Back in the Day with Freda - by Freda B. Piazza

Wildlife Sightings Around the World


With this article, Freda Piazza bids farewell as a long-time columnist at Bluffs & Bayous. For over ten years, almost from the magazine’s initial issue, she has charmed readers with her love of family, travel, animals, and wildlife and with her reminiscing, her humor, and the way she cherished her beloved Salvo and their beloved Rodney, Mississippi. “All good things must come to an end,” she remarked about her association with Bluffs & Bayous; and although her columns have now come to that end, her spirit shared with us will not. Her smile, her enthusiasm, and her delight with life remain, inspiring staff and fans alike, as we wish her and her family many blessings along the road ahead.

  As I have indicated in some of my previous writings, some of the things that are most special to me are the things of nature, especially wildlife. I was thinking about some sightings throughout my travels that stand out in my memory. I have certainly always enjoyed seeing the wildlife that is specially adapted to our area, but I recall the viewing of one animal that you would never see here.
  When I was visiting Twillingate, Newfoundland, we were told that from the cliff there we could view a pod of whales below. When we arrived at the cliff, it was too foggy to be able to see anything. We were very disappointed; however, we went back the next morning and what a beautiful sight awaited us! Three huge icebergs were making their way down south, and the water directly below the cliff seemed to be boiling with the movements of huge grey whales that were submerging, surfacing, and blowing! We also sighted a huge killer whale that cleared the water with his beautiful black and white body silhouetted against the blue skies of the Bering Sea. This sight I was treated to from the ship on my trip to Alaska.
  Recently, I saw on television that a protest against the war in Iraq was being staged in London in Trafalgar Square. I wondered how on earth the protesters could find room to have it since, when I was there, the pigeons looked as if they had taken the place over. They were everywhere!
  Once, when I was in Yellowstone National Park, I witnessed a huge grizzly bear, which to my surprise was sort of a blondish color. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, and he was paying absolutely no attention to anyone that seemed to be in his way! Before that, while we were on a high plateau there, we saw a huge bull moose. My husband got out of the car to get a picture of him; and since Salvo was on crutches at the time, I couldn’t enjoy watching the moose for fear that if he were to charge, Salvo would not be able to get out of his way!
  In one of my earlier articles, I mentioned seeing a herd of camels in Cairo, Egypt, being driven down the busy streets of the city to the slaughter house. They had been branded and numbered, I was told, to show that they had been inspected, and they were being driven in a herd of about forty. Somewhat different from Rodney, Mississippi!
   Hanes, Alaska, is known for having the largest concentration of bale eagles in the world. However, having spotted one perched in the top of a snag in our “Fatland Lake,” I decided that, when it came to eagles, Alaska didn’t have too much on Rodney! Just more of them! This year, my son, Michael, saw one several times on the grounds behind my home.
   The Puffin bird is the national bird of Nova Scotia. These birds were very numerous and a most interesting sight to witness.
   When I visited Australia, I saw kangaroos, kiwi birds, a Tasmanian devil, koala bears, and red deer which are raised for commercial purposes. I, also, saw the rams of the nineteen different species of sheep that are raised there. Of course, these were in a show at the Agridome. There was a girl who wanted her picture taken in front of the stall which held one with an unusually large set of horns. Just as she posed for the picture, the ram took a mouthful of her long, black hair from the back of her head!
I have told you before about the exodus of thousands upon thousands of the Mexican Freetail bats from Carlsbad Cavern. What a sight!
  When I was in Gibraltar, we traveled to the top of a very high hill, or mountain, to visit the apes there. It is my understanding that it is not known how the apes made their way from Africa to the Rock of Gibraltar, but there is speculation that it was possibly through a tunnel under the Straight. My memory does not serve me well on what we were told about them; but because of some legend, they are protected there, and the Queen and government of England provide the funds for their upkeep. We were cautioned that they were wild and not to feed them or attempt to pet them, but there is always one, and this woman was bitten, although not badly, by one of them.
   Upon visiting Moosenee, Canada, which is located on Hanes Bay that is attached to the southern part of Hudson Bay, it was interesting to see Native Americans baking breads over an open fire in a teepee while several very large, heavily coated, Husky dogs seemed very much at home in their natural environment.
   Not all of the unusual animal sightings have been in the wild. I have visited many zoos, which, of course, have held many exotic animals, but one of the cutest ones that I have ever seen was in the Memphis zoo. It was a baby orangutan. Until they are about a year or so old, they do not acquire a sense of balance, are very unsteady, and cannot hold themselves erect. They just wobble and fall all over the place. We spent quite some time watching them and were completely fascinated.
Many years ago, I remember seeing a huge snake that, I believe, was in the San Antonio zoo. As I remember it, the snake was about thirty or more feet long and about a foot in diameter. It was coiled up and lying very still. I can’t recall the name of it, but it very likely was an Anaconda. I certainly was impressed with it to be able to remember it after such a long time.
   On the bus on the way through Spain to see the trees from which the bark is stripped to make cork, someone pointed out to us a stork’s nest in the top of a large tree. I was very, very careful not to look up the occupants because I wasn’t taking any chances! After six children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, I felt that the last thing in this world that I needed just then was a rendezvous with a stork!

Dear Friends:
   This is my last article for Bluffs & Bayous, and I wish to thank you all for the kind remarks and support that you have given me throughout the years. Because of these, you have encouraged me to continue writing since the publication’s beginning over ten years ago.
   My good friend Joe Eidt was just beginning the venture when he came to me and asked me to write about the area. I told him, “Joe, I am not qualified to do what you are asking me to do.”
   He answered, “Oh, yes, you are. I know you can write because you have written a book. This book he mentioned is, basically, a history of my life and family, primarily written for my children.
   After a couple of articles about the Rodney area, I told Joe, “You know, when you write two articles about Rodney, you have said about all there is to be said about the area; and if you want me to continue writing, it will have to be about personal experiences. Therefore, in my inept way, I have hung in there. However, I am running the risk of becoming repetitious. I don’t mean that I have even come close to relating all of my life’s events, just the ones that I am permitted to publish!
   I wish to express my appreciation to Cheryl and Jean, the staff of Bluffs & Bayous, and my readers for their support once again and to wish you all the very best.

Sincerely,

Freda