The farm doesn't belong only to us. A partial record of what else is out here.
This isn't a nature preserve and we're not scientists. But six acres of field, forest, creek, and wooded hillside turns out to be home to a fair amount of things. Some we see regularly. Some only leave signs. A few we're still trying to identify.
Regulars. Come through the fields at dusk and have strong opinions about the vineyard. We're working on an understanding.
Fields · Woodland edgeFast, unbothered, entirely indifferent to us. Spotted along the creek and near the tree line. The farm's unofficial mascot whether it likes it or not.
Creek · WoodlandStands completely still in the creek for long stretches, then disappears. Prehistoric-looking. One of the more striking things on the property.
Creek · PondGroups move through the fields, usually in the morning. Loud, ungainly, oddly charismatic. Hard to take seriously, impossible to ignore.
Fields · Woodland edgeNocturnal, clever, and consistently overconfident about what they can get into. Present in numbers.
Everywhere · Especially where they shouldn't beSlow-moving, strange-looking, and genuinely ancient as a species. Spotted at night. Harmless and oddly endearing once you get used to them.
Woodland edge · NightConstant. Energetic. In every corner of the property at all times. The chipmunks in particular seem to have an organizational structure we haven't figured out yet.
EverywhereUnderground and industrious. You know they're there by what happens to the ground. A fact of life on the farm rather than a welcome guest.
Fields · VineyardA wide range — songbirds, woodpeckers, hawks, and others passing through. The martin houses get occupied. The feeders stay busy. We're still cataloging.
EverywhereNot ours. Appeared one day, clearly has somewhere to be, declines to explain. Shows up occasionally and leaves on its own schedule. We leave food out.
Unknown"We're still learning what lives here. This list will grow."