Saved Paradise and created a birding spot

Yeah, uh, if you're not into reading political opinion this blog entry may not be for you.   I would recommend skipping to another entry. 


In a previous post I made reference to a classic Joni Mitchell song, "Big Yellow Taxi."   The song is such a classic and seems to define the way nature has been paved over this past century. It has got to be one of the top ten influential songs of the era.   This song has influenced me personally in seeing the big picture, and the importance of having personal accounting for our own effect on this planet, hopefully counteracting negative actions with positive steps for the benefit of our natural environment.     

It's been over forty years since the song came out and it seems we are still making the same mistakes as always, putting economic progress ahead of environmental conservation.  I decided to write an alternate personal version hoping it will empowers me to live more with nature.  I could only imagine how the world would change if we all (myself included) paved the way for nature to rebound and thrive as it has before we mettled with our bright ideas designed for self preservation.  The best place to start to make a difference is in our own yard, and let it grow from there.  Being an active nature enthusiast I have seen the positive effect of even seemingly insignificant improvements to the environment. 

Unfortunately I do not have the way with words and lyrics that Joni Mitchell had, and the time it took to write this attests to that obvious fact.  Thankfully Mrs. S helped iron out the more obvious errors, but I hope it is at least satisfactory to the reader and not too cheesy.  Moreover, I hope it honors the tremendous influence Joni Mitchell has had on our environmental awareness.   Thank you Joni  for appreciating our natural world and calling us out to preserve it for future generations!     



Saved Paradise

We saved paradise,

And created a birding spot

Using native plants and trees,

It’s now a migration hotspot!

Don’t you know, you’ve got to know

where others reap we’ve got to sow,

We can save paradise,

By creating a birding spot

Mrs. Humms and start of fall migration

 

Field W of Big pond facing TV Wash

Baby Rufous-winged Sparrow

This has been one wet monsoon, the best one in quite a while.   We still have a month left but the rains have been so steady I don't worry too much about watering our yard.  The field west of the big pond is really looking green, with hardly a bare patch.  The new growth has attracted new migrants, and as I gingerly walked through it I came upon a Gray Flycatcher, Lark Sparrows, Gambel's Quail, Phainopepla, Cactus Wren, and a family of Rufous-winged Sparrows with at least one cute baby.  Toward evening Lesser Nighthawks circled about the pond and over the cottonwoods frenziedly feasting on the abundant flying insects.  In turn a bunch of small flying insects feasted on my unprotected legs still salty from my ride home. 

I also spotted a mystery bird, which perched briefly low in a small mesquite, which appeared to be a small flycatcher in the family empidonax but without an eyering, short wings and a narrow long rounded tail.   The lack of an eyering would point toward Willow Flycatcher some other features didn't seem to match, especially the tiny size and thin tail.   A brief attempt to relocate today and document was unsuccessful, but I did spot a group of Chipping Sparrows sporting sharp new plumage.

Mrs Humm's nest just after hatching

Although Mrs. S isn't a birder per say, she seems a bit obsessed with our Broad-billed Hummingbird nest.   She really identifies with the mother caring for her young, and worries when the wind gusts before each monsoon, the nest swinging on its fragile vine as "Mrs Humms," sits inside protecting the eggs.   At least one baby hatched on Wednesday and I've been finding our binoculars on our couch as Mrs S keeps a vigilant watch, tracking her comings and goings.  

A couple days ago my friend Mark emailed me about a Crested Caracara seen on the outskirts of our neighborhood, which has peaked my interest since it would be new for my list, and a life bird.  I plan on hitting the trail tomorrow for a relaxed bird walk in the morning.  Elsewhere in Southern Arizona are reports of Painted Buntings, Red-eyed Vireo and a Scisssor-tailed Flycatcher, which are all birds yet to be seen in this rich patch of riparian desert.    Wish me luck tomorrow!

Thank you for your appreciation of our remarkably wet and lush desert. 

Elusive Pelicans and Labor Day Bears

This weekend I took a break from birding, not even stopping by our ponds.  On Monday while riding to the bus stop Heidi, one of our neighbors asked, "Did you see the pelicans this weekend?  They were on the big lake Saturday and Sunday."  I hid my grimace as I thanked her for the information and raced to the pond to get a quick look.  They were gone.

I thought through my apparent unlucky streak with the two species of pelican in our neighborhood. I remembered how I had specifically checked the ponds each weekday for pelicans on the way home from work this week, knowing there were reports in the area.  Am I losing my birding touch?  Did I ever have one?  At least I did see one Brown Pelican our of five opportunities in our area.  

I seem to have similar luck with Mountain Lions here.  Our neighbor two doors down had one in her front yard when she went to get the paper (and she didn't call!).  Other neighbors have seen them as well but I keep missing out.   I really hope this year is the year I see one in the wild, and in our neighborhood.  Seeing this magnificent hunter is one of the reasons I moved to Arizona!

Perhaps I'm being too hard on myself.  I am appreciative of the birds and animals I see each day.  Like the toad which hopped across our porch at my feet Sunday night.   Or the baby Western banded Gecko at our front door last night.  The Abert's Towhee which felt comfortable enough to feed close to the porch where I sat, enjoying the moment.  The nice and frequent rain showers we've had recently which could make for a great migration spectacle!   I gather most people haven't seen 240 plus bird species in their neighborhood, for which I consider myself most fortunate.  

Another very lucky moment for me occurred Labor Day Weekend some years ago........

It was barely light out and I had just started a point count for the Tucson Bird Count.  I point count is when you record birds heard and seen in five minutes while standing in one predetermined spot.  I believe my record is 24 species in a five minute period.   I was overlooking a resort with a open area used occasionally as a driving range.  A major wash ran behind me flowing into a nice area of mesquites, Arizona Walnuts, Mexican Elderberry, Western Soapberry, Arizona Ash, and Desert Willow.   Upstream was Eucalyptus, cottonwoods and mesquites, with an understory of Desert Broom and acacias, and a small duck pond adding variety to the habitat.

I had just started the clock when the coyotes began barking defensively.  "That's strange," I thought curiously.   "Why would they be barking at me when I'm half a football field away!"  Coyotes have barked at me before if I'm close to a den or if I surprise them, but something here didn't seem right.  They seemed very alarmed, yet no one else was around!  As I listened for birds I also scanned for views of the coyotes, which were still just out of sight.  A minute into the count I spotted the group in the open and focused my binoculars as they ran about, their desert gray coats blending into the scenery as they chased....

A black shape entered the field of view, with powerful front paws and a low center of gravity as it raced around them in a figure eight, before running behind the pond and out of view.   I could hardly believe my eyes, a Black Bear in the desert valley!    This was news.   It would make the papers, and probably the nighttime news as well.  Game and Fish would need to be involved for sure.   It was so exciting to see this mountain species traveling through our desert, a rare jewel of an experience to be treasured.  

I remember some years back hearing of another bear coming through Tucson in similar manner.   As I traced the map of sightings it ran straight through our neighborhood, though no one saw it here.   I surmised he was going from the Rincon mountain range to the Catalinas, taking the desert route so as to avoid conflict with other bear territories.  Our network of washes is the last viable route for this task, which was probably done on more of a regular basis before the area became saturated with people.  It probably increased the biodiversity of the "Sky Island," populations of Black Bears.  Our mountains are called "Sky Islands," since the lush cool upper elevation habitats are separated from one another by desert, preventing a continuous population range for many species.   These wandering individuals could be the key to the diversity of the entire population!

This smaller bear of a approximately a hundred pounds was probably on the same course as it's predecessor.   Up the Agua and TV, then up Sabino Creek or the Rillito to the Catalinas.  It was about ten miles, but it would need to use its stealth as an advantage traversing the territory of humans. 

Part of its stealth would depend on my actions.  I would not tilt the scales against him despite my excitement, so I could assure his safe journey.  I did web searches later and found his travels did not go undetected, but by that time his trip was almost complete, and he was successful in avoiding human capture.   I also learned later that others had seen him, almost at the same time as I, and had taken the same action as I, just cherishing the moment in silence.  

I am honored to have been given the gift of this memory, and hope this bear is still living happily in our Sky Island paradise!  Thank you for letting me share this unique enriching experience with you. 

The Benefits of Cattails

Recently I wrote a letter to a friend who's community had a beautiful cattail pond, only to find it was diminished to a fragment of its original splendor.  Cattail habitat in southern Arizona is extremely rare, and very conducive to many bird species due to the abundant life it supports in a relatively small area.  But cattails often get categorized with such terms as weeds, pests, varmints, and the like by people who are either misinformed or have a superior sense of royalty over their surroundings.  Many times we react without thinking based on preconceived notions, some perhaps left over even from our childhood.   

Far be it from me to speak of perceived superiority in others when tonight here I was, cutting down cattail stands in my neighborhood pond.   The Cooper's Hawks complained as I worked, and a Yellow Warbler called out in protest.  I knew my argument for the better good wouldn't

For the love of Rhinos

I try not to bring worldly issues to my blog, but this one seemed to really hit home so I will write about it partly to sort my thoughts, and perhaps some good will come of it.  Thank you in advance for listening. 

I was browsing the web news the last week when a headline jumped out at me about the fragility of the current Rhino populations.  The thought of the all Rhinos species becoming extinct during our lifetime became so real to me I became very depressed.  To think that this would be the first large mammal to go extinct since the Woolly Mammoths!   How can we explain that we killed off such a magnificent animal for such selfish motives!  I know this is not the first species we've lost to extinction but just think, "if we can't protect the rhinos, what species is safe?"  Below is the video which explains the situation.
http://news.yahoo.com/video/vietnam-horn-habit-threatens-world-025257898.html

Then on Saturday I went to the bookstore and was browsing the nature section when I my eyes found this  book, "The Last Rhino's," by Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence.   Coincidence?    My initial urge was to purchase the book since I really seemed to be drawn to it.  And Lawrence Anthony was also author of "The Elephant Whisperer," a bestseller.  But it was a little expensive and I was convinced to check Bookman's for a copy first.  

Tonight I was feeling more depressed since I had just finished removing some cattails from our pond.  Although it prevented more serious action (chemical spraying over expansive area) I still felt like some sort of hypocrite actually removing habitat just to improve a neighbor's "view."   Perhaps I needed to read about successes in environmental protection for positive motivation.   I called 2 Bookman's locations without success, not surprising since the book just came out this year.  As I googled for other dealers I learned that Lawrence Anthony passed away this year just after writing his latest book on the Rhinos. 

Curiosity sent me searching further, and I found this heart wrenching yet positive link about his death, and the "mourners," who gathered in his honor.  You may want to grab a tissue first. 

http://delightmakers.com/news/wild-elephants-gather-inexplicably-mourn-death-of-elephant-whisperer/

I found a copy of his book on Amazon and it is on the way for reading on my bus commute.   I hope it will give me insight on how one man or woman can make a difference in for our animal neighbors in our yard, our neighborhood, and across the world.   I am thankful for your attention if you made it this far.  Last link below appears to be the organization founded by Lawrence Anthony if you would like more information.  

http://www.earthorganization.org/

Thank you for appreciating our natural neighbors here and across the globe!

 

A home for Rufous-wings? Aug 1 2012





Rufous-winged Sparrow March 2011

 

Rufous-winged Sparrow March 2012
          


On the ride from the bus stop to work I lamented on a lot that was just cleared of vegetation opposite my workplace.   It wasn't the best habitat in the world, but had attracted many good birds over the years. Recently it even had nesting Black-throated Sparrows, a rarity in mid Tucson..  I remember seeing Northern Harriers hunting its boundaries in winter, and Lesser Nighthawks hawking insects in daylight hours during the monsoon season.   This spring I had also heard my first Rufous-crowned Sparrow within its borders.   As I sadly pondered the fact that these birds were losing their home a distant and repetitive sound tapped at my thoughts.  I realized it was not my imagination but the real call of a Rufous-winged Sparrow, almost in answer to my pondering questions.   I turned back to appreciate its sweet "ping pong ball," call and silently invited him to our neighborhood if he needed a place to stay for a while. 

As I rode on I remembered the lyrics to a old favorite tune, "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got till its gone....

Question:  If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound. 

Answer:  A tree is never alone in the forest, and we would be all alone without trees.               

Author.  myself Aug 1 2012