The wonders of nature

Last night, Team Hoybook was making a sort-of late trek home from the ice cream store and we happened upon something quite amazing. It was just about dusk and as we passed this old school in our neighborhood, we saw some familiar birds swirling above it. B and I looked at each other and thought, "no, surely they can't be swifts, right?" But there they were. Flying in their circular formation and then diving into the old chimney on the top of the school. We stood there as long as Kate's patience would let us and then walked home in quiet wonder.

In Portland, every September, people flock to Chapman Elementary school to watch thousands of swifts dive into the old school chimney at dusk to roost for the night. They are only there for a couple of weeks in September and it literally is the event of the season. A few years back, we packed a picnic and joined the revelers. But here they were in Omaha doing the same thing. And no one knew about it. There weren't hundreds of people and photographers lined up on the hill to witness a wonder of nature. Just the Hoybooks, staring at the school while cars kept passing by.

We felt like we had just stumbled upon the best kept secret in Omaha. Swifts! People, there are swifts here and they fly into the chimney at dusk! And we also felt a little silly. This happens everyday, everywhere, whether we are there to photograph it while eat cheese and crackers or not. (sigh) Oh Portland, we miss your enthusiasm.

September hike #2

What?!?!?! Two hikes in one month?!?!?! The madness.

I'm happy to report that Kate's endurance is building--she hiked about half a mile all by herself. Usually, I have to pull out my best bribes to get her in the backpack these days, but she asked to get in on her own. Looks like someone is growing up!

Around here lately...

September traditions

In keeping with our new September tradition, we headed south to Nebraska City over the weekend for some apple picking at Kimmel Orchard. It was one of the first really "fall-feeling" days as it was cool in the morning, but the sun was warm and the apples were delicious.

Back on the trail

While the #hoybooksummeroffun included a variety of activities, regrettably, it did not include much time on the hiking trail. We did get a few mornings in at Fontenelle Forest, but we didn't visit our favorite nature area all summer. It was time to remedy that, so on Saturday, we packed up the packs and spent a lovely morning at Hitchcock Nature Area.

Side note: while we were standing at one of the overlooks, we saw a huge flock of enormous birds swirling up with the currents. Too big to be geese, they were all white on the tops of their wings and as they would swirl we would see flashes of white and then gray. They were too far away to identify, but the very next weekend, we were in Nebraska City and saw that same flock flying overhead. They were pelicans. Pelicans! The wonders of nature never cease.