A casualty of progress are the gnarled trees cascading off our 25' riverbanks that serve as perches for Kingfishers and other waterfowl. Kingfishers are easily recognizable by their rat-a-tat-tat-tat calls on the wing, long beak and Sting-like haircuts. Their steel blue feathers, russet breast markings and dapper white collar lends a debonair appearance to the riverside, much like wearing a tuxedo to dine at a local catfish restaurant.
This striking tree branch is now serving as safe haven for fishes in the waters downstream, as the tree had to be removed for dock building. The Kingfisher will have a higher perch when the dock is completed, but the dock's steel posts can't compete with this crooked branch for natural beauty. Ah, progress.
