Hangin' With Old Gus

   One of my favorite things about living on the Bayou is the abundance of wildlife.  Here lately, that abundance is becoming even more abundant.  Yet another wooded area is being clear-cut which drives out the critters.  It hurts me to think of how many little ones are being killed as the crews drive their machines over the dens.  Just recently, my aunt and uncle's old place was clear-cut and it was heartbreaking to hear the tiny animals' screams.  Those that were large enough to flee were separated from their parents and, at night, the cries were almost too difficult to bear.  I could only imagine the agony.  People don't care, though.  It is all about the money.  

  This afternoon, the skies were gray and a sort of drippy fog shrouded the Bay.  I slipped down to the pier to see if the moccasin was in its usual spot but could not find it.  Perhaps it was too dreary even for the snake.  A lone brown pelican was roosting on one of the pier posts so it became my target! Old Gus (all brown pelicans are named Gus, for some odd reason.) looked mighty fine as he rested a bit from fishing.  About thirty photographs later, the bird and I said our goodbyes and we each went our separate ways.  It is nice to spend time with old friends.  Even better to spend time with the critter sort of friends.