People who live in a large city assume that all is peaceful and quiet out in the country.
They should come out here and spend a few days and nights; they’d soon find out it’s pretty noisy!
At calving time, there is a lot of “mooing” as the calves begin arriving. My neighbors raise beef cattle and have a good sized herd with a lot of calves expected each spring.
The calving began a couple of weeks ago so there is a lot of noise associated with their births! The calves arrive anytime, day or night, so the mooing is a constant sound until they all arrive.
Photo by Fotolia/hkuchera
It’s also the time when the coyote pups arrive. The adults are quite vocal; their spine-chilling howling begins at dusk and continues until dawn.
Occasionally, I can hear the sheep on the farm down the road. It’s a nice, quiet, lowing sound; kind of soothing.
Then there are the birds! Sometimes I feel I live the Alfred Hitchcock movie “The Birds”!
Before daylight savings time, they didn’t start chirping until after 7 a.m., just as the sun was coming up.
At daylight savings time, it’s before 6 a.m. when they begin their chirping, sitting in the trees around the house, singing their little hearts out as they try to attract a mate.
The cardinals begin the chorus … then the sparrows and towhees chime in … followed by the soft tones of the doves. Then the crows, grackles, and starlings join the group with their raucous calls.
Adding to the mix are the chipmunks who seem to spend most of their time making a “chipping” noise as they chase each other around, fighting and competing for the sunflower seeds we put out for the birds.
I’ve been putting carrots out for the bunnies, especially during the winter when the snow was so deep. I knew they would have a hard time finding anything to eat.
Well, I think I’ve created a “bunny haven” for them!
They now count on me putting carrots out by the side door. One bunny even sits under the one pine tree and waits for me! It doesn’t run away, just sits until I toss the carrots out the door. It even waits in the morning, when I’m making breakfast. I now feed them twice a day! I hope the carrots will keep them out of the garden … wishful thinking, I know!
There are also the usual sounds in the country as the farms come to life. Tractors can be heard as they lumber up and down the road.
Chainsaws are another usual sound as everyone begins getting ready for winter. The trees really took a hit with all the wind and snow. Branches are down all over, but it’s a good source of wood for the outdoor furnaces.
Of course here on my homestead, the sound of my two mini donkeys, Samson and Delilah, can be heard as soon as I go outside and they hear the gravel crunch as I walk to the barn! They begin their pathetic braying, calling me to give them treats and let them out in their pastures.
All of these sounds add to the attraction of living in the “peace and quiet” of the country. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
No alarm clock needed!
