Since I was gone from late Feb. to mid June, I do not know what kind of spring we had in this area. But since I have been back I have noticed several things that bother me. I have been in this house for six years, and my abservations are based on the past six years. First, my neighbor has a fig tree, that usually this time of the year is absolutely being attacked by mockingbirds, and normally one or two squirrels. This year, the figs are there, and ripe, but no birds and no squirrels. Occasionally there is a bird or two in there, but nothing of any consequence. Another neighbor has a purple martin house, and in years past they have made good use of it. No purple martins this summer. We have literally hundreds of mallards here year round, and in early June the chicks are approaching adult size. This summer there appear to be far fewer mallards, and have seen very few ducklings, which is also unusual. I have not seen a single nutria since I been back, nor any great blue herons. Also this time of year there have always been a couple of Mississippi Kites, which I enjoy watching, soaring over the canals. This year no Kites. And last but not least, since I have been back, I am not having any problems with keeping bird poop off the boat. Grackles and doves seem to love sitting on the spreaders and making a mess of things. Not a problem this summer. Have not even seen a grackle. I do not know if this is just an anomaly, or is attributable to the oil spill, but is sure seems suspicious that all this change has happened directly after the spill.
