I wonder about the pigeons sometimes. The ones in the city. On the one hand cities seem antithetical to animal life - they're noisy, dirty and crowded. But on the other hand there are lots of good places to eat. Like most New Yorkers the pigeons seem to enjoy a good slice of pizza. Today was Sunday so I was in my little suburban mountain enclave and I was surrounded by all kinds of little beasties. I woke up to a series of bird songs in succession that was like a talent show. It reminded me to fill the bird feeders and a couple of hours later they came in gentle waves swooping elegantly from the trees to perch with perfect elegance. A squirrel climbed atop the feeder that looks like a house and contorted his little body like a gymnast to stuff his face. When I went for my run along the river, the geese were floating along lazily to take a dip as the temperature reached 90 degrees. Along the leafy path I saw 4 pudgy badgers and a little brown rabbit. Back home I prepared the hummingbird's meal (4 parts water to one part sugar) and was rewarded when one little guy swung by and hovered at the feeder for a few minutes. As night fell the geese flew over the yard as they do every night guided by their honking lead flyer. Since it's August there is a night chorus of tree frogs that will continue until the small hours. And when a look up I can catch the brief moving glow of a firefly. Tomorrow I'll be back in the city toiling away with my pigeon colleagues making the best of it.