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December 17, 2009 - A seaside Christmas story10A I DECEMBER 17, 2009 1 SUFFOLKTIMES.COM A seaside Christmas story This is astoryfor theyoung and young at heart about the world around us at Christmastime. Christmas is in the air. Stores are busy. Christmas lights and orna- ments abound and it seems the whole world is looking forward to Christmas. It's funny that we think Christmas is only for boys and girls and their families and we don't really know about what the animals and birds do to enjoy their holiday. But you know what? They have their Christmas party down here in Florida every year just like we do. Everyone around is invited and most show up on Christmas Eve. The only thing required for the Christmas party is that you bring something to share or you help in organizing or cleaning up after the celebration. "'. JS ON NATURE rtr t. PAUL STOUTENBURGH To get started, the noisy crow will spend a whole week collecting shiny objects to be used as ornaments for the Christmas tree. Crows are funny guys; they can't resist picking up a shiny piece of tinfoil here or a gleaming pop -top from a can there. The peacocks offered to bring some of their fanciest feathers to decorate the tree as well. All will be put on the Christmas tree that was brought in the day before by the manatees. These slow - moving creatures will do anything to make the Christmas parry work out, so they found a tree Left: The great white egret was chosen to be on the lookout for possible party crashers. Right: The yellow - crowned night heron can often be found at night patrolling the water's edge for anything that moves. way down in the swamp and pushed it through the water up to where the party would be held. Once the tree is up, all kinds of things are brought in, like hickory nuts that the squirrels collected for the party and a bunch of little clams delivered by a flock of white ibis that have special long, curved bills that make it easy for them to dig in the mud for tiny shellfish. And then there are the sea squirts that came in and cleaned up the wa- ter around the area where the parry is to be held. It was muddy from the recent rains, but when the sea squirts pass the water through their filters it becomes crystal - clear. Even the little mud snails are called in to sweep the area and clean up the sea- bed. They like this job because there is a lot of good stuff that people dropped in the water and their vacuum- cleaning apparatus does a terrific job. The mockingbird will be asked if he would sing Christmas carols. For the mockingbird this is easy, for he knows all the tunes by heart After all, doesd t he mock all the birds' songs, including those he sings at nighttime? And then there is the tall great white egret, who is asked to patrol the party site. He is able to see over the whole water area. He will call in his friend the great blue heron to assist. They also called in the yellow - crowned night heron because he spends most of his time feeding at night along the shores, so he'd be a big help to them. This was just a precaution in case some unwanted characters tried to crash the party. And you know who one might be— Mr. Raccoon, of course, who doesn't always play by the Hiles. If he got in he might make a mess of everything. The sparrows spent the whole week collecting seeds. It's surprising how many of the little folk enjoy eat- ing grass seeds, weed seeds and just about any seed they can find. The dolphins are invited to provide entertainment with their leaps and gyrations, which everyone enjoys. AN the gulls around are great ones for scavenging anything left by the big folks. They are asked to help clean up after the party is over. The party is set to start at about 11 p.rn. and will last to the wee hours of the morning, when somebody — no one ever knows who —comes dressed up as Santa Claus. He is the most likable fella you can imagine, right down to his hearty "Ho ho ho" and the gifts he gives out to everyone. Who is this Santa Claus who made the Christmas parry such a success? I guess well never know, because Santa Claus usually travels with his reindeer and there were no reindeer around — just that big "Ho ho ho" Santa Claus who delighted everyone. He was asked if he would like some cookies and, be- ing a jolly fella, he said, "Sure," and sat down with a cup of hot chocolate and a couple of cookies and made himself right at home. So after the mockingbird led the singing of Christmas carols and the dolphins performed for everyone, all dove in and enjoyed some of the good- ies. Then everyone said good night to Santa and thanked him for coming, and to this day no one ever knew if this was the real Santa or just someone with a big heart playing Santa What do you think? White ibis stand in the shallows, where they'll use their tong downward -curved bills to dig up small clams for the Christmas party. DECEMBER 17, 2009 1 SUFFOLKTIMES • seasicie ristmas story This is a story for- the young a young at heart about the world around us at Christmastime. Christmas is in the air. Stores are busy. Christmas lights and orna- ents abound and it seems the hole world is looking forward to hristmas. It's funny that we think hristmas is only for boys and girls nd their families and we don't real] ow about what the animals and irds do to enjoy their holiday. But you know what? They have their Christmas party down here in Florida every year just like we do. Everyone around is invited and moss show up on Christmas Eve. The only thing required for the Christmas parry is that you bring something to share or you help in organizing or cleaning up after the celebration. To get started, the noisy crow will spend a whole week collecting shiny objects to be used as ornaments for the Christmas tree. Crows are funny guys; they can't resist picking up a shiny piece of tinfoil here or a gleaming pop -top from a can therre. The peacocks offered to bring some of their fanciest feathers to decorate the tree as well. All will be put on the Christmas tree that was brought in the day before by the manatees. These slow - moving creatures will do anything to make the Christmas party work out, so they found a tree The great white egret was chosen to be on the lookout for possible party crashers. : The yellow- crowned night heron can often be found at night patrolling the water's for anything that moves. way aown in me swamp and pushed it through the water up to where the party would be held. Once the tree is up, all kinds of things are brought in, like hickory nuts that the squirrels collected for the party and a bunch of little clams delivered by a flock of white ibis that have special long, curved bills that make it easy for them to dig in the mud for tinv shellfish. then there are the sea squirts hat came in and cleaned up the wa- er around the area where the parry s to be held. It was muddy from the recent rains, but when the sea squirts pass the water through their filters it becomes crystal- clear. Even the little mud snails are called it to sweep the area and clean up the sea- bed. They like this job because there is a lot of good stuff that people dropped in the water and their vacuum - cleaning apparatus does a terrific jols The mockingbird will be asked if he would sing Christmas carols. For the mockingbird this is easy, for he knows all the tunes by heart. After all, doesn't he mock all the birds' songs, including those he sings at nighttime; And then there is the tall great white egret, who is asked to patrol the parry site. He is able to see over the whole water area. He will call in his friend the great blue heron to assist. They also called in the yellow - crowned night heron because he spends most of his time feeding at night along the shores, so he'd be a big help to them. This was just a' precaution in case some unwanted characters tried to crash the party. And you know who one might be — Mr. Raccoon, of course, who doesn't always play by the rules. If he got in he might make a mess of everything. The sparrows spent the whole week collecting seeds. It's surprising. how many of the little folk enjoy eat- ing grass seeds, weed seeds and just about any seed they can find. The dolphins are invited to provide entertainment with their leaps and gyrations, which everyone enjoys. All the gulls around are great ones for scavenging anything left by the big folks. They are asked to help clean up after the party is over. - Z,,,, PAUL AND BARBARA sTOUTENBURGH i ne party is set to start at about 11 p.m. and will last to the wee hours of the morning, when somebody — no one ever knows who — comes dressed up as Santa Claus. He is the most likable fella you can imagine, right down to his hearty "Ho ho ho" and the gifts he gives out to everyone. Who is this Santa Claus who made the Christmas party such a success? I . guess we'll never know, because Santa Ilaus usually travels with his reindeer and there were no reindeer around — ust that big "Ho ho ho" Santa Claus vho delighted everyone. He was asked f he would like some cookies and, be- ng a jolly fella, he said, "Sure," and sat lown with a cup of hot chocolate and i couple of cookies and made himself ight at home. So after the mockingbird led the inging of Christmas carols and the lolphins performed for everyone, all love in and enjoyed some of the good- s. Then everyone said good night to anta and thanked him for coming, nd to this day no one ever knew if its was the real Santa or just someone dth a big heart playing Santa. What do you think? ibis stand in the shallows, where they'll use their long downward - curved bills to dig up small clams for the Christmas