Joann Merritt's Essays

As Viewed From The Back Door
September, 2005

Joan Bechtel wrote about the Barn Swallows and the mobile on their back porch so I’ll answer with a story about the immobile (Joann) and the wildlife in the Merritts backyard. For a few days after I injured my foot it was great fun to do absolutely nothing but sit in a comfy chair with my feet propped up and watch the activity of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, cottontail rabbits, lizards and even a box turtle, but soon I was anxious to get outside and expand my viewing area.

During the month of August I saw Rufous, Broadtailed, Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds - I wonder if thety are here every year and I just don’t take the time to observe each one carefully. It’s hard to miss the adult hummers, though! Daughter-in-law Patti and I even heard the Broad-tailed hummer as he zoomed by the back door.

The fruit plate that hangs in the nearby elm tree attracted many butterflies that prefer overripe fruit to nectar - among the species were Wood Nymph, Questionmark, Red Admiral, Tawny and Hackberry Emperors and Goatweed Leafwing. The flowers around Jesse’s Pond provided food for many other of our more common species of butterflies. What a joy it was to see their graceful flight and beautiful colors!

And then there were the dragonflies sitting royally on their high perches where they could see - and seize! - their prey. The Flame Skimmer reminded me of the Rufous Hummingbird in his actions - he was very bossy! He would harass the birds that perched on the spot that he wanted until they would finally leave. I laughed at the dragonfly’s brazenness, but it was not funny when he chased off the Roseate Skimmer. The Red and Black Saddlebags as well as the Common Green Darner flew over the yard but never stopped. The numerous green colored Eastern Pondhawks stayed low on the vegetation. I suppose these odonates have been here in past years but I never took note of them until now - thank you, Bill Edwards for sharing your interest in them with the Midnats.

Birds were plentiful and entertaining as always. Orioles, Cardinals, Pyrrhuloxias and Lesser Goldfinches added cheer to the day as did the Bewick’s and Cactus Wrens. Occasionally the Verdin put in an appearance while singing his one-noted song and a flash of blue assured us the Blue Jay was still in the area. Each day I could see 15 to 20 species of birds in our backyard. I consider myself very fortunate to have had all these things to observe while my foot was healing - but I don’t want to do it again, I’d much rather be walking outside to explore nature