Sunday, October 21, 2012

Drive By Birding

It was so blasted hot!  And it's October!  But the need to bird is constant and never letting up.  With windows down at 5 mph, Kathie and I take a slow drive through Saguaro National Park.  Can you believe I had never been?  It's desert and I've seen it all before.  But I hadn't.
Antelope Jackrabbit
"Can you turn the radio off?"  Yes.  I'm such a dope.  If you're birding, you need to listen for birds.  Duh!  But I was in my car....a place one normally doesn't bird(in my mind). Yet on my drive to and from work what do I do?  Look at birds. But to bird from the car.....It was strange and so much fun all at the same time.    So we listened and drove slowly.

This is going to be fun.  Kathie and I have had some incredible journeys into the strangest places.  Places that I'd normally overlook.  Drive and bird?  Who does that?  "Chris, can you turn that a/c down more?"  But it's hot Kathie:) As I whine to myself in my brain.  It's like a bazillion degrees outside.  And we're birding......
Black Throated Sparrow

And it's incredible fun.  We see a Jackrabbit and for the first time in my life, I realize that I've never seen one before.  How many years have I lived here?  So I've been seeing the Peter Cottentail types.....but never a Jackrabbit.  And it's exciting.
Eventually we stop the car and begin to walk and bird.  There's activity in the hot desert.  Amazing that anything can survive these temps.  And yet they are.  Soon the sun begins to set and time is limited and there are birds out there.  We see and hear them.  They hide from our gazes.  But we walk sandy washes watching for snakes.  It's a total thrill.  We count many birds which include a Turkey Vulture, Red Tail Hawk, Gambel's Quail, Black Throated Sparrow and oh so many more birds.   For my plant friends, we find a Christmas Cholla and many Hackberry bushes loaded with the orange berries....and popular with the birds:)

I'm going through something in my life.  I can't explain it.  But it's powerful.  It was always there but I've let it come to surface over these past couple of years.  There is a calm and peace from it all.  It's more than just some hobby.  It's a passion.  A calling.  All I have to do is take that first step, but I'm scared. I speak Spanish.  I have a plant and wildlife background.  I have an education background.  But I need to learn to shoot a firearm. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's true.  That's what is holding me back.  If I can do this, I can make a career change happen.  I did it once when I wasn't so settled and invested.  While "Drive By Birding", we notice a Border Patrol agent checking out something suspicious in the wash.  Incredible wild terrain full of dangerous things.  Over the past several years, one Park Ranger was killed on the job and of course, several border patrol agents and a rancher were shot dead.  As of this write on October 2nd, a border patrol agent was killed this morning. It has hit Southern Arizona pretty hard.....yet again.
Before I pursued education, I sat in a Ranger booth and welcomed visitors to the park in Wisconsin. Then teaching called.
But Kathie pulls me out of my deep reverie and this stupid midlife crisis and we search for birds.  At the end of the night, we sip wine on her balcony enjoying the beautiful night sky of Arizona.  A perfect way to end an amazing weekend exploring Southern Arizona. And speaking of driving, this is one of my songs I'm liking right now on the radio.  There is language so you've been warned:) Stay tuned for more....

23 comments:

  1. Belas fotografias....Espectacular.....
    Os meus cumprimentos

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  2. Oh, what a tease you are about your career change. I say go for it if it brings you happiness and shares your passion and knowledge with others. :)

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  3. If you can face a classroom full of children anything else will be easy.

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  4. Look at those rabbit ears! The top capture is fantastic!

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  5. I have to agree about a career change if you are not happy do it NOW. Before you just feel stuck! Sounds like you and Kathy had another great outing.

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  6. If you are unhappy with what you are doing career wise, think carefully about making a change. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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  7. I've never seen a fat Jackrabbit ever. The wild large European Hares over here are really huge and fat. I can understand why many would hunt them here. The ones I see mainly are in the city limits, but I have seen them in the woods. The wild pigeons are huge and fat here, not like the common pesky city pigeon that makes a mess of everything.

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  8. i hope your calling can be realized - but safely, too. *sigh*

    that kathie is a good person to hang around with. she knows her stuff.

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  9. Hi Chris,
    I am so happy that you and Kathie have found each other, isn't she a wonderful lady? Her balcony in the perfect spot to watch the day end and the night begin isn't it? I look forward to reading more of your birding adventures together.

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  10. You would make an Awesome Park Ranger. Not easy to get into, especially permanent. But you have to follow your heart. Good luck with your career change, whatever it may be.

    Love the video!

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  11. May your ears remain awake and open like this Jackrabbit!
    Good luck!

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  12. Love the Jackrabbit photos!!! Those are some impressive ears! I hope you finding that calling, sooner than later:)

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  13. Sounds like an adventure is waiting for you.
    Used to see jack rabbits all the time growing up. Not so much now. Personally, I'm waiting to see a jackalope on the prairie not just on a wall. Ha! ;-)
    Drive by birding. You certainly keep it diverse.

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  14. So loving the Jackrabbit. I never saw one either. The little lizard is pretty cool too. Follow your dreams!

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  15. Oh, another Pink fan! I knew I liked you. :-) Follow your dream, Chris, if you can. And if you can't then let your dream be your escape! If you ever become a Ranger I will come to your park with my pic-i-nic basket and share some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while you show me all the wonderful plants and animals there. You would be terrific, but you are terrific now. And I have never seen a jackrabbit!

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  16. 'Drive by birding'...love that expression! Over here in the uk you might get arrested by the vice squad. It's funny how we can sometimes miss things that are right under our noses. Your Jackrabbit looks like a skinny version of our Hare. Are you thinking of joining the border patrol?...If so, think hard and make sure it's the right thing. How about a park ranger? I am ranting now....beautiful pictures and writing as always Chris.

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  17. Wow - just love that Jackrabbit. Sounds like another great outing. Good luck should you decide to go ahead with your career change. Sometimes you just have to go for these things :)

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  18. I was in Az more than 10 years ago and jackrabbit was the usual roadkill menu .... fond memories of Saguaro Park and long winding road and Tucson nightlife ....wish someone was with me though.

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  19. Love the Jackrabbit, look at those big ears and long legs! Maybe he's a sign to run while you can. This is the perfect age to run, jump, change, challenge yourself before time runs out. Follow your dreams!

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  20. Are you thinking of becoming a park ranger? Awesome, if you are. You certainly have a LOVE for nature.

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  21. Well Chris, I am glad I introduced you to a new way of birding! You can cover so much more territory and still go birding when the weather is bad! I had no idea you were thinking so many deep thoughts. I hope you find your way. I hope I find mine too. I well know that searching feeling, that longing. Perhaps we can help each other!

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  22. What a lovely post...the Saguaro Ntl Monument is so cool, both east and west, but we haven't been lately. Glad you saw a jackrabbit. Love your photos! I hope we can meet soon...I have emailed you. Love the Pink song too.

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