Bird Parents

With Mother's Day having just passed and Father's Day around the corner, and with Spring here, I thought a few words on bird parents would be timely. I have noticed that just like in human society, there are all types of bird parents in nature. There are birds that take really good care of their young; the Canada Geese at Tanglewood have 6 young and after watching them every day, I am impressed with their parental skills. They are vigilant and sometimes even nasty when it comes to protecting their young. The hissing and neck bobbing I see when I get anywhere near their goslings is enough to make me keep my distance. Then there are the birds that "make babies" and their job is done. This is seen in some species of Cuckoos, where the parents aren't responsible for any care at all of their young; the female will lay their eggs in other birds' nests and then she leaves, relying on a totally different species to raise her chicks. There are times when the traditional roles are reversed as with Phalaropes; birds in which the female is colorful (in the bird world it's usually the male) and the Dad does all the work building the nest and incubating the eggs; he's the one that does the important stuff.

All of these parental choices (and more) are seen in human society. Unfortunately all human parents aren't Geese-like in the care of their children, but many are and it is those in particular that we thank and celebrate on Mother's and Father's Day.

Killing Snakes

I know there are plenty of people who are ignorant about nature out there and it is disheartening. That is why we do educational programs, to help people understand that everything on Earth has value and a purpose and we need to educate ourselves rather than act out of some primal fear.

Today I was put in the middle of someone's fear and ignorance and had to confront it. A man came up to the Nature Center and asked for a staff member to identify a snake he had in a bag. At first I thought it was alive, but he proceeded to tell me he wanted to know "What kind of snakes he should be killing." I told him he shouldn't be killing any kind of snake and if he had killed a rattlesnake that it was illegal because they are protected in New York State. He said, "I'm leaving then." I told him, "Nope, give me the bag" and I took it from him. Inside was a beautiful (dead) milksnake. I told him it was a non-venomous snake, a milksnake. He said, "Good, now I know which snakes not to be killing" and he acted as though that was my cue to "high five" him. I told him again, he should not be killing any snakes and he acted incredulous. I told him he didn't have to like it and anyways I didn't make the law.

He then "shushed" me...that was another mistake. I don't like to be shushed. Anyone who knows me knows I am not a rude person, but if I am confronted with a situation where I feel someone is in the wrong, I don't turn tail and run, I deal with it, and I don't yell, but I am not a whisperer either. I told him not to shush me, he said I was echoing. Big freaking deal. I told him just like I don't make the laws, I didn't construct the building, it echoes. High ceilings and all. I don't care who you are, don't bring a snake you have killed to a Nature Center and expect a friendly reception. And if you have killed a rattlesnake, expect that I will report you, I am just that kind of a girl.

He walked out, I took the snake in the bag, I might have muttered something regarding ignorance, and went down to our Curator's office. I opened the bag and the snake's tongue flicked. It was almost chopped in half, but still alive. Thanks Mr. Ignorant, now I had to put the poor thing out of it's misery. The snake died because someone was fearful and uneducated. Tanglewood apparently still has a lot of work to do.