NOVEMBER'S SYMPHONY
by Ryan Walker

The transition from late summer to November marches Michigan one step closer to the onset of winter. November provides me with an epiphany of the musical variety. I am not musically inclined or talented; therefore this realization is even more unique. While sitting in my tree stand I listened intently to the many sounds created by nature. It was amazing to be the sole audience for November’s symphony.

Initially, the piece began shortly after I took my seat. It opened with the melodic wood block drumming of a woodpecker seeking a meal of bugs. While the winged drummer continued, a squirrel pitched in with its shrill accompaniment. The duet lasted for several minutes before both participants decided to end their part. A flock of geese glided over the canopy of trees honking out their flute-like song. The intensity was incredible, but the duration was short. The decrescendo of goose music left an eerie silence.

The stillness lasted until the scratchy sand paper sound of a flock of 20 turkeys broke into a sound free for all. Turkeys scratching, purring, clucking and beating their wings added a sense of excitement to the increasing dusk. The music began to flow as the flock fed their way through. Deer hooves in the leaves quickened, and a low snoring sound indicated one of the deer was a grunting buck.

As dark approached, November’s symphony took on a new life. A pair of rooster pheasants engaged in their own version of dueling banjos. Who won is anybody’s guess. They exchanged lyrical barbs that were intertwined with the whistle of wood duck wings and calls. Nightfall ended the symphony when the baritone hoot of a great horned owl bellowed throughout the woods. The only remaining sound was the light rustle of red, yellow and orange leaves. It reminded me of polite applause for an entertaining performance.

Before climbing out of my ladder stand, I reflected back on the evening’s show. I came to the conclusion that most of the wildlife that took part in the festivities remained unseen to me. However, I heard a woodpecker, fox squirrels, geese, turkeys, whitetail deer, pheasants, wood ducks and an owl. I realized the amazing demonstration was only heard by me on this evening. My guess is the musical changes arrangement each and every evening. I am also certain there were many other species of nature that were playing their own tunes on that exact evening. I drifted off to sleep that night with November’s symphony ringing in my ears, thanks to the Thumb’s most diverse natural orchestra.