The Valley Gets Some New Familes

Mouse was out one afternoon just being lazy. He wandered around the Valley just looking at the trees and meadow and stream and being amazed that all this was a safe place to live. Safe from Man, that is. Of course there were predators, and some invasive rats, but mostly the boundaries that Little “A” had set up as a preserve  protected them from Man.

As he passed a fallen log, a black and red shadow glided past and landed on the log. Mouse squeaked in alarm when the big bird said “Don’t be afraid! I am only a Pileated Woodpecker looking for a home. Can you help?”

Well of course the mouse recognized the big bird as a woodpecker, but not a kind he ever had seem before.

“I don’t know if I can help or not. What do you need? “

The woodpecker introduced himself as “Redtop” and told Mouse that his home had been destroyed by Men, and he had always admired the Valley when he flew over it. He asked if there was an Elders Council for making important decisions, and if so could Mouse take him to meet an Elder.

Mouse knew where Grandpa Tortoise was sunning himself and took Redtop to see him.

When they finally got the the clearing where the old tortoise had been napping, they found him awake.

“Who is your new Pileated friend, Mouse” asked Grandpa.

“His name is Redtop, Grandpa Tortoise, and he wants to talk to you.”

And so, Redtop told the old tortoise of his plight and before he got very far, Grandpa interrupted and said “This is a matter for the whole Council. Can you come back tomorrow morning to meet with us? We meet on the big hill that overlooks the stream. In the mean time you and your family are welcome to feed and roost in our forest,”

The next morning, all the Council was present: Grandpa Tortoise, Old Man Badger, the Great Owl with his tufted ears, and the very old and very large Old Oak Snake.

Redtop and his spouse Redtip had never been that close to such a big Snake and asked politely if they were safe. “Of course” replied Old Oak. “I only hunt invasive rats and other creatures bent on destroying our homes and children. You are perfectly safe and welcome. Now, tell us your problem.”

The woodpecker related how Humans had invaded his home vale that was not far away, cut down the trees, plowed up the ground and built big boxes for them to live in. “My spouse and I were taking care of our eggs when the tree came crashing down and we had to fly for our lives. Many other animals were killed by the machines and loud sticks the Men carried. I came here to ask if my spouse and I, and our child from last year, could settle here in your valley, if we could find a vacant tree.

With almost no deliberation, the Council all shouted “OF COURSE! And plans were made to find an unoccupied tree for the new family.

Later that day with the help of the woodpeckers who lived in the Valley,  Redtop, Redtip and young Woody searched the trees and found a perfect place to drill a nesting hole.

Later that year, many other animals found their way to the Valley from their destroyed home and all were made welcome. The Elders were very insistent on bringing in new families because, they taught, one of the strengths of the Valley was welcoming strangers and learning new things from them. New ideas and points of view were very important to the Elders. Why, look at Little “A” for example. Without his Very Important Love for the Valley and folks who lived there, none of this would have been possible.

The summer passed in peace, and fall arrived on a cool breeze. All the families were well underway for preparations for Winter.

Image: http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/F2/F2482F77-4DBD-4ECD-AFAF-5608C6B4730B/Presentation.Large/pileated-woodpecker-close-up.jpg