Page 6 - Boca ViewPointe - July '22

Page 6, Viewpointe July 2022
What A Hoot!

By William A. Gralnick experienced. The two best ones were the longest (spring no more than four inches high, beaking around in the
and fall), while summer and winter usually moderate grass between two driveways. As we approached, he
I’ve always loved ended before their seasonal counterparts up north. In effortlessly jumped (yes, I know, flew is the right word,
listening to birds. When addition, when I lived in Atlanta, the mid-70s, Atlanta had but it looked like a giant hop) to the top of a car. There I
I was a kid, I waited the most trees per square mile of any city in the nation. got up close and personal. It was an owl. I haven’t looked
impatiently for the return That, friends, is what I’d call bird heaven. Even some him up yet. I don’t know if it was a baby owl or a small
of the Robin. They’d show birds I knew, like Chickadees, thrushes, and woodpeckers, variety like the burrowing owl. He had a certain je ne sais
up around the time that the crocuses were pushing their way had cousins who looked different. quoi about him. We looked at each other like we were
into the not quite yet spring air. Their trill portended good The birds didn’t seem as diverse in Boulder, Colorado, new experiences to each of us. I don’t know how many
things like getting back out on the street to play. my next stop. That could’ve been because there was little humans he’d been this close to; I’d never been that close
As I grew up and moved around, I realized that diversity in the trees. Aspens were everywhere, as were to an owl. He had those amazing owl eyes that see forever
different places had different birds. The sights and pine trees. Then I got here. I fell in love with pelicans. I distances. His facial feathers formed a frame for his eyes.
sounds of the birds in Washington, DC, where I went loved egrets and herons, even though after 30 years, I’m Interested in me as he was, he was more interested in food,
to college and graduate school, were different than still not sure which is which. Flamingos are the cat’s so his head was constantly turning. Owl’s heads are on
those in Brooklyn. It was a slightly warmer climate. It meow of birds. I’ve even seen a flock of Sandhill Cranes, a swivel, it seems. He looked so far over his shoulders
had a myriad of trees. Pushing a little further into the a sight I fear my grandchildren will not see because of that I knew if I tried that dislocation would be what the
Shenandoah Valley, became a paradise of watching and their drastically reduced numbers. While shy, they seem EMT’s would be dealing with.
listening. It’s a forest that abuts up against a river that pretty composed. If you’re quiet and calm, you can get The conclusion? Look and listen. Boca Pointe has
has seven bends if I remember correctly. The birds are so up relatively close and see the majesty they project. more to offer than food, groups, and swimming pools. It
plentiful and diverse that I found a long-playing record But all this leads up to a recent experience in Boca has a way of touching your soul if you let it.
(remember those?) of the valley’s birds at a gift shop in Pointe. I love walking the dog in the morning and the
Shenandoah National Park (remember those?). My mom evening because the birds are calling “good morning!” Columnist and author Bill Gralnick was born and
loved birds. I bought it for her. She hated it. Oh well. and “have a good night” to each other. The trees sing out. raised in Brooklyn, NY. He is writing a three-part
My next stop was Johnstown, Pa. There were birds, but We have a resident red-headed woodpecker who I think humorous memoir. The first is “The War of the Itchy
seemingly fewer. I’d attribute that to the coal and steel has banged his head a few too many times. Sometimes Balls and Other Tales from Brooklyn.” Just published
industries creating wicked air pollution. Once however instead of pecking the trees, he alights on the roof and is the sequel, “George Washington Didn’t Sleep Here.”
one got up into the Georgia Mountains that all changed. taps out machine gun-like sounds on the gutters. What he Both are available on Amazon. You can find his writing
Forests and birds go together. gets out of that, I don’t know, but from the length of time at https://www.williamgralnickauthor.com. 
Then it was off to Atlanta, Ga. Now I was in a state he does it, he must know something about gutters I don’t.
whose seasons were quite different from what I’d The other night came the piece de resistance. As
dog and I took our evening walk, I spied a little bird,
We AIM To Please
“SULLY” Board Of Directors
Driven in Class and Comfort
At Reasonable Rates
To All Florida Airports May 2021 – May 2023 Officers/Executive Committee
Large Groups and Statewide Chairman and President Barry J. Haberman District 5 Howard Weinstein (El Dorado)
Transport Vice Chair Steve Retzer Esplanada, Caravelle, Palomar, La Corniche,
and El Dorado
A LLIA n T 561-716-0926 Secretary Steve King District 6 Connie Murray (Villa Flora)
Treasurer
Harvey
Kaplan
TrAnSPorT Text or Call for Service Villa Flora, Montego Bay, Villa Del Sol, and Palladium
District Directors District 7 Alan Markoff (The Plum)
District 1 Mary Ann Frazier (Palms) The Plum/Cortina, Villa Sonrisa and Pointe 100
Encantada, Valencia and The Palms District 8 Robert Cornell (Costa Brava)
District 2 Steve King (Imperial Royale) Costa Del Sol and Costa Brava
Promenade, Imperial Royale, Imperial, Regency District 9 Robin Gliboff (Edgewater)
and Panaché Edgewater Pointe Estates and Stratford Court
District 3 Harvey Kaplan (Meridiana)
La Mirada and Meridiana At Large Directors
District 4 Michael Ehrentreu (El Viento)
El Viento, La Paz, and Southwinds Through 2023 Through 2023
Chandra Stewart-Keith (Panaché) Barry J. Haberman (Encantada)
Bob Greenstein (Lakes of La Paz) Marvin Lazarowitz (Villa Del Sol)
Steve Retzer (La Mirada) Carsten Bethge (Valencia)

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