DISCOVERY 
by JOE TAYLOR 
I made a great discovery today! Of course, it is not as great as the 
Alaskan oil fields or as great as North America. In fact, it will not even 
make news in the local paper. But, in spite of all that, it is an important 
discovery. I was simply walking along an abandoned railroad right-of- 
way several hundred yards from my home. (It’s odd. In my twenty years 
of living here, I had never walked along that old track before.) Shrubs 
and young trees bordered the path. On each side, there was a grassy 
meadow. The setting provided perfect habitat for birds and wildlife. Red- 
winged Blackbirds flew past me. A quail exploded from my feet, causing 
my heart to race gloriously faster. A pair of Bobolinks flew to and fro — 
carefully guarding their nest from the “predator.” A Field Sparrow, then 
a Yellow-rumped Warbler, flitted from branch to branch in the nearby 
shrubbery. 
I continued to walk. Soon I noticed a small ravine ahead of me and to 
my right. I had never seen this place before. I had made a discovery! I 
made my way through waist-high grass which grew abundantly on the 
south side of the ravine. A trail, evidently made by some long-forgotten 
cattle who used to inhabit the pasture, ran ahead of me. I began to follow 
it. A rabbit, startled by my presence, darted across the path in front of 
me. The trail weaved around and through the shrubbery. As I dodged the 
brambles, another quail surprised me. Then I stopped, listened, and 
watched. A catbird mewed, then burst into a round of impersonations. A 
Red-headed Woodpecker made a visit to an old, gnarled tree. 
I continued to walk. I made my way to the bottom of the ravine — 
my brush-covered discovery. Here I found a quiet pool of water. The 
water was murky and quiet but it was far from being stagnant. Cattails 
and small willows grew plentifully along the marshy banks. Naturally, 
the ubiquitous blackbirds had found the spot. I paused at the edge of the 
water and listened. I could hear no man-made sound. Peace and quiet was 
everywhere. 
All too quickly, I had to leave my discovery. I made my way past the 
shrubs and grasses, past the Bobolinks’ nest, and back to the old cindered 
right-of-way. I paused and looked at the ravine. Man had been there 
before — several shrubs had died from a herbicide. Man will come again 
— the little refuge lies in a freeway corridor. 
I felt a touch of sadness as I left. I wished everyone could experience 
the serenity of nature that I had experienced. However, I wondered how 
many people would be too “busy” to take the time to simply walk and to 
make their own discoveries. I’ll return to my discovery — to learn, to 
enjoy, to be. 
— R.R. 1, Box 122 
Aledo, Il. 61231 
