Footprints in the Garden

I confess to a pang of guilt when I remind myself that as much as I love our home, the lot preparation probably agitated a few birds and animals. And so we try to get back into the good graces of our woodland friends by planting bird-friendly plants and shrubs for their summer pleasure and inviting them to the bird feeder in the winter. Until my happy gardening season returns, a little bit of back yard tracking keeps me out of trouble and reminds me of another world.

The canine track below with four clawed toes is likely that of a dog, but because our neighbors never let their dogs roam, it imagine it could also be a fox. Our three year old grandson would like to believe it is a dino print.

These dear little prints match up with a junco or a sparrow.

I do believe a red squirrel has been making himself at home.

What have we here? Genus Hankus Americanus - the print of HE who faithfully fills the feeders every day. Neither snow, nor sleet, nor mighty gusts will slow him down.

I like that tracking gives me the reassurance that there is a life out there that exists only under cover of dark and starry skies. I've heard the owls, so I know they are there. But when insomnia strikes I really like thinking about things that come out of the silent woods, take a look around, and creep back in. There's something very mysterious and comforting about that night life.

There is one night visitor who leaves the best footprints of all and has been doing so for centuries:

best and coziest winter book ever!

nighty-nite