March 12, 2026
Horned Grebe at the Celery Farm
My first ever here. And the spring arrivals are arriving! The grebe was No. 186 on my Celery Farm life…
By Charley West
Near his zenith - all aglow –
Helios warms all below.
Beneath his blanket species grow,
Nature’s abundance now on show.
Outwardly the stage seems tame,
Yet Survival rules the game.
Hunters stalk and prey they claim,
Raptors hover without shame.
Fishes sense the baleful press,
Seek to hide in water cress,
Striving hard to reach excess –
Putting herons to the test.
Mossy islands cruise the flats,
Missing cygnets – fatal stats.
Insects face edacious bats –
Warm-bloods too no caveats.
The gauntlet run – the strong survive- –
Song and color come alive.
Trees and plants and birds contrive –
Thus does exultation thrive.
At the Farm in Summer.