Last year we lost our beloved Cocker Spaniel, Jasper. Jasper was 14 years old. We had purchased him when he was a puppy as a birthday gift for my son, Andrew, who at the time was 11 years old. But Andrew eventually went off to college and Jasper had long since become the family dog. When he died, at Christmas time no less, it was like losing a family member.Pam and I waited awhile to get back into the dog business, but eventually the urge to become pet keepers again overwhelmed our better judgment. After a few false starts we found another cocker puppy in Massachusetts-a girl puppy this time. Once again we are adjusting to life with a pet. Pam conducted a naming contest for her and, after sifting through dozens of entries we selected a name submitted by our French friends Allanah and Yaelle-Choupy, which (as I am tired of explaining) is short for Choupinette-a cute little girl.
In a few short weeks Choupy has become accustomed to our daily routine, including some of my birding adventures. For example, I have often envied the people walking their dogs at Technology Park in South Burlington, one of my favorite birding spots. But I seldom brought Jasper there because he was so excitable, and not in a good way, around other dogs. Choupy is certainly very interested in other dogs, but seems to be more mellow around them than Jasper was. So last week I took Choupy birding at Technology Park.
Despite the fact that Technology Park is the business home of Ben and Jerry's and Symquest, among others, the property has a large grassland that provides nesting sites for Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows. There is also some shrubbery on the property that holds catbirds and Song Sparrows and wetlands that serve as nesting sites for Red-winged Blackbirds and Swamp Sparrows. There are several small bodies of water at Technology Park-I hesitate to call them ponds-that attract a variety of waterfowl. Last week, for instance, I spotted a Hooded Merganser, who had taken up residence in one of these water holes. Not surprisingly, small groups of Canada Geese and Mallards routinely visit these spots. During the winter the cherry trees lining Community Drive are a magnet for Bohemian Waxwings and in some years Pine Grosbeaks, a major attraction for birders and photographers alike.
On this particular occasion in late summer I had no idea what to expect nor did Choupy. She bounded off toward the ball field taking no note of the Killdeer or Ring-billed Gulls strutting on the infield. A Red-tailed Hawk soared overhead, but she was oblivious to it. Only a Great Blue Heron wading in the "pond"caught her attention, her tail wagging vigorously. Perhaps she mistook this bird for a Great Blue Dog. I pointed her toward the shrubbery and she immediately flushed a Song Sparrow followed by a Savannah Sparrow, much to her delight. After an hour she and I had had enough birding and we returned to the car. As we left the parking lot Choupy put her paws up on the dashboard to take one last look at that heron, her tail still wagging. I took this gesture to mean that she had enjoyed her first outing and hoped that we would return soon for more birding at Technology Park.
Photo of Choupy at the Famer's Market by Pam MacPherson
