Delta Winter

Painting and Essay by Joanna Jeronimo

The Delta is a funky place. Dusty in the summer and muddy in the winter. Mostly dull and brown, except for the green fields in their season.  Farmers, river rats and do-your-own-thingers don’t seem to mind that, instead loving the muddy tree-lined sloughs and channels, the rivers, and the particular culture that thrives there in this place of many waters.

And when evening approaches and the light is just right, it explodes into this magical place of color and space that can take your breath away. 

In the winter the Delta hosts hundreds of thousands of migrating birds, cranes, ducks, geese, swans and other species. When the light begins to fade, most birds head for the shallow water that covers much of the fallow fields, where they will roost for the night.  In the water they can hear predators coming and can take flight before the danger reaches them or their young.  These massive swarms of birds descend in great V formations as noisy mobs on the flooded fields, some gliding to graceful landings and others crashing into the middle of their groups, causing noisy disputes and displays of displeasure. Then as darkness descends, the skies which had been filled with thousands of calling birds coordinating the evening’s rest, are quiet and the spectacle of light and color and winged creatures is over for the night.

Contact Joanna Jeronimo at joannajeronimo@gmail.com