When I sat in the Gazebo for one final reflection, I was struck by how many people were still using the lake path, even though it was a bitterly cold day. It was definitely a smaller number than on previous days, but I expected to be one of a couple rather than one of about ten. It was not the only surprising thing I saw that day. As I sat in my spot, I noticed a bird that I would never would have thought to see on the lake: a cormorant. I wasn’t sure at the time, but further research confirmed my initial reaction; a seabird was fishing on the Westhampton Lake. And it seemed to be doing pretty well for itself, judging from the silver flashes I saw it pull up from its many dives. The Lake seemed full of life, much at odds with what I expected this close to winter. While the trees around the lake had lost most of their leaves, the water itself was alive with as much activity as ever. Ducks wandered the water nearest the shore, the geese foraged on the bank, and my cormorant friend flitted from end to end in search of more delicious morsels. This hour on the Lake reminded me that winter is not the death of nature for a few months, life continues on, and people continue to use their rivers and watersheds. Though in smaller numbers, people continue to walk their dogs, sit by the river, and the most intrepid might go kayaking. Our image of rivers might be of a lazy wanderer in the summer heat, flooded by people, but the river continues to exist and provide for both people and animals throughout the year. As the winter goes on, I hope that I will be able to get up the guts to brave the cold and enjoy the life in the water.
