Dining with Nature
The Wharf Rat and the Sparrows
A perspective in Partnership
The idea that we can often work together to achieve goals is shared in the world of nature just as it is in our human world. Even when the results seems to be for the benefit of others, or sometimes even for one.
This story comes from a far corner of the earth, Eastport Maine. A place where the vast continent meets the rocky ocean coast and over looks the endless open waters. It is as east as one can journey in the states. Two large countries Canada and the US join here, but very few in either know of this place. Here, beautiful sunrises carry a chill in the air even in the August warmth, for winter is always reminding us of it's presence with a cold breath on the wind.
The colors in this area are beautiful from the first dawns twilight till last evening's glow. One stands in awe of this place and takes in a deep breath in silence. Like Forest Gump running down the Maine lighthouse ramp and realizing this is as far as one can get from the world left behind. It's a place to pause and reflect. With the wide open expanse of ocean and very few people, it's a place one can rest and view their life in a different perspective. A place to ponder new paths.
On this day there was a festival in town. Some tourists from the cites had ventured north and came to explore the place. Perhaps they heard about it from others. A chance to see another world. A wilder natural world. Here the tides change with an amazing twenty one feet difference from low to high tide. Large rocks protect the shore and the docks are on long posts to rise and lower as the water changes. It's a charming peaceful town, beautiful skies, and of course the freshest seafood there is, right off the boat.
There is a cafe at the far end of town down on the pier. The lobster and fishing boats dock here and unload their day's catch where it is quickly crated up for the waiting trucks to carry south down the coast. There is a small metal shed at the end of the warehouse where one can walk up and order freshly caught seafood for take out. It isn't a fancy place. There is no inside seating but picnic tables and awnings were placed overlooking the water. One can dine watching the tides rolling and the birds flying by. Perhaps see a minky whale or harbor seal who may peek out from the bay to see what the people are doing.
I was seated enjoying dinner surrounded by a few locals and many people from the cities south. Fancier cars and clothes gave them away. They seemed a bit out of place but clearly were enjoying all they saw and took in. That's when I noticed something curious. Every once in a while a small flock of Sparrows would swoop into an empty table to the side and ahead of the tourists. They would chirp loud and put on a show for about a minute then fly back up to the pavilion beams and wait. They would easily grab all the attention of everyone eating. The people would stop eating and look over and laugh, enjoying the little birds frestive show.
I watched and noticed that just as this happened something ran about under the tables. It would zoom in quickly from a far for a moment and race away silently.
I kept watching to see what was going on. Like I was now in on the secret. When someone dropped a bite of food it would fall on the table and the wind would blow it on the ground. Or perhaps they would accidentally drop something on their laps and brush it aside under the table. That is the moment this routine would kick in. The sparrows would swoop onto the far empty table and grabbed everyone's attention. Then as I watched a single, very cute, wharf rat would run out from waiting rocks and race about under the tables picking up the discarded food. Then it would race back and sit quietly peeking out from the rocks waiting.
Every time someone dropped some food this would happen. The birds raced to the empty table squawking and the rat hurriedly raced out and snatched up all he could and in a flash and return to his waiting post. They were tag teaming the tourists. They had this routine down pat.
Later as the people finished dining and left an unattended table the sparrows would come for their turn and clean up all the crumbs left behind on the table tops. The rat would sit quietly safely hidden between the rocks and wait for his cue.
Then a new dynamic entered this coriographed scene. The rat noticed that I had noticed him. He sat looking as cute as it could from between the rocks. Like a smile may charm me. He didn't scurry away. I heard on the wind "Please don't let them know I'm here." I subtly looked at him as to not draw attention. We both understood that city folks from Boston or New York would not think it was cute or funny that a wharf rat ran about for a moment under their table around their feet. Even if it was an extremely cute one. And that it did it often throughout their wonderful meal would be over the top. Also the idea that sparrows and a rat were working together in tandem to ensure that all could enjoy the fresh seafood meal would not be understood or appreciated. They were in a wild place very different than their home, and the ambiance and beauty of the place didn't need interrupted. Their trip was picture perfect.
So I stayed quiet, and the rat stayed quiet looking for the next opportunity. And the birds watched carefully for the next crumb to drop for their cue to fly into action. All was fine in the world.
Nature in this cold wide open place finds ways to work together. Winter was always in the back of one's mind, and at the moment on this warm day in August there was plenty of food for all. People, wharf rat and sparrows all enjoying the evening and fresh seafood right off the boat.