President's Blog: Adirondack Chronicles, Part XIX

Ferocious thunderstorms are a hallmark of Adirondack summers, and this summer the rain and thunder have been amazing… keeping the nights cold, days cool, and breeze on the lakes (makes it hard to kayak, but otherwise it's a delight)…

Living this close to nature provides endlessly fascinating glimpses of how the wild things really are.   While many seem wise, instinctive, and perhaps even possessing a sixth sense, not all are smart.  In fact, a few local birds seem just plain.. stupid.  Consider this grouse standing in the middle of the road:

That's no defiant "I dare you to run over me" look… it's the "how the heck did I get here and how do I get away?" glassy stare…

Blue herons, on the other hand, are very canny, haughty, and disdainful of humans.   This one could not get away fast enough…

Loons are hard to find since they hide in the back country lakes, but every so often they like to preen…

Turtles, on the other hand, are just plain slow…