The Whispering Wind

Taristotle’s whisper floated atop the breeze, blowing into my person that first fall morning. He walked out of the woods and into my world, changing its course forever. The most wise of all deer understood the workings of the Land of Terra and I wanted so much to learn about all of its creatures. We were destined to become the best of friends and I waited anxiously every day for his return.

Taristotle said that all living things have purpose, none greater than the other. He said that trees bear the wisdom of the Earth, knowing all things, feeling all things. He told me about the TreeWriters, the most clever of all trees - those who are able to send messages to all of Terra. Taristotle said that when you feel the wind in your face, a great tree is reaching out to you with her soft voice, hoping that you will be drawn to her story.

I found this puzzling because I had often felt the wind in my face, very much loved its touch, but I had never sensed the presence of a tree in my wanderings through the woods. I had always believed that the wind just wound its way throughout all of creation, traveling from one end of the Earth to the other and back again. I found trees to be just lovely, but I had never recognized them as conscious beings.  

Taristotle said that I had always known the way of the trees, but I was simply not aware. He pulled out a small branch, handed it to me, and asked if I could see anything. At first, I only saw a stick that was just like all of the others on the forest floor.  After looking more closely, I could see a tiny work of art carved into the stick. Amazed, I asked my friend how that could be.  

Taristotle told me that the bark beetle, an unassuming little creature, slowly carves the message into the branch. Bark beetles are the tiniest little helpers for the most learned of trees.Their etchings bring us the wisdom of the Earth, from the deepest part of its core, through the roots of the trees, and out to the branches that we are so lucky to discover. We must protect life in our land, respecting the space and wellbeing of all creatures. This is why the TreeWriters have developed a relationship with the little bugs of the bark. We must remember that their work is not only for the mutual good of their very own partnership, but also for the hope of all who live in the Land of Terra.

I told my dear deer friend that I wanted more than anything to understand the messages of the TreeWriters. Taristotle said to me, “I know that you will come to understand the thoughts of the trees. When you feel their beckoning in the winds, you will search and learn and believe. You will share their message of hope for our land.”  

I asked Taristotle how he knew that I would learn. He said, “My friendship with the trees makes me more than aware of my fellow Terra creatures. The trees are my constant companions - they are always there for me. I see you at peace with the wind in your face and I know you as if we have never been apart.”

The tales that follow are born of a deep friendship between a buck and a girl or a boy and a doe. It matters very little what name we are given - we are more alike than not. Taristotle is a most philosophical deer and I am an artsy sort of quiet person by the name of Perhaps Laura Lynn.

The words are mostly Taristotle’s and the art is mostly mine, but only as much as each can be our own. What are words or what is art, other than an individual’s interpretation of something that is already a real and enchanting part of our living Earth? So, put on your terraspecs and follow us on a most fascinating journey into the Land of Terra. You will see that our world is a most magical place to be. AND, always remember that without the TreeWriters and the bark beetles, this story might have never been told!

Jack Henry the Duck

Jack Henry the Duck is a young little guy, living with his family in the midst of our very own footsteps. The Duck family has a happy life, but one that might be much easier to lead in a less peopled location. Jack Henry’s mother will teach him everything he needs to know to survive, but he will face most difficult challenges that ducks in wild areas never know. He will learn to see great empty space before he crosses roads and trails. When he swims, he will avoid obstacles that are of no use at all to a duck. He will seek only living things for lunch in his creek - bugs are quite tasty, but plastic will make Jack Henry sick. If the air doesn’t smell just right and fresh, our little guy will stay low until the odorous wind passes. Sometimes that can take days - Jack Henry feels like he has shrunk in stature by the time he can stretch toward the sky. Life for a duck in the Land of Terra can be quite unpredictable.

You might think that Jack Henry’s family should just migrate to a less noisy place where the wild ducks live, but this is much more complicated than you might think. The ducks in Jack Henry’s family are comfortable in the home of many generations of ducks before their own time. It isn’t so easy to pack up and leave the place that you call home. Sometimes the comforts of known far outweigh the benefits found in another part of Terra. Skill sets differ, known is known - daily travels, food supplies, dangers - all are quite different from one environment to another. Perhaps we just don’t understand the life of another duck …

Rosa

This is the story of Rosa, Jack Henry’s mother. Rosa is searching frantically for Jack Henry’s sister, Little Molly. The duckling has been missing for hours and Rosa is anxious beyond measure. She has been to all of Molly’s favorite places and talked with all of Molly’s friends, but still she cannot find her little girl. Like David’s family, sometimes broods are separated, but they are always searching and hoping to be united again. Rosa will not stop until she finds

her baby and her family is together once again.

You might think that Rosa doesn’t have time to care about one duckling when she has so many to raise, but this is not the case. All parents in the Land of Terra care for their children. Ducks are great swimmers, but mothers with missing babies are the best swimmers of all. Rosa will swim and call out and swim and call out until she finds her baby girl duck. Perhaps mother ducks are very much like mother people … 

Little Molly

This is the story of Little Molly and the day that she swims just a terra bit too far. The tiniest duck in Jack Henry’s family hears the cries of Luis, the seal pup, and skims across the water without first asking her mother. Rosa is a very caring mother and will be more than anxious when she realizes that her baby is missing. Young ducks can’t understand the many rules in their world and at times they stray from the brood. Such is the case for Little Molly - she hears a friend in need and acts before she thinks.

You might think that it’s ok for a young duck to go off on her own, but this is not the case. In the Land of Terra, most parents are wise like the trees and there is almost always strength in numbers. Two is greater than one, three is greater than two, four is greater than three … Perhaps it is best to listen to the trees and to the mother ducks.

Little Molly and Luis

Little Molly, the baby duck, is close by the side of her friend, Luis, the seal pup. The two are the best of friends and he is hopelessly trapped in seaweed with his flippers pinned to his sides.This seaweed is more dangerous than most - sticky, gooey, clingy - the terra worst. Fortunately, for Luis, the green goo is so dense that it holds his head above water. Seal pups can only stay under water for about thirty minutes. 

Little Molly can’t free Luis and quickly realizes that his only hope will come from the power of their pleas. The only thing left to do is to join her own cries with his so someone might come to their aid. If she quacks loud enough and he barks loud enough, someone or many someones will help to free him from his snare. Little Molly and Luis make a noise that most will never hear, each getting stronger in the efforts of the other. The power to overcome hardship often comes from the strength of the many.

You might think that one little duck cannot save a seal pup on her own, but this is not the case. Actually, our brave Little Molly is not alone, but one of many, many voices crying out to be heard. When she calls out for help, another creature nearby will join her efforts to save her friend. All of us who live in the Land of Terra must sing to the top of the winds to help one another. Perhaps one single act will inspire two and then three and then four so that our Land of Terra will carry on as a most magical place to be.

Jack Henry's Long Swim

Jack Henry’s mother, Rosa, is frantic with worry. Little Molly is missing and Rosa cannot find her baby girl duck. Jack Henry follows his mother, looking everywhere for his sister. It is very hard for a young duck to stay in a race against time, but if he just does his best, he will get there. Just like a person on a bike, Jack Henry will finish the race, one pedal at a time.

You might think that a young brother duck cannot help to find his little sister, but this is not the case. Sometimes, in the Land of Terra, the young ones are far stronger than the elder ducks. Jack Henry loves his mother and Little Molly and he will try his terra best to bring his family back together again. Perhaps one little duck is much stronger than we think …

First Star of the Night

This is the story of our most excellent Universe, the one that is always there, always with us. Watch as the pale red colors of the evening fade into twilight and draw our eyes to the first star of the night. Just stand and gaze into the sky, feeling the presence of all that is there - the stars, the planets, the moons. The Universe surrounds us like a soft blanket, keeping us safe until the light of the next morning pulls us from our sleep.

You might think that you are the only one looking up at the night sky at any given moment in time, but this is not the case. There are millions of others who might be looking at the very same sky at the very same time thinking almost the very same things that you are thinking. Perhaps we are never alone in the Land of Terra - my star is your star, our star is their star … 

Benjamin

This is the story of Benjamin, a horse who is born without a mane. At first, Benjamin doesn’t realize that others think he is different because his mother never seems to notice. She thinks he is the most beautiful horse in the Land of Terra, but other young horses make fun of him. Benjamin doesn’t understand - he likes to run in the fields and play in the sunshine just like all young horses do. He loves to swim in Echo Lake, but more times than not, he soaks in the cool waters alone.

You might think that Benjamin is quite different because he doesn’t have a mane, but this is not the case. He likes to do all of the things that young horses most want to do. He is missing a mane, nothing else. We all think and feel and breathe and hope. Perhaps we are more alike than we think … 

Benjamin and Marci

Benjamin, the horse, and Marci, the cow, are quite the best of friends. Even though they live on the same farm, their relationship is a bit unusual. Most often, in the Land of Terra, cows are with cows and horses are with horses. Their story begins when Marci notices that the young guy has a very kind face, but he never seems to have a friend. This is most unusual for colts on Echo Lake - they are almost always in the midst of other young ones. Benjamin has finally grown a mane, but it is all over his face so the other young horses still tease him. Marci just doesn’t care about Benjamin’s messy mane - she talks to him, cares about what he thinks, and becomes his best friend in Terra.

You might think that teasing someone is all in fun, but this is not the case. It is not fun for him, not fun for you, not fun for anyone. People and horses and cows are more than the face that meets the eye. We all think and feel and breathe and hope. Benjamin longs to be like other young horses, to have an ordinary mane. He is so very happy to spend his days with Marci, but he wants to have horse friends, too. Perhaps, one day soon, another young horse will start a conversation … 

Benjamin Runs Like the Wind

This is the story of the day that Benjamin runs like the wind. Marci, the cow, still keeps a watchful eye on her friend, but she encourages him to run out into the field with the other horses. With the support of his mother and his best friend, Benjamin gains enough confidence to play with the other horses. They don’t really notice that his mane is not like theirs when they are all running. Benjamin is more like all other horses than not and he gallops so much faster than most.

You might think that being timid and unsure of yourself will stay with you for the rest of your life, but this is not the case. Friends like Marci can help you through your struggles, see you on your way to accepting yourself as a single special creature in the Land of Terra. When people and horses and cows get to know you, they will see the individual behind the face and they will be there for you. Perhaps, like Marci, you might be a friend to a quiet someone … 

Anya and Benjamin

This is the story of Anya, the bluebird, and Benjamin, the horse.  Anya is a very lucky bird by all accounts. She lost the use of her wings in a very bad storm and thought that she might never fly again, but Benjamin is always there to make it happen. Just as Marci, the cow, helped him to gain the courage to run, Benjamin became the wings that lifted little Anya into the winds.  

Anya and Benjamin do everything together most days. Anya sings beautiful songs for Benjamin while he runs through the fields with our little bird perched on his back. She doesn’t really notice that she is so different from other birds. Benjamin helps to make her life as much like the others as he possibly can. When Anya is hungry, Benjamin bows low and close to the ground so she can hop off and find her dinner.

You might think that Anya and Benjamin are an unlikely pair because she is a bluebird and he is a horse, but they are the best of friends. She eases his worries with her soft melodies and he allows her to soar in the wind where she is meant to be. Anya and Benjamin are very much like human best friends who will do anything for each other.  Perhaps we are more alike than we think … 

Sebastian

This is the story of Sebastian, the brown trout who lives in Echo Lake. Sebastian swims all over, but when he decides to check out a new and unknown area, he becomes trapped in some algae. Sebastian doesn’t know what to do - he has never seen so much algae in one place. Algae is normally a good thing in lakes, but when it grows out of control or dies, it depletes the oxygen that fish need to live. Sebastian is feeling that now - he is having trouble breathing and he just can’t seem to move.

You might think that there is nothing we can do to help the fish in our lakes, but this is not the case. Some things are beyond our control, but humans can be careful with their use of the lands in Terra. We can’t change the temperatures in lake water, but we can prevent nutrients and toxins from slipping into our waterways. Perhaps we have more responsibility in the Land of Terra than we think.

Darcy Saves the Day

This is the story of Darcy, the catfish, and the day that she rescues Sebastian from the algae in Echo Lake. Sebastian is trapped in a scary algal bloom, not because the algae is holding him captive, but because he can’t bring in enough oxygen through his gills. This leaves him weak and struggling to move. However, Darcy knows all about this part of the lake because she often swims here when she is looking for food. She doesn’t eat here when the algae is bad, but she swims by each day to check for fish who become sluggish. Darcy believes that if she can help out each day, when the algae is healthy again, all fish will be able to safely swim in Echo Lake.

You might think that one single fish cannot change life in Terra, but this is not the case. One thing can become two things and then three and then four. To save one life is amazing, but to save even more helps to make the Land of Terra the best it can be. Perhaps one single act is just be the beginning …

Roxanne the Very Pink Pig

Roxanne is a very happy, very pink pig. She loves to dig around in Terra dirt, her great sense of smell allowing her to find the most wonderful things. She also gets great pleasure from just smelling - flowers and grass and trees and leaves - any delightful smell will tickle her nose and make her day the best it can be. She enjoys every minute of every day - well, almost. To see her radiant face, you must imagine that Roxanne doesn’t have a care in all of Terra, but she hides her worries behind her smile.

You might think that Roxanne is just as happy as she can be, but this is not the case. Some Terra creatures make fun of her because she is so fat. Even though Roxanne is happy just the way she is, hurtful words are hard to take. Still yet, she smiles and she smiles and she smiles even more. Perhaps Benjamin or Marci or even you will do the one thing that might just make Roxanne’s world a better place to be.

One Single Flower

This is the story of one single flower - one of about 400,000 types in all of the Land of Terra. Of all the flowers that grow in our world, each one is unique in its own way. There are times when the TreeWriters carve something lovely just to remind us to pay attention to the amazing world that is around us. Just in one tiny part of Terra, there are hundreds of wonderful things to see.

You might think that a flower is just a flower and only there to make Terra more lovely, but this is not the case. Flowers are used in medicines and teas and oils and foods. Every fruit blooms as a flower before it becomes a food. Flowers provide food for birds and bees and butterflies, who in turn provide food for other creatures through pollination. Perhaps one flower is a single most wonderful part of the Land of Terra …

Gabriel the Caterpillar

This is the story of Gabriel, the caterpillar. Gabriel is a slow-moving kind of guy, crawling through life at a very steady pace. He eats plants while he is in his larval state, growing and shedding his skin several times. When he is fully grown, Gabriel will find a hiding place where he will hang out as a pupa until it is his butterfly time in the Land of Terra.

You might think that one tiny caterpillar doesn’t even matter, but this is not the case. After Gabriel changes into a butterfly, he becomes a pollinator. Every third bite that humans take comes from the work of a pollinator. If you save a caterpillar, you save a butterfly and maybe you help to feed a person. Even if you have enough food in your part of Terra, there are others in faraway lands who need pollinator foods. Perhaps one little caterpillar and one single human can help to feed all of Terra.

Gabriel the Butterfly

This is the story of, Gabriel, the butterfly. He is still the same creature as Gabriel, the caterpillar, but in a new and more mobile state of being. Just like humans who start out crawling on floors and learn to walk and run, the caterpillar gets his wings and flies with the wind in the Land of Terra. Gabriel gets to see the best of both worlds. As a caterpillar, he is able to glimpse into the world of the tiniest beings on the floor of Terra. As a butterfly, he has a view from above, seeing flowers and trees and so many unique creatures.

You might think that butterflies have the most easy life of all, but this is not the case. While Gabriel is flying through the air, moving from one flower to the next, he is making food for so many creatures. On his feet, he carries pollen from one flower to another, creating new seeds as he travels. Pollination is so very important to the Terra food supply. Perhaps there is always more to know than what we see …

Idris the Inchworm

This is the story of Idris, the inchworm. Idris is quite different from most caterpillars because he doesn’t have little legs in his middle. This causes him to move ever so slowly with a hump in his crawl. However, just like Gabriel, he turns into a most beautiful flying creature - the Geometer moth - another great pollinator in the Land of Terra.

You might think that Idris is not quite a caterpillar because he moves with a hump in his middle, but this is not the case. Just like Jefferson, Idris negotiates life as best he can and, after his very long sleep, he awakens to the flight of his very own butterfly. Idris is very lucky - during his life, he can see the Land of Terra from the ground and from the air above.  First, he crawls among the most wonderful Terra smells and then he flies on the top of the winds. Each landing he makes is soft and fragrant and meaningful. When Idris flutters from one flower to the next, he helps to pollinate Terra and provide food for many of its creatures. Perhaps the inchworm is a most important part of our world …

Lenny and Gwen

This is the story of Lenny and Gwen, a pair of dragonflies starting out on a most exciting adventure. They are migrating to Mexico for the winter with thousands of other dragonflies. Lenny and Gwen can fly up to eighteen miles per hour so their journey will not take forever. They can fly in any direction, they can hover, they can move each wing separately, and they can see more beautiful colors than even humans can see. This is most amazing for creatures who start out in the lakes and the seas. Like Gabriel and Idris, Lenny and Gwen begin life in a larval state, but these flying wizards live up to two years underwater before becoming the dragonflies that we know.

You might think that dragonflies are just insects and not so important, but they have been living in the Land of Terra for 300 million years. During that time, they have become some of the most amazing creatures in all of Terra. They can see nearly 360 degrees and have far greater color reception than other animals, humans included. Just imagine the things that they can see with their super-powerful eyes - the eyes of a fruit fly, the pollinated parts of a flower, the tiniest baby wolf spider. Perhaps there is so much more to see through the eyes of a dragonfly …

Carib

This is the story of Carib, a green iguana who is most misplaced in the Land of Terra. She might be much happier living in the tree tops of a very warm place, but she has quite the nice place to be in her human home. Her new family gave her a room of her own with trees, a place to climb, water, fresh food, yellow and more yellow - all of her favorite things. It is sad that Carib can’t be in the home of her birth, but she has the best that can be in her new part of Terra.

You might think that lizards and gerbils and bunnies and turtles just need to have food and a clean place to be, but this is not the case. If they find themselves far from home, they need care and attention and a great place to live. Their human home should be as close to their native home as possible. When you have a pet, it is your responsibility to make her life happy. Perhaps we must try to think like a lizard … 

Carib's Not-So-Great Escape

This is the story of Carib’s not-so-great escape. On a warm, sunny day, when her human is cleaning her room, Carib pushes through a loose screen and heads for the trees of Terra Forest. Iguanas love to climb to the highest place they can find and that is exactly where we find our green girl. She is basking in the warm sunshine of Terra, but soon the cold night will arrive and she will be unable to move. If she doesn’t find her way back to her human home, she will freeze and starve as winter approaches.

Fortunately for Carib, Elizabeth the opossum comes to her rescue. Elizabeth lives close to Carib’s human house and she has seen this before. She knows that if Carib stays in the top of the tree, the lizard will die from the cold. Being quite the skilled climber, Elizabeth moves up to the top of the tree and convinces Carib to come down just before the sun starts to drop behind the horizon. Our green girl climbs back through the screen and up to the top of her human house tree.

You might think that a lizard who escapes will be just fine in the wild, but this is not the case. If it is warm and rainy, Carib might be perfectly fine in the Land of Terra, but as soon as cold weather arrives, she will be in serious trouble. If her human cannot find her, Elizabeth will again be her only hope for survival. Perhaps we should listen to the opossums who care for us … 

Sasha and the Aardvark

This is the story of Sasha, the box turtle, and her best friend, Asher, the aardvark. These most unlikely of friends are inseparable, spending their days together in sunshine and rain. Sasha is on her way home after finding herself in the wrong place once again. She is not lost because she is never lost, but she is traveling the trails because someone with good intentions thought she needed help. Box turtles live in Terra Forest and always know how to find their way home, but many times that is easier said than done.

One day, Asher, being the nosy type, notices that Sasha is beyond frustrated and comes up with a plan to help his little friend stay close to home where she most wants to be. Unlike turtles, aardvarks are not so common in these parts of Terra so when people see them, they stop to look at the strange new creature. Asher stays close to Sasha and when someone bends to pick up his turtle friend, he runs out to steal the attention so Sasha can scoot to one of her many hiding places in Terra Forest. 

You might think that box turtles are lost and in need of your help, but they have a special homing sense that always guides them to their very own special part of the Land of Terra. Even though you might show them kindness and feed them well, turtles just want to go home. When Sasha is traveling, she misses her bed in Terra Forest and can’t wait to sleep there again. She wants to eat her favorite foods that she can only find in the place where she most wants to be. Perhaps we are more alike than we think ….

Giovanni the Only One

This is the story of Gioivanni, one of the most misunderstood creatures in the Land of Terra.  Giovanni looks like so many others, but not just like any single one. He might be from a family of turtles or lizards or ducks - only science can tell us his Terra story. This makes Giovanni feel somewhat awkward because he thinks he might be the only survivor of his very own species.

You might think that Giovanni is quite happy to be “one of a kind,” but this is not the case. We all feel more at peace as part of a community of family and friends. Even though Giovanni has many friends, he wants to leave his thoughts and dreams to his own future generations. Every day he hopes that others like him will be found so that his species can continue in Terra. Perhaps it is up to us to help disappearing species to survive just as we do our own.

The Dinosaurs

This is the story of the dinosaurs who lived in the Land of Terra millions of years ago. They were thought to be extinct -  no longer existing in the Land of Terra. The greatest worry of Giovanni was their own - one dinosaur would be the last and then there would be no more. However, today’s birds are now known as avian dinosaurs - sharing DNA with Terra’s earliest and largest creatures. Little birds like Aiden and Isabella carry on the legacy of their giant ancestors in their tiny, winged bodies.

It is sad when an entire species comes to an end, but there are things that we can do to prevent such a loss. We cannot help the dinosaurs in our past, but we can learn from their stories. We can also make choices today that respect the lives of other species - using only what we need, preventing the loss of habitats, caring for all Terra creatures as we care for our own. Giovanni’s concern is our own.

You might ask - how do the trees know about dinosaurs?  Trees are the messengers for Terra and Terra knows everything, remembers everything. The roots of the trees reach toward the deepest parts of the Land of Terra where the history of all creatures is stored. Perhaps we should listen to the trees … 

Amadeus the Coyote

This is the story of Amadeus, the coyote. Days and nights for Amadeus are mixed up - as far as most humans are concerned. He sleeps most of the day and runs, hunts, and sings most of the night. At times he travels alone and sometimes he is with other coyotes. Amadeus and his friends make the most lovely melodies with their barks and yelps and howls and yaps. Their sounds drift on the winds in the Land of Terra, making the night a most wonderful place to be.

You might think that coyotes are vicious, but this is not the case. Coyotes are often blamed for taking farm animals, but they are most misunderstood. Amadeus eats rodents and rabbits and the occasional frog or snake. When food is scarce, he is more likely to eat a dead deer than to prey upon farm animals. Instead, Amadeus gives us the most beautiful music in all of Terra - a sound that will become a part of you and will never leave you after you hear it. Perhaps coyotes are not so vicious after all …  

Fiona the Owl

This is the story of Fiona - one of the wisest of owls in the Land of Terra. Fiona makes her home in the hollowed remains of a great tree, sleeping most days and joining Amadeus in song most nights. Her call - hoo, hoo, hoo-hoo; hoo, hoo; hoo, hoo-aw - adds a nice rhythm to the musical night air. Fiona also hunts for food as the day drifts into night, preferring small birds, rodents, frogs, and the occasional crayfish. One day, Fiona will find a mate and the two will raise their young in the comfort of the same tree.

You might think that it is best to remove dead trees from Terra Forest, but this is not the case. Many birds find insects in dead trees and make their homes in the hollows of the same trees. To take down a dead tree might mean that a bird or a chipmunk will lose her home. Fiona is quite comfortable in her woodland home and when it is gone, she will have to find another for herself and her owlets. Perhaps it is best to let Terra Forest take care of her own dead trees.

Aiden the Whip-Poor-Will

Aiden, the whip-poor-will, rests on the floor of Terra Forest by day, but he is almost never seen because his coloring matches the sticks and the leaves. Aiden is so sure of his cover that he will sit on his nest until another Terra creature nearly steps on him. He is a nightjar known for his familiar song of the dark hours. Most birds sing during the day, but Aiden carries us into the still of the night.

You might think that Aiden is lonely in the dark of the night, singing with no one to hear, but this is not the case. Fiona, the owl, joins him at times and there are so many other creatures of the night to hear their melodies. Their songs float on the winds of the night, surrounding the deer, bears, raccoons, and opossums in their travels. Amadeus will join the night birds if he is passing through on his travels, sometimes nearby, sometimes from afar. Perhaps the still of the night holds great mystery and magical sounds … 

Dickens the Bald Eagle

This is the story of Dickens, the bald eagle boy, and those of his family who came before him. The entire species of the bald eagle nearly vanished about fifty years ago. Most of Dickens’ ancestors could not raise surviving eaglets. In fact, most of their babies never hatched because the egg shells were too thin to protect them while they matured. There was a pesticide being used called DDT that caused this thinning. Unlike his ancestors, Dickens is free to hunt and fish, soaring on the top of the winds high above the Land of Terra.

You might think that the loss of just one kind of bird is not so bad, but this is not the case. Many years ago, conservationists realized that our actions were harmful to birds and they fought to correct our mistakes. The protections that were put into place in the 1960s helped the bald eagle species to recover. Someday soon, Dickens will find a mate and together they will raise eaglets of their own. Mother and father will share in the care of their young - one will hunt and fish while the other tends the nest. This is just amazing after the bald eagle came so close to leaving the Land of Terra forever. Perhaps if we can solve this serious problem, we can solve another … 

Rebecca the Least Flycatcher

This is the story of Rebecca, a least flycatcher who is not by any means the least of all birds in the Land of Terra. Rebecca is the mother of four babies and she works hard every day to feed her brood and keep them safe. She is quite different from Dickens - he can fly far away to gather food for his future eaglets while his mate watches the nest. Rebecca is alone with her babies and must gather food close to home. This makes her job more than difficult, but she will do anything for her baby birds.

You might think that there is more than enough food out there for all of the birds. You are right - there is enough, but at times it is easier for some birds to get food than others. Bugs and worms and fish are, at times, hard to catch. Rebecca gathers insects for her babies all day long, flying back and forth between her nest and Terra Forest. She cares about her babies and will do everything she can to help them grow. Perhaps flycatcher mothers and human mothers are more alike than we think … 

Elena the Green Kingfisher

Elena, the green kingfisher, is on the move, searching for a new place to call home because her waterfront dwelling has been lost to “progress.” The great fisher bird has been living in Texas near the border of Mexico for many years, but now she is flying for Arizona where there is still room for her. Elena is willing to sit for long hours over the water to feed her family, but lately she has been sitting too long and finding too little. Kingfishers can eat grasshoppers, but for all of her life, Elena has been perching over water and diving headfirst to catch fish.

You might think that birds can live just anywhere, but this is not the case. It is hard to change ways that are part of our being. Just like Claire, the polar bear, kingfishers have special diets and special needs in a special part of Terra. If they lose their habitat and find another, what might happen if they find the very last one? Perhaps there is something that we can do to help … 

Isabella the Hummingbird

This is the story of Isabella, the ruby-throated hummingbird. Isabella is always in a hurry, rushing this way and that, squeaking here, squeaking there. She knows exactly where she is going and what she is doing. She can move her wings fifty times in one second and rarely stops to rest. Isabella is busy, busy, busy …

You might think that Isabella should just slow down, but she cannot.  She is made this way - born to fly forward and backward, to hover in place, and to chatter and squeak in the Land of Terra. If Isabella were to change her ways, she would not be her true self. Perhaps, instead of thinking that birds and turtles and people should change, we should just accept the creatures they are meant to be …

Oliver the Goose in the Green

This is the story of Oliver, a goose who lives in a park called The Green. Oliver can’t figure out why rocks are being hurled at him in his own home. His family has lived in The Green for centuries. Year after year, new people come to the park to play, but instead they use him for target practice. This is scary for Oliver and his friends so they start to make noise, which just make matters even worse.

You might think that geese are noisy and stinky, but Oliver is a very special bird. He has very strong wings and will fly a great distance when he migrates to a warmer location for the winter months. When he grows up, Oliver will help his mate care for their goslings, but for now, he just wants to play in the park that he calls home. He enjoys walking on the banks of the river and wading out to get wet on warm sunny days. He loves to go fishing on any day of any month of any year.  Perhaps there is enough room in the Land of Terra for all of us …

Dobie

This is the story of Dobie, a dear deer friend who is most misunderstood.  Usually, bucks run in hurried straight lines unless they must move quickly around a tall obstacle. However, Dobie prefers to run like the creek, meandering his way through the Land of Terra with little concern for convention. He also likes to graze during the day while most deer do this at night. He is kind to everyone, but many other deer make fun of him because he is so different.

You might think that Dobie should just start running in straight lines like the other deer, but he likes the way he runs and his life is his own to live. What if you wanted to be a scientist, but most people thought that you should be a nurse or a teacher? How would you feel? Just like Dobie, to be your own person is the best way to be. Perhaps we are just perfect the way we are … 

Dobie, Sarah, and Tink

This is the story of Dobie, Sarah, and Tink - all part of a most unusual family of deer. Tink is Sarah’s son and Dobie is Sarah’s brother, but the two bucks are more like father and son than uncle and nephew. Dobie has cared for Tink since the day he was born, watching over the little guy to keep him out of the trouble that most young bucks seem destined to find.  

There are some things that Dobie does for Tink that are common among deer such as nudging the boy away from danger or sending him on his way to Sarah.  However, there are other things that the elder buck must do to keep the little one safe. The three deer live near a winding creek that flows for miles and miles, but sometimes there are things in the water that just do not belong.  If Dobie sees that the fish aren’t swimming just the right way or that the water has a different smell or color, he will guide his family away.  When that happens, the deer drink muddy water from puddles because that is far safer than drinking toxic waste.

You might think that the things we do have little effect on those who live far away, but this is not the case. Litter can travel for miles and miles before being trapped in tree branches or making its way to our seas. Liquid waste flows through the water and seeps into the soil, changing the environment for all living creatures. We are all connected in the Land of Terra - my water is your water, our water is their water. Perhaps we are more alike than we think … 

Emily the Groundhog

This is the story of Emily, the most sleepy of all groundhogs. Emily will hibernate for three months, living on fat stores in her body. During the summer, she eats more than enough so she can sleep until warm weather is on the horizon. She also works on her burrow during the summer, which is thirty-feet long and has a bedroom, a summer room, and a bathroom. Emily is a true hibernator, reducing both her body temperature and her heart rate to ensure the best sleep. As the spring days approach, Emily will leave her cozy burrow with enough body fat left to carry her until new plant life grows.

You might think that Emily is a most lazy creature because she sleeps for three months, but this is not the case. The winters are very cold where she lives and she has to be in a place that she can call home. While she is safely tucked away in her cozy burrow, she is caring for her body, giving it the rest that it needs. Perhaps we all need a place to call home …

Beethoven the Chipmunk

This is the story of Beethoven, the chipmunk. Beethoven lives in a burrow under a great oak tree where his family has dwelled for centuries. Generations of chipmunks have made changes over the years, but the safety of home remains the same. Chipmunks spend a great deal of time gathering nuts and seeds, but they return to “home base” throughout the day and sleep there each night. They love their very own part of the Land of Terra.

You might think that a chipmunk can just dig a burrow anywhere and be happy, but this is not the case. Chipmunks, like so many other Terra creatures, need a place to call home, somewhere to feel safe from the troubles of their world. Beethoven’s oak tree has been home to hundreds of chipmunks in his family and will likely be home to hundreds more after his time. It is warm and cozy, welcoming him with its familiar smells and sounds. Perhaps we all need a place to call home … 

Matteus the Running Fox

This is the story of Matteus, the fox, a most intelligent creature in the Land of Terra. Matteus usually sleeps during the day and does his running at night. He loves the night air and the quiet sounds that he hears echoing from one tree to another, from one hilltop to another. He loves to feel the wind blowing in his face as he runs through Terra Forest. This is very special to him because even the wind is quiet at night.  Most of all, Matteus likes to be alone in Terra. The winds and the trees are his very best friends.

You might think that there is something wrong with a creature who wants to be alone most all of the time, but this is not always the case. Red foxes and even some humans like to be alone in Terra - doing their own thing while thinking and breathing in the day or night air. We all think and feel and breathe and hope, but each of us has our own way. Perhaps we all have dreams of peace … 

Keller the Camel Keeper

This is the story of Keller, the camel keeper. Keller is the leader of his herd, his years of experience making him the most sensible of all camels. The most important part of his life in the Land of Terra is to protect his family and he does this as best he can. It is quite difficult to keep all of the young ones out of trouble - they are always looking for new adventure and not always listening to his wise words. If Keller doesn’t keep a close eye on the young camels, he might find them miles away when they are only supposed to be eating grass nearby.

You might think that Keller worries too much, but like all parents, he is the keeper for all of his herd and he cares for them with all of his heart. All grown-ups have made the mistakes of youth and know what might happen if you do the same. Choices are important - one single action has the power to change so many lives. Perhaps you might just make the best decisions if you listen to the keeper camel in your part of Terra … 

Claire and Emilio

This is the story of Claire and her little cub, Emilio - two polar bears who are always on the move. It isn’t so easy to find food when you live mostly on ice so staying in one place just doesn’t work. The two will travel thousands of miles to find food. Claire and her boy are taking extra steps this year because the ice is melting more than usual. Their Terra home is changing, melting away, and Claire is leading her cub into unfamiliar lands.

You might think that ice is just ice and less of it is better, but this is not the case. The Land of Terra is made up of different types of ecosystems and Arctic ice is home to many families of polar bears. The loss of ice is the loss of habitat. Perhaps there is something we can do to help our terra friends …

The Pelican of Ella Mae Island

This is the story of Zizou, the brown pelican, the largest of his species. Zizou, like Dickens, is lucky to be here - his ancestors also suffered from exposure to DDT. Most pelicans like to fly around in groups, but Zizou likes the quiet life and makes his home on Ella Mae Island with his best friend, Parker. Zizou flies from high in the sky, diving into the water to scoop up his next meal. He likes to eat fish and more fish and even more fish, but he will always share his catch with Parker. 

Life on the island isn’t so easy for Parker. Snakes mostly eats rodents and birds, but Parker is different from other snakes. Since his best friend is a bird, he only eats rodents and fish, which limits his food supply. Snakes don’t usually eat fish, but Parker finds them quite tasty, especially after Zizou works so hard to catch them.

You might think that a pelican and a snake cannot be best friends, but this is not the case. Their willingness to help one another shows us that they care. Zizou works very hard to catch his fish, but he always has more than enough for his friend. Parker might have more to eat each day, but out of respect for his friend, he doesn’t eat birds. Perhaps each of us might be such a friend to someone in the Land of Terra …

The Black Snake of Ella Mae Island

This is the story of Parker, the black snake of Ella Mae Island. Parker moved to this quiet island after being most misunderstood for a very long time. Black snakes are quite liked in most of the Land of Terra, but in some places, they are feared just because they are snakes. Even though Parker doesn’t have any snake friends yet, he is very happy to know Zizou, the pelican. It is warm all year long so Parker can eat and sleep and swim and climb trees whenever he wants. For this black snake, Ella Mae Island is the best place to be.

You might think that humans just can’t get along with snakes, but this is not the case. Many farmers are happy to see the slithery reptile because he eats rodents, which are most troublesome on a farm. These particular snakes are no danger to people unless they feel threatened. Perhaps we should just give them some Terra space and leave them alone.