(Written to the tune of of an ancient Douglassian Pirate Chantey)
Five hardy souls
Did brave the skies
Upon that thun'dry day
With jackets tight
And footwear strong
Their leader new the way
Those buccaneers
March'd all along
The footpath one by one
With eyes appealed
And ears so sound
Their hearts were warm with sun
The wind did blow
The clouds did shake
And threaten to unfold
But buccaneers
Spurr'd on by birds
Were HARDY! to the cold
Though towhees bright
And bluebirds blue
And sparrows song and crown'd
Dark Red-Tails high
And vultures soar
Few at North Bank were found
Rain! they scoffed
We know it not
This day is fair and bright
We'd bird like this
A thousand years!
And far into the night!
In cars they drove
To Plat I Res
To look at ducks and feast
With windows up
The rain did blow
But hearts did shudder least
And out they jump'd
The rain did stop!
Oh! Ducks upon the lake!
Canvasbacks!
And Lesser Scaup!
And Rufous, Ruddy Drakes!
Tree Swallows!
And Wigeons true
And buffles, headed buff!
Mallards Green!
And cormorants!
We birders know our stuff!
The sky did turn
The wind did shake
To Fords! They did now fly
Rain came again
But in their cars
They stayed so warm and dry
Gray day blew hard
The rain did pour
For minutes six times two
But prospects held
Aloft their hopes
There lies horizon blue!
Oh glori'us Fords
So warm and bright
It welcomed their dry feet
For on that day
Though haters hate
The rain they then had beat
A common merg
And other fowl
Did swim upon the pond!
Through weather beat
And birds seen out
Those buccaneers did bond
Twelve total souls
Had pledged their day
To birding, weather willing
But five showed up
With spirits high
Found it so fulfilling
No water fell
Upon their heads
That dark and cloudy day
Though weatherman
And many friend
Said rain would hold her sway
It goes to show
My dearest ones
That birders will have fun
In rain or cold
In warmth or wind
Ere any day is done!
--
James Billstine
http://wingsaroundtheumpqua.blogspot.com/
<http://birdsandbrawn.blogspot.com/>
