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| This particular shot, after weeks of taking it, is one of my all time favorites. I don't know why, but it's one that I keep coming back to. |
Somedays, you wake up and force yourself to make the coffee. Force yourself to go to work. And force yourself to smile at people....
.....when deep down all you want to do it curl up on the couch and read a good book all day long. Or just sleep.
I had one of those days recently. But I suppose that had I not forced myself to go, I may have missed the opportunity to snap these delicate shots.
After a hike, I sat down on a rock. A Mexican Jay flew next to me on that same rock and I smiled. It didn't run, but instead got very close to me. A Bobcat can charge at me and I'm okay. A Mexican Jay moves too close and I get nervous:)
But I kept still and admired the shimmering blues on this bird.
Once I returned home, I did laundry, some dishes.....things that had to get done and sat down. I'm glad I forced my way into the day.
Because I would have felt regret for the things I may have missed......like this Mexican Jay.
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I had ScrubJays on my property in Anza. They are an nteresting bird in that they are key to most all ecosystems they live, in that they are the very reason large nut producing trees would rarely propagate as efficiently on their own if the Jays were missing. Their passion for hording and steeling food before others can get it is the single most reason a forest can spread and regenerate in some areas. I really don't know what bird could take over those duties if they suddenly disappeared.
ReplyDeleteOn my property out in the sticks of Anza, I was up just as a small glimmer of light was showing on the horizon of the Santa Rosa Mtns. Around 5:30 am I had the coffee maker set to brew automatically. I'd take a break on my deck and just take in the views and sounds of all the birds. Then at half past six I would either go to work down the mountain to Palm Springs or go back to doing property chores if it was the weekends.
I designed much of my property for attracting the native wildlife with native shrubs and trees. Often I'd be out in the bush somewhere and crouched or knee bent on the ground busy with something and the Jays for whatever reason would come land on my head. I never knew why they did that and of course couldn't see what they were doing(not pooping, I checked), but they did this on and off. I always wondered if they knew I was out there trying to make life more pleasant for them on my land. The Hummingbirds would also do the very same thing. They'd fly down from the feeders when they saw I was outside and follow me around and sometimes land on a shrub's twig just inches from my arm.
I miss the southwest. No Hummers or Jays in Sweden. Magpies mostly. Though they do have some similar tough guy personality traits as the Jays. LOL
You sure do!!! I absolutely love your story here. This should be its own post:) I read it before bed last night and it made me smile. You paint a most vivid picture of your life here. It sounds to me like you may need to make a visit down here again:) Thank you for sharing this here. I also did not know this about the nut spreading ...I am always amazed at how we are all connected together. Have a good start to your week:) Chris
DeleteI have a strong passion for the natural world and environmental issues and I don't mean things like political movements or anything like that. I'm talking about practical application on what you see and observe in nature and replicating it for practical purposes.
DeleteI was a landscape supervisor for a Property Management Company's Landscape dividsion before I left California and came to Sweden 6 years ago. The company I worked for was a bit skeptical when they first hired me because my methods were very unorthodox when compared to the conventional science-based way of doing things. I don't use any chemical fertilizers or amendments in my work. As a result, I have healthier plants and that negates the needs and use of pesticides.
My time there was a success and I hated to go. The guy who replaced me went back to the conventional methods which not only drove up the cost of operations for the company in purchasing that chemical junk, but also the entire system collasped after a little over a year and pests were back in charge again.
My point is that I actually do have more than one blog than that you first visited. My second blog is called "Earth's Internet: A Layman's guide to Installation and Maintenance" and it deals with many aspects of symbiotic relationships between trees and mycorrhizal fungus and some mechanical aspects of tree hydraulics most folks are unaware of.
The second one is called "Primary Water" and is delves into possible past explanations of how the earth was once completely vegetated from pole to pole and what the mechanisms for that could have been. It's been an obsession of mine since I was young. I study water over here with a group that researches water based on the Theories of a man named Viktor Schauberger from Austria who is long since dead now, but the Swedish author who wrote a book about his life and research is still around, though about 94 years of age if he's still alive. Anyway that blog deals with alot of that. These groups have also come up with some great technologies for restructuring water.
Both of those blogs are probably more technical, but I try to make it fun and simple. The one thing that irritates me about most scientific research papers is that they are never meant for the general public's reading, but rather their own inner circle. Hence they tend to talk down to the average folk and use terminology that bores the tar out of most people. Yes, I understand the terms, but it's the average human being that needs to be trained as a more responsible earth caretaker and scientists(not all but most) fail miserably at this. I attempt to change that and make it fun.
You can just click on my Profile and you'll see the other links.
Thanks for you blog though, I enjoy great photos. When I was younger in the 1970s as a teen and later 20s, I visited friends in Tucson quite a bit and photography was a favourite hobby of mine. Tucson & surrounding area is incredible.
On the pine nut and oak acorn info, These seeds of themselves are incapable of moving far away from the tree to new locations and burying themselves in order to germinate. By pine nuts I mean species like Pinyons and other that have a rather large heavy nut and are not wind carried. Scrub Jays are a keystone species. If they go then a big part of the system fails, which in many ways is doing anyway.
Cheers, Kevin
Very special to have the jay come to you and these shots are great. I like that first one too, I can see blue eyelashes. If birds have eyelashes.
ReplyDeleteSorry your feeling blue, maybe go for red tomorrow. ;)
I know...it looks like it has eyelashes....I think that's why I love that first pic. I think when I wrote this post I was just physically exhausted with a touch of a cold, but everything is good now:) As for red tomorrow....I accept your challenge:)
DeleteGreat shots Chris....... very nice photographed.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Joop
What beautiful coloring! So glad you ventured out.
ReplyDeleteTerrific shots of the Mexican Jay! I am glad you were there to see this bird so close and share it with us. I have seen the scrub jay but I did not know about this Mexican Jay. have a happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots. I'm sure glad you sat down on that rock!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you went out.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bird and your photos are stunning.
Thanks for sharing, love them.
Wish you a wonderful day.
Take care.
Mette
Oh Chris, these are stunning! The whole lot should be framed. The colors and so peaceful and the details are fantastic.
ReplyDeletewow! beautiful BLUE...nice enough to help wash away the blues.
ReplyDeletenature...the cure-all!
i THINK the scrubjays here in FL are on the endangered list...
I would have looked at this and said I finally saw a bluebird because I know absolutely nothing about birds. Hence, I am pretty sure I have never seen Mexican Jay - until now of course!
ReplyDeletehe is beautiful. perhaps he was waiting for your visit and would have missed you, too.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I definitely know the feeling when the alarm goes off, it's still dark out, and it doesn't seem worth it to g outside. Like you say, I've never been disappointed either. There's always something to see.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos
Amazing photos...The color of the bird is nice..Beautiful photos..Have a nice sunday..Michelle
ReplyDeleteBirds with blue in their plumage always look special Chris. Every day would be a struggle for me without the wildlife!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous bird! Your shots of it are just fantastic. So close and posing just right for you. Thanks for sharing your beautiful experience.
ReplyDeleteThe Mexican Jay is great, the numbers are 5, 7, 8 are beautiful, nice shooting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bird and your pictures are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWow Chris! Beautiful photos of such a lovely bird. I had such a day too today. Mainly because I didn't want to tackle a lot of household chores! But if I hadn't been cleaning the kitchen and constantly looking out of the window I would have missed my first Speckled Wood of the year! Even when we feel down nature never fails to inspire and restore.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you went. He's a beauty :)
ReplyDeleteHi Chris, Great pictures of the Jay... What a gorgeous bird---much prettier than our BlueJays around here (although they are pretty also --in their own way)...
ReplyDeleteSometimes we just have to get up --and muddle through the day, even when we don't want to. And --most of the time, if we allow it, we'll experience something great--just like you did...
Great post.
Betsy
You sound like you need a vacation! Beautiful, beautiful shots. The blue reminds me of that of a Mountain Bluebird.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos - I think animals and birds are more in tune with our needs than humans! I think that bluejay sensed that you needed a friend right then :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty bird! I would have smiled myself :-D Have a great day and keep smiling !!
ReplyDeleteWhat a jay! I like the first shot a lot.
ReplyDeleteHoping you have not the blues anymore. Time for a vacation perhaps?