Ostrich Fern
I remember hearing of Buzzard Swamp in my teen years. The words I had heard were from grizzled old hunters stating of people 
becoming lost in the area in times past. Now I can see why. The area minus the trails and man-made ponds loos the same in all directions. the land is primarily flat.
Beaver Dam
This morning I left the house about 4:30 A.M. for the trip north to Buzzard Swamp. This land has been managed for wildlife through efforts of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the United States Forest Service. The location of the site is near Lolita, Pennsylvania and south of Marienville.
I arrived on site around six in the morning to a balmy thirty-eight degrees. I shuffled around getting my gear organized when I 
remembered to turn my cell phone on. I was immediately warned of a message. I was stunned with the words from my friend, Galen Braddy from North Carolina. The message was a mutual friend Ken Crummett of West Virginia being in the hospital. Ken had had a stroke. As I type this entry I am awaiting details and further word of Ken. A few weeks ago I spent time with Galen, Ken, and Kip Feroce during the first week of gobbler season. ken and Galen both bagged gobblers locally. The news sure dampened the hiking mood for me, but I tried to make the best of the situation managing to spend some time walking around a wildlife propagation area and beyond.
Tree Swallow
Deer were everywhere! I have no idea just how many deer I had seen here on site and while traveling. I was blessed to see three 
fawns, too. 
Like deer, Canada Geese were very abundant. I could see a lot of goslings about, as well. I witnessed some Mallards and Wood Ducks, and later, I saw some Mergansers. I saw some gobblers and hens at various locations, too. A lot of birdlife used the area. Swallows, Bobolinks, robins, warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds… Next entry will include some places I visited. The areas were sites that were important to me in years past or have special memories. 
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
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