Adirondack Chronicles 2021.1: Nature is Constant

Adirondack Chronicles 2021.1: Nature is Constant

What draws me back to the same places in the Adirondacks year after year?  Something calming, reassuring, deeply satisfying and peaceful exists in contemplating the constancy of nature, sharply contrasted to the uber-chaotic and too-troubling world of human construction.  In the wild places, the cycles of nature are inevitable, replenishing life, healing scars from storms, reclaiming lands once cleared by timber and mining enterprises.  Long days in the deep forest have a salutary effect, silences pierced by a chattering bluebird or cry of an eagle, but otherwise delightfully peaceful.

Late spring and early summer is the time for new life in the forest preserve, and the wild things have been busy with creating the next generation!  I happened to stop by a favorite place, an outlet near Horseshoe Lake, where I had observed a nesting loon two years ago.  I was delighted to see the loon back on her nest, brooding her eggs — that’s her above, her mouth is open for breathing to help keep her cool in the warm summer air.  (No worries, I was quite far away with a very long lens… the loon is across the water just to the right of the white tree trunk in the middle of the photo.)

Even loon moms need some “me time” so when she left the eggs to cool off, I was lucky enough to get a good photo of the two soon-to-be baby loons:

Meanwhile, mom glided about nearby, diving and preening and enjoying the last rays of the evening sunshine:

On other lakes, the loon couples are already schooling their chicks in swimming and diving…. this chick and parent on Tupper Lake:

And driving along a narrow road past Eagle Lake, I saw this family but could only get a quick photo because of cars coming fast behind me (I brake for loons, but carefully!)…love those two little guys riding along…

Loons are not the only parenting show in the north country.  This turtle was laying her eggs on the sandy road near Bear Pond…

Egg laying is hard work!  I’m sure a lot of moms can feel empathy for the turtle’s struggle….

A nearby frog in Bear Pond did not seem overly impressed…. but then again, he’s a frog, just waiting for the dragonflies to come too close…

Next:  water, everywhere…