By Mandy Feder
Last Saturday I woke up early to participate in the Record-Bee road cleanup. I had to forgo the breakfast that Publisher Gary Dickson treats the volunteers to because I planned to ride the pontoon boat with the Redbud Audubon Society. Its members were checking out the best bird viewing sites for the annual Heron Festival that takes place on Saturday and Sunday at the Clear Lake State Park.
At 8 a.m. I drove to the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and met up with Record-Bee sales representative Shawn Garrison at Rodman Slough. We put on our reflective vests, grabbed our trash grabbers and plastic bags and proceeded to beautify that stretch of road.
I found the usual booze bottles, car parts, plastic bags, fast food wrappers, evidence from wild nights at the casino and empty cigarette packs. There was one hypodermic needle discarded next to an empty pint bottle of White Wolf vodka in a faded paper bag snug around it. Hands rough with hopelessness probably clutched that bottle on a dark night.
The side of the road was still pretty drenched from the storms.
When Shawn and I came to a meeting spot, he asked if I found anything interesting. I told him that I had an epiphany: After removing the third or fourth dirty diaper from the roadside, I was tremendously relieved to find a condom wrapper.
I tried to imagine the type of parent who would throw a dirty diaper out the window of a vehicle. I imagined the person who carelessly tossed it out was probably the same type of person who scorns the ills of the county, complaining endlessly while contributing to the degradation of the lakeside landscape.
I took one last look at the slough and appreciated the natural wonders. I was sure by the next day or perhaps even later the same day, some thoughtless person would litter again.
A wine bottle filled with wildflowers on the bench by the parking lot was the last sight I took in. It made me smile.
When I arrived at Clear Lake State Park I met up with a group of people who love Lake County and honor the wildlife that the 2.5 million-year-old lake hosts.
Armed with cameras and binoculars, the riders on each of the boats were abuzz with information about each bird. Books were passed around and facts shared.
At one point a tiny tree swallow poked his head out of a hole in a hollow tree. It appeared unafraid and allowed many close-up photos. After a few joyous hours, we headed back to the park.
“Wow, look over there,” somebody on the boat said. In the sky over the lake an osprey was attacking a bald eagle and then a second osprey joined in until the majestic eagle glided away in retreat.
The turf war was over, for the time being.
I plan to attend the Heron Festival this weekend. I am especially interested to see the raptor show. I doubt they will, but I wish some of the diaper-discarding, trash-tossing litterbugs would attend the event too, and bring their children.
The festival is free to attend and it”s booming with booths, music, interactive activities and educational opportunities.
It seems there are two types of people in this county, those who cherish what”s in their own backyard and those who destroy it.
Which team are you on?
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee managing editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 ext. 32.
