“Want to join me at the park tomorrow? It’s my volunteer day.”
My daughter was home from college for winter break, and I figured she would rather sleep in than spend the morning helping me tend the two bird blinds at Guadalupe River State Park.
Instead, she said yes.
I volunteer at the park several times a month as a Texas Master Naturalist, caring for the park’s bird blinds. I often go alone, so it was nice to have my daughter’s company that morning.
At the Woodland bird blind, we saw our first armadillo. After tending Woodland, we wandered down to the Guadalupe River for a bit before heading back to the car. We weren’t in a hurry. We still had the Savannah blind to tend, but it could wait a few more minutes. It was a lovely, overcast December morning.
We hadn’t been there long before another armadillo wandered right past us. Then another appeared, and before long it felt like armadillos were everywhere. Some looked young and sleek. Others looked older and a little scruffy. We’d never seen so many in one place.
Most of the time, armadillos scamper off as soon as they realize you’re nearby. These didn’t seem nearly as concerned with us. One got closer and closer to us as it rooted through the leaves, stopping every few feet to sniff the ground before shuffling off again. It eventually disappeared into the brush, and we kept walking toward the river, where we spotted another one, then another.
Every time we spotted another armadillo, my daughter looked over at me with the same excited expression. We found ourselves scanning the woods and listening for the unmistakable rustling in the leaves, hoping we’d find another one.
I was just as excited and kept hoping I’d spot another to show her. Before we knew it, twenty minutes had slipped by. Eventually, we made our way back to the car, drove over to Savannah, finished our volunteer morning, and headed home.
I’ve gone back to Guadalupe River State Park many times since then, and I’ve enjoyed every visit. I’m grateful this was one we got to share.