Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge: Recent Episodes
Janice Kelley
Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge is a series of first person narratives describing experiences on the river through the seasons wildlife interactions, and scenic views.
This final podcast in the series combines the last three entries in the book. “I Wonder Why,” “Spider Webs-Geometry in Motion” and “These Beautiful Days” A quote from John Muir, describing the richness of outdoor experiences closes the podcast.
Canada Geese and ducks are especially noisy this morning near the bridge! One female duck is very agitated and will not be quiet. It is morning pandemonium!
Clouds are nature’s artist palette -a full spectrum of light always changing, blending and creating beautiful pictures that paint the sky. What else can we learn about clouds?
What is it like to be a fisherman in the cold early morning light waiting to catch a salmon? What is their favorite part of the morning?
Be part of the experience when light rain falls on the American River. What is the song of the rain? What is the scent it carries? Hear ducks as they play at the river.
Watching a flock of hungry seagulls gathered at an island at the American River during the fall salmon run.
Describes the curious qualities of Canada Geese and ducks as they relate to each other through their unique style of communication. And the idea that their lives are far less hurried than that of the people who watch them.
A beautiful and quiet time of year anticipating the soon arrival of salmon. Mallards walk the boat ramp continuing to search for food. Water reflections mirror the Fair Oaks Bluff.
Lots of activities at the river: cyclists, walkers, new goslings, ducks fly in and search for breakfast. Canada Geese bob for breakfast.
The American River is quiet once again after one of the wettest winters in 20 years. What wildlife will return to the river this spring?
Gulls gather on the river in groups of a hundred or more to wait for salmon to swim upstream, spawn and die. Turkey vultures and salmon both guard their catch.
A great day to dip into the river upside down to search for food. Do ducks get angry when visitors do not bring them food? At sunset, what do ducks do to prepare their children for the night?
As the season changes to fall, fishermen arrive at the American River at dawn to catch salmon as they swim and search for the best place to spawn. Always a good time to visit the river’s resident ducks. They are always hungry.
Monday, April 15, 2019 52 degrees, 630 am
A cool wind blows under a dense blanket of clouds. Thin strips of sunlight shine through clouds.
Birds greet the morning with songs as they sit in nearby trees and later fly as groups in geometric patterns across the American River corridor. A single unseen pigeon coos. A lone rooster crows from Bridge Street. It walks on to the bridge searching for something to eat and continues to call its good morning song.
Mornings on Fair Oaks Bridge – Introduction This segment describes what you will hear in the series of podcasts. Each one describes Janice’s early morning experiences and settings, beginning in September 2016 continuing through February 2018.