settling in.....

When we first viewed our new home in the early spring, we noticed a hollow next to the house that looked like it was marshy and wet. My husband commented that it would be easy to ditch and drain away the water so it would not be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Now that we have moved into the house, we have become aware that the little hollow has become overgrown with all sorts of interesting trees and plants and is a vibrant ecosystem. Yellow canaries nest in thickets of wild roses and ancient apple trees. Hundreds of birds call it home and help keep the dreaded mosquitoes at bay. Our first night here we heard coyotes make a kill in the small wood above the hollow. It was freaky to hear, but just another part of this vibrant landscape. The mosquitoes are being kept in check by hundreds of swallows that live in nesting boxes that were built all over the property. Every swallow consumes huge quantities of mosquitoes. The graceful swallows are working hard for us all day long. At dusk the bats swoop down from their bat houses and patrol the night. We would never consider draining the hollow now that we have lived here for a few days. Living beside the river will mean that mosquitoes will be around....... but maybe that is why this is a bird sanctuary. Keeping it natural and real means a little ying yang......yellow canaries, swallows, deer, and a few mosquitoes and coyotes too..... amazing how quickly we adapt.......settling in.......