
To all my readers: Peace.
Posted by sally at November 21, 2007 03:44 PM
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