We've read reports about Leonard's Pond for a long time, but only went there
for the first time this evening. Right away, the boys began exclaiming
about this neat puddle of water.all the various species of birds and the
quantity for such a small area.
I'm not going to try to give you all the species and quantities as so many
of you are good at doing. We saw green-winged teal, Canada geese, killdeer,
doves, mallards, and some kind of sandpiper.
At one point the fifteen or so geese started honking and walking slowly
toward the back fence. I remember thinking, "How did they all know to start
honking and to walk that way?"
It may have been three to five minutes later when a boy spotted a red fox
slipping in beside the left-hand fence. He stopped and looked us over for a
few moments, then turned and ducked under the woven-wire fence and bounded
into the tall grass. What a pretty sight he was against the still-green
hillside.
Had the geese found him first when they honked and moved toward the back
fence? I'm guessing they had.
Already, the boys are talking of visiting this pond more often.
Kevin Shank
Rockingham County
