WONDERS OF NATURE

CAMPING AT ELLISON

From dawn through dusk

The air is alive with a rattling buzz

like static electricity arcing from pine to pine,

relentless - drowning out my tinnitus.

White noise punctuated by the ground squirrel's 'peeps',

cawing crows, the cheerful chatter of camping families.

An annoying crackling translates into

the male cicada chorus

silenced as the evening curfew wraps up another day.

Trudy - 2010

The male cicada is about 4 cm long and is characterized by remarkable acoustic talents. They have loud noisemakers called 'timbals' on the sides of their abdominal base. They cling to slender branches high in the trees and permeate the forest with their spirited singing which gets louder as the day gets hotter.

They were completely silent when held in our hands or using my shoulder as a landing pad.

Looks more menacing than he really was.

THE BIRTH OF A DRAGONFLY

In the pebbly beach along the lakeside Wally noticed this dragonfly that had just emerged from it's nymph stage. Over approximately 30 minutes we watched with fascination as this insect was transformed. On the top right is the nymph exoskeleton. The insect had just finished wriggling it's way through an opening behind the head of the shell.

The translucent wings began to uncurl.

The wings and slender body

were growing right before our eyes.

The body elongated with clear droplets falling off the tail.

The wings became more upright.

We could now see the delicate wings starting to separate.

Suddenly the iridescent wings fell open and after shaking its head around a few times it lifted off into the sky without a flutter to begin the life cycle again. It was absolutely amazing to be observers of this beautiful metamorphosis, partakers of God's creation.

"How many are your works, O Lord!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures."

Psalm 104:24