Bob Mount: 'Barn man' worked hard, earned my trust

Several years ago, a graduate student working toward a Ph.D. in zoology, James Tucker, approached me, introduced himself and said, “Dr. Mount, I’ve heard you have a room in your barn. Would you consider renting it to me?”

I agreed to rent the room to James for a nominal amount. The room had a bathroom with a sink and commode. I agreed to allow James to take his showers in the bathroom in our house.

James began residing in the barn in late summer. Knowing I had a gray rat snake, he asked if he could “borrow” it to eliminate a problem with mice in his room, whose squeaking was keeping him awake.

James took the snake, which eliminated the mice, and James and his “roommate” cohabitated with no problem until autumn, when temperatures began to fall below 50 degrees. James had to evict the snake because it insisted on crawling into his bed and snuggling with him to keep warm.

James and I developed a close relationship. Each afternoon he would arrive to shower and we would discuss environmental issues, especially those relating to birds.

James regularly inventoried the bird life on my property and would provide me with his findings, e.g., “Dr. Mount, I found a Louisiana water thrush’s nest on the bank of the creek behind your house and a hummingbird’s nest on a tree branch over the creek.”

James lived in the barn for about six years, earning the nickname “Barn Man.” Shortly before he was awarded his Ph.D. he showed up driving a new pick-up truck and told me he’d bought it with the money he’d saved on rent living in the barn.

James left to take a job in Florida, and afterward I would see him only two or three times each year when he would stop by on his way to Cullman to visit his mother. A week or so ago, James called to inform me that he has accepted a job at Columbus State University as a biologist. I was delighted to hear the good news. Not only will I be able to see him more often, but I believe I can convince him to conduct another inventory of the birds on my property. For several years my observations have led me to believe many, if not most, species are declining, but it’s possible that the decline is not in the bird life, but in my eyesight and hearing.

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From time to time I have complained about not being able to receive local television channels on my DIRECTV dish.
The company advertises that it provides local channels, except in six percent of its market area. Lee, Chambers, and Russell counties are within the excluded area.
A bill, H.R. 927, “Satellite Consumers’ Right to Local Channels Act,” has been introduced by Congressman Bart Stupak, to address the problem. It has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Perhaps our congressman, Rep. Mike Rogers, could be persuaded to sign on as a co-sponsor, if he hasn’t already.

Bob Mount is emeritus professor of zoology and entomology at Auburn University and writes a weekly column for the Opelika-Auburn News.