How often do you take yourself to a local out of the way park in your area to relax? Is there one with quiet beauty that you are unaware of?
Several years ago, I was in the downtown of my city playing Pokémon Go at the time, (I know, I know,) when I started talking to a group of people about what they had found in the area. Then we started comparing what we had in our parties and where we had found them. When one of them said we got these water Pokémon at this park I had to ask, "What park?" I have lived in or just outside this city my entire life and had never heard of that park. I had to go check it out as I wanted the water Pokémon since water isn't everywhere where I live. I got to the park and fell in love with it. It isn't the most beautiful or the biggest in the area, but it is quaint and usually peaceful and quiet.
This park is in the middle of the city almost right next to the interstate and I never even noticed it and had probably driven past it fifty times by this point. I noticed that for it's location and how small it was it had a lot of different creatures running around. When I first pulled up to the area with the pond I thought, "Well this is kinda small, bet not much goes on here." Then I took a closer look and saw what all was really there. Of course, squirrels were running rampant throughout the small area trying to hoard everything the could put their paws on. I also saw crows and other city birds here and there, woodpeckers and plenty of geese.
I really enjoyed seeing that the geese built nests here, on a small island in the small pond, and that I could watch their babies grow up. Watching the goslings interact with each other, frightened of just about everything and scuttling around to catch up to each other or their parents was a hoot.
As with the geese there are plenty of ducks that come through the area to see what morsels they can find to munch on. They also nest here as well as I have seen a few ducklings when I visit in the springtime. I have noticed at least two species of ducks at this pond.
One day I was walking around the pond just enjoying the day and I noticed that this fallen branch sticking out of the water wasn't just a branch. It had a family, I assume, of turtles sunbathing and enjoying the sun with me.
To my great surprise, I have seen two types of birds I wasn't expecting in the middle of the city right next to that busy and loud interstate. One of them I believe was a heron,
and the other was a family of great horned owls!
I have also seen beaver at this pond as there is a creek on the other side and below a walking path. I believe that is where they live and just visit the pond for their on beaver reasons. Like I said earlier, this little area is in the middle of a city that is pretty good sized. I assumed that I would have to go out to the prairie or up in the mountains to see such a diverse selection of creatures in one area.
Thank you for stopping to read this and I hope that next time you are out and about you will be able to see the beauty of the nature around you.
