Category: Animals

The Egret, a Poem by Devin Routh

Animals, Farm, Poetry

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

The Egret

With stilt-like legs he wanders through the water’s edge
content to watch the fish below him, not to hunt
but listen to the bullfrogs’ croaking in the sedge
first loud then low, for he himself is transient.
He comes and goes with all the seasons and the winds
from sandy creeks where crawdads make their rocky homes
to miry ponds where ivory feathers hardly blend;
despite the mud he stays unsoiled while he roams.
And if a feather falls it’s full of blemishes
in little time; it loses all its pristine shine
as if it never shone before and proves that his
persistent sojourning has kept him in his prime.
To see an egret flap his wings and fly away
is to discover why he never cares to stay.

(Poetry copyright 2010 by Devin Routh. Used with permission.)

Baby Calves

Animals, Farm


We’re in the middle of calving on our farm in Grays Chapel, North Carolina. Our breeding schedule is a little off and it is a little late in the year with all the hot weather, but the cows and the calves seem to be handling things pretty well. We have a set of twins this year, which isn’t all that unusual, but what is unusual for us anyway is that the mama is taking care of both of them very well without our assistance. Sometimes, cows get confused with twins and we have to bottle raise one of them. This mom, who my wife has named “Queen”, seems to have things well in hand although she certainly has her hands full.


(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Bumblebees

Animals, Farm


We have had problems lately with our honey bees. For some unknown reason many of the local hives have died, which has had an effect on the pollination in our garden. While we are starting a new hive now, Mother Nature has risen up to try to help us out. We have a profusion of bumblebees this year. I captured several working our squash plants in the garden and the thistle in our meadow in Grays Chapel, North Carolina.



(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Butterflies to Come

Animals, Butterfly


We have a lot of Black Swallowtail butterflies around our home in Grays Chapel, North Carolina. They laid their eggs and now their young are in the caterpillar stage. Last year the young caterpillars fed on parsley. This year, they have chosen dill. Soon they will spin cocoons and begin their change into adult Swallowtails.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Box Turtle

Animals, Turtle


My mother-in-law found this fellow on her carport Friday, so we brought him (or her) home and released it in our meadow. Box Turtles (or Terrapenes as we used to call them) were quite numerous when I was younger, but lately they have become endangered in our area, primarily through loss of habitat and road kills.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)