A Time to Learn and Remember
A Time to Learn and Remember
Down under in Dreamland, where I live among gumtrees and wildlife, this year the Winter was not terribly cold but very very dry. We had 61 dry days -- day after day after day without a drop of rain. Our grasses turned yellow and dry and were ready to burn in a bushfire. Some of our young trees conserved water by shredding their leaves and stopped all budding growths. We are quite lucky - compare to areas deeper inlands, some have not seen rain for 18 months!
In time like this we learn about border security and humanity. Most people in the outbacks can stay on with food and water trucked in. But there is no food delivery for wildlife, they must seek asylum elsewhere. So, they come to our place, breach our borders, take some of our food, flora and faunna, leave their droppings everywhere including on our roofs that catch rain water that we drink.
But we had water in our dams and we had asylum seekers from much worse off areas further inlands moved in to feed on grass seeds, any green leaves, watery roots and even feed on other native wildlife. We had been putting out extra grains and sugar water for birds like wild doves, wild geese, lorikeets, king parrots, finches, little wrens and many kinds of honey eaters. Kangaroos and wallabies came in to nibble natives plants. Insects like grass hoppers, moved in to munch green leaves. Insect catchers like skinks, geckos, woodpecker and wagtail birds had their feed alongside kookaburras and choughs (a kind of crows that live in family of 10-12 birds). Possoms came in to eat fruits, vegetables and insects. Mice and rats also came to seek asylum in our area. Followed by snakes and owls and hawkes to feed on them. In dry times, life and death are side by side.
Last night, we had a brief shower. Only 1-2 mills. This morning we had thick fog and cloudy skies. Our dry spell is about to break. Some asylum seekers would soon return home. But some would stay and make their home here. They would have families, raise their youngs, colonize our land and become our natives.
The changes come and go with seasons. Dreamland is renewed again. Gums and wattles will soon dress themselves up with flowers, bees and nectar loving birds. Grasses will cover open grounds in green and hide brown quails with clumps. Frogs will sing their choir. Myriads of butterflies, moths, cicadas, ants and termites will once again be busy playing out their short lives. We'd better be ready too. Spring is a wonderful time for people too.
Somewhere in my fuzzy memory a Christian saying rings out
"The world is a bridge, so pass over it and do not inhabit it."
ความเห็น (2)
You're so lucky to be able to live in such a great place. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely natural scene to us. Would it be possible to have some photos of the place? I was once in that kind of nature so I can imagine but I also wish to be able to see the real one again from your place.
Thanks for the visit โอ๋-อโณ 
: living in the sticks does have its ups and downs. You know, open spaces, miles to travel, neighbours more than a stone throw away, one has to be road engineer, water engineer, plants growers, ,,, in short one has to be a farmer -- works harder for low pay and more than often has no say -- in any thing ;-)
PS. Will post some pics soon. Internet connection in the bush is a tat faster than snail mail ;-)