1.  Sail the Summer Sky (an Ode to Prairie Birds) - ©  Anne B. Wilson 2010 Songnote:  This is an ode to six of my favorite tallgrass prairie birds:  the Prairie Chicken, Upland Sandpiper (Plover), Meadowlark, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, and Red-tailed Hawk.  The eccentricities of each species make them delightful companions to those who spend time out on the tallgrass prairie. Lyrics: The portly Prairie Chicken does his dance across the lek His orange cheeks and feathered fans will show those hens who’s best He booms across the prairie, a feathered Flint Hills king Then flaps his wings to glide away into the prairie breeze The pretty Upland Plover stands on the fence post tall & lifts her wings & starts to sing her sweet high lonesome song From the southern hemisphere she flies from beaches white w/ sand To raise her family in these hills of bluestem prairie land She’ll fly   -   -   -   -   - And sail – the summer sky            Our melodic Western Meadowlark he nests down in the grass And hunts for insects in the Earth then flies away so fast The color of the sunshine with a black tie on his chest He sings his morning meadow song to wake us from our rest The gangly Great Blue Heron steps her stilt walk cross the creek Unhooks her S-shaped neck to catch the minnows in her beak Then spreads her six-foot wings to glide down through that tunnel green To her nest among the many in the sycamore rookery         CHORUS The daring little Killdeer lays her eggs right on the ground Their speckles camouflage so well they seldom will be found If you come too near she’ll do her best to lure you away She’ll drag her wing and cry out loud to keep her babies safe Oh the mighty Red-tailed Hawk he skims across the sky And his hawk eyes scan the prairie beneath him as he flies He’ll rise up with the current on the warm wind take a ride To float above the ridge tops and sail the summer sky       CHORUS