High Water

Instead of visiting our garden I went to Clinton Lake with Dennis. He was planning a canoe outing with an inexperienced teenager. We’ve had so much rain lately he wanted to check out the sites where he normally puts the canoe in, just to make sure they weren’t underwater.

We had noticed one arm of the lake backed well up into the surrounding diciduous trees. This was surprising because the lake, which is man-made to supply water to nearby communities, has been increasingly low over the past few dry years.

When we neared the first boat ramp, we saw that the road leading to it was closed due to high water. When we reached an alternative access point, we found the handicapped ramp to the dock was under water.

The rocky shore was lined by a flock of geese and, oddly, three turkey vultures. As we approached the geese fast-waddled to the water.

Two of the turkey vultures flew into a tree. The third, bolder than its companions, lurked in the tree’s shadows. Soon we understood why the vultures were there. The shore was littered with the skeletons of fish.

We even spied a turtle skeleton.

All the skeletons had been picked clean by the vultures. That’s what vultures are for; they are the clean up crew. Turkey vultures, so-called because of their turkey-like red heads, have keen eyesight. They cruise the sky looking for sick, dying, or dead creatures. Their scavenging is an efficient recycling project. I will admit that it’s a bit unnerving to be outside and notice vultures circling overhead. Are they waiting for me to die?

Back to the main topic, it looks as if our water supply is assured for another couple of years. And, yes, the canoe trip was a success. They put in at the vulture site and paddled around the goose flotilla.

Copyright 2015 by Shirley Domer