Sat, Mar 15 2014 - March Moonrise Campfire & Night Hike (View Original Event Details)
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What a great group and a great night! We joined others around the campfire exchanging lively conversation and a few toasty marshmallows. A beautiful red-tailed hawk swooped down glancing at the fire and checking us out before landing on a nearby tree limb. To our amazement he stayed in place as more of the group congregated to admire him and take photos. If hawks "grow into their feet" like dogs, then this hawk will grow to be one huge bird as his mighty talons appeared to overwhelm the branch on which he sat. We continued to marvel at this magnificent bird as we waited for our guest speaker, Jerry Hightower, the Park's Naturalist, to kick off the event.
We moved to the upper deck where Jerry proved delightfully entertaining as always with a rendition of the scat rap after a game of which animal's skull is it. After a lot of laughter we headed out for our night hike. The rain held off and the full moon watched from above as we ventured into the tree-covered landscape.
With our path illuminated gently by the glow of moonlight, our eyes began to adjust to the night. We heard footsteps of deer moving aside and into the shadows as we made our way through the woods. A few scurrying animals were noted here and there and a couple of barred owls called out from where we had previously passed. The temperature was just right as the planet Jupiter appeared overhead, and a chorus of songs from tree and ground frogs filled the air along with sounds from the river. We paused to gaze upon the reflection of moonlight dancing across the swiftly moving waters before making our way back.
Upon emerging from the woods and into the large field, we were greeted once again by the welcoming scent of the campfire, which a few stayed to enjoy a bit longer before parting ways. Thank you to everyone who came out!
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