Library Animal Menagerie
We Are Where We Are
This morning, while opening the library, I noticed that our Great Blue Heron was back. Is he the same one who lives across the road in Sucker Brook? Does he live right there? Has the same heron been there now for several seasons? Do they migrate? Is it even a he? I have no clue on the nesting or living habits of Great Blue Herons. Heck, for all I know, he could be a Little Blue Heron - yup, that’s a thing.
(If anyone reading this knows about them, please fill us in!)
Anyway, Bluey was doing a slow strut through the water lilies looking for a meal when I saw him. Did you know that herons swallow their prey whole and have been known to swallow water snakes up to 40 inches in length!
As I was watching Bluey, I started thinking about our location and how it often feels far more rural than the suburban bedroom community we actually are.
Just the other day, traffic was backed up on both sides of the state road in front of the library. A closer look revealed a family of geese crossing the road as drivers patiently waited. The same often happens for wild turkeys.
And last week, on my way to the parking lot, I caught a glimpse of the huge groundhog that apparently lives under the children’s room. We’ve poured concrete, rolled stones, nothing works. At least he’s better than the skunk that used to live there before him.
And don’t even start with me about the hornet’s nest that fried our AC splitter last season or the bobcat that lives behind our story-trail.
Where am I going with this? I think I like being surrounded by wildlife, even though it’s not terribly convenient sometimes and the changing nature of the town is certainly leaning away from the rural aspects that the long-timers like to tout as being the best part of living here.
But all the creatures help with at least the perception that the library’s a quaint old girl. That’s partly true. We DO have a beautiful old stone wall in the back of our property. We do have an original tin ceiling. And we do have a 130 year old fireplace across from our circulation desk.
So we’ll try to abide and maintain the feel of the place. And as long as the groundhog doesn’t actually try to come INTO the children’s room, we can live in peace together.
We have cameras around our yard, The night life is incredible. Skunks, racoons, opossums, foxes, owls, occasional bear or coyote. Most will not bother you unless you bother them. They are actually a great asset as they keep grubs, insects and mice at bay and a hoot to watch as they poke around the yard.
Definitely a great blue heron. Little blue herons are almost always a southern bird. They’re also half the size of the great blues. If it takes off and your immediate thought is something like, “Whoa, that thing look like a pterodactyl!” then it’s a great blue heron. They’re cool birds!