Mornings in the Marsh
By Paul Buttner
Over the years I have spent working to advance waterbird habitat in ricelands, I somehow have become addicted to getting out early in the morning and waking up with all the amazing wildlife here in our Valley. It’s even better if you can share it with your children. In my case, it is with my son, Sean. Oh, how I do enjoy mornings in the marsh with him. They are the best! When we share a blind, watching the wonderous wild things wake up all around us all while they are seemingly unaware of our very presence, I can honestly say I cannot imagine wanting anything more.
I’ve been doing this for quite a while now; so long that Sean’s cutest pictures are from long ago and he is now a few inches taller than me. How did this happen? Well, 15 years happened. From plastic toy guns to a young man in high school—doesn’t it just go by in a blink. But, mornings in the marsh slow it down. Memories that bond and last forever keep us grounded in what is real. Father and son… The morning flight… Laughter… Talking like best of friends with our love of nature in the backdrop. Indeed, these are the moments to cherish.
I’ve come to feel fortunate about what a shared love of wildlife brings to my son and me. It often feels somewhat timeless in that I feel uniquely connected to the past. Is it in our DNA? Afterall, many generations of fathers and sons have loved wildlife together and gained livelihood from its bounty. This respectful relationship with wildlife goes back to the generations of the Patwin and Nomlaki tribes who depended upon the bountiful fish and game of the Sacramento Valley region. Is this why the energy felt during mornings in the marsh feels so enduring? Guess we’ll never really know. But, I do know that every father should find the time to share nature with his sons and daughters. It’s right there waiting to help you to create your lifelong, natural scrapbook of memories with the ones you love.
