Yesterday's blog brought up another wildlife issue we have here at Joe's Pond. We have at least two families of loons on the pond. They are good swimmers - not very nimble on land, so they don't mess up the beach or our lawns - and about the only complaint we have about them is that their loud conversations sometimes interfere with our sleep. Some fishermen might complain about the amount of fish they consume, but still, all of that is a small price to pay to be able to watch these beautiful birds raise their chicks each year. 
     The issue we sometimes have is that boaters don't give them adequate space. They paddle close to take pictures or go roaring by with speed boats, and the loons have to dive and swim for their lives. So we ask that boaters keep a watchful eye for the loon families and don't go too near them. The young are still not expert at swimming and diving like the parents - and even the parents are no match for the churning props of speedboats. 
     Enjoy the loons, but from a respectful distance. One blog reader commented that they are our "guests" here at Joe's Pond, and should be treated as such. Another approach is that the wildlife was here long before we were and consequently we are changing their once peaceful existence into chaos. So let's be respectful of them, too, and keep your distance. Observe, listen and appreciate that they are part of our summertime at Joe's Pond. Not every summer community has these remarkable birds to enjoy.
     And speaking of enjoying summer - these past several days have been beautiful, and now we are entering into August, we have to face that summer is nearly over. Time has a way of slipping by us all too quickly. Kids will be getting ready to go  back to school in just a few short weeks, and the long, hot, lazy days of summer will be over. We can look forward to a lovely, colorful fall - but then the inevitable really long winter looms. So enjoy the rest of the summer as best you can. We hope it is a good one for  all of you - building beautiful memories you'll cherish in years to come.
     I hear very often from people who have spent their childhood summers here at Joe's Pond, and all of them have wonderful  stories to tell. They may have only visited for a short time, but the memories last and the stories get better with every telling. One of the things I often hear is that no matter how the cottages change or how many new people are here, there is an aura about the pond that remains constant over the years. The channel and reeds at the north end, the changing moods of the water, the sunrises and sunsets, night air and the loon's call, the hot sun and scent of pond lilies and clover - all linger in one's mind long after the vacation is over. I enjoy hearing about those memories. It helps me understand the fascination the first "campers" had with this place. Probably not unlike our modern day "campers." I'm learning a lot about the first summer residents here as we gather material for the West Danville history book. Times have changed, but there was always a core attraction that has apparently not changed much at all.