Interview with a Wilson's Snipe

An Interview with a Wilson’s Snipe

by Chrissy McClarren & Andy Reago

The Wilson’s Snipe is known for probing the muddy darkness and finding the yummies hidden within. She wields a long bill as she delves into the depths. Wondering what secrets she might be willing to share with us humans, I asked her the other day, "What serves you in your quest to reveal delight?"

(See Photo One)

Snipe answered, "One, not questing alone. Quest with others, quest together."

(Photo Two)

Snipe continued, "Two, step slowly and gingerly through the muck."

(Photo Three)

Snipe added, "Three, hide from the world when necessary."

(Photo Four)

Snipe persisted, "Four, straddle the abyss - don't dive in."

(Photo Five)

Still pondering, Snipe said firmly, "Five, be sure to stay alert, ready, watchful, open, and calm, yes, calm.”

(Photo Six)

“Oh, one last thing!” Snipe grinned as she thrust her bill inside the soil and insisted, half muffled, “Don’t hesitate to fly and screech rather loudly and raucously when moved."

(Photo Seven)

Shortly after finishing this piece, I gave Andy a kiss of joy after reading this to him and it sounded just like a Snipe’s flush call. Snipe don’t call, they kiss! “Kisses the joy as it flies,” Blake wrote in a line from his poem:

“He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy;
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sunrise.”

Publicado el 22 de noviembre de 2022 a las 06:54 PM por wildreturn