Butterflies in Winter

From the noisy quacking of ducks, we move to the whispered flutter of butterfly wings. A lush and green world awaits us, even in the so-called “dead” of winter, in Deerfield, Massachusetts at Magic Wings.

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens, opened in October of 2000, an 18,400-square foot facility filled with butterflies, moths, and tropical vegetation. The sound of the waterfall and hundreds of butterflies fluttering freely through the air, landing whenever and on whomever they choose, is a wondrous and most serene adventure. Exhibits also include tropical birds, reptiles and amphibians, and a few exotic insects. The quiet, along with the sight of the colorful, free-flying butterflies, is soul restoring.

For more information, have a look at this website.

And for some terrific photos, see Tony Mateus’ post on Magic Wings in his excellent “In the Valley” blog here.

Feeding the Ducks

This week we have a couple of different glances at a couple of different kinds of wildlife, in two very different environments.

First, the duckies. Ducks are rather companionable in the winter. Sure, they want the bread we toss to them, but maybe they just like our company, too. In the summer they don’t waddle up to you, quacking hello, and lift their faces to take a good look at you (and the bread you have in your hand).

They’re too busy in summer, we’re too busy, to sit down and chat. In winter, the pace of life slows, and we may concentrate on the little things, like ducks.

Seabirds

The seagull clomps his big feet on the sand at Mashpee, Massachusetts.

The swan glides regally by some less regal humans on flotation devices in Long Island Sound off New London, Connecticut. The beach is their environment; we are just visitors. Sometimes they like to remind of us this with a squawk, or a nip if we get too close and invade their personal space.