I sat on my porch last week and watched the afternoon thunderstorm roll into the St. Simons sound. Just a few hours before, the sun was brightly shining and I witnessed two Roseate Spoonbills flying, their pink color starkly contrasted against the bright green of our summer marsh. Then a pair of Eastern Bluebirds lit on my porch, perhaps looking for a place to build a home. I observed these beautifully colored birds for awhile before they decided to move on.
May has been a month of transitions, some expected, others not, some happy, others sad. I must admit there have been tears. I celebrated my son Heyward’s college graduation and watched as he drove off to Maine for his new job with Outward Bound. He will spend the summer living ruggedly on a sailboat and camping on small rocky islands. I remember the days when I loved sleeping on the ground under the stars. Now, I prefer the comfort of a mattress!
It took Heyward two days to drive over 1,200 miles. As far as that seems, it’s not nearly as far as most birds journey during their annual migrations. For instance, Red Knots at this time of year fly 9,000 miles from southern Argentina and Chile to their breeding grounds in the high Arctic. They rely on our beaches as a stopover spot to rest and refuel on freshly laid horseshoe crab eggs. Even the dainty little Eastern migratory monarch butterfly travels up to 2,800 miles from Canada/US to Mexico where they winter. I find the natural world amazing.
If you are leaving the nest, building a nest, becoming an empty nester or want to be a snow bird, give me a call. I would love to help you find a home here.
Catherine McCrary
Sewanee Graduation
+ I am so proud of my son Heyward for receiving a B.S. degree in Geology with honors.
+ The full Strawberry moon rises at 9:30 pm on June 4.
Horseshoe Crabs
Their breeding season is happening right now. If you walk on the beach you might see them mating in the shallow waters. The Red Knot shorebirds rely on their eggs for food as they migrate.
Also, did you know that the horseshoe crab’s closest relative is the spider?
Monarch Butterflies
The eastern Monarch butterflies are declining in numbers. You can help by planting milkweed in your yard for them to feed on as they migrate through the Golden Isles. I just purchased a plant at ACE Garden Center on St. Simons where it is on sale.
Also, The Butterfly’s Daughter, by Mary Alice Monroe is a great fictional book about a transformational journey that follows the migrating monarchs across the US to Mexico.
