Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Well-Wishes

Gilded Flicker
School has ended for now.  This has unleashed my inner Kraken!  Oh yes......birding full-time!  But on my last day, I did one last walk around campus and counted birds from my patch(an area that I am studying).  I have to admit that I was a little sad.    The babies will be all grown up when I return.  My Gilded Woodpecker friends love hanging out in certain areas near our football practice field.  On this day, I stood watching the couple and said my good-byes.
The Cacti are all in bloom and soon will shed their flowers. 
Common Ravens
The staff dislike the Common Raven couple that lives on our campus.  These intelligent birds rule the main football field and harass our Great Horned Owls.  People love owls more than ravens, but I am an advocate for this dynamic duo.  I've been with this school since the beginning.  So have these Ravens.  In many ways, they've become my friends.  They watched me as I watched them and I had a laugh.  Hopefully none of the teenagers making out in the wash saw me because I would have appeared crazy.  There is a bond with these creatures that I share.  I watch over them to make sure they are safe.
Great Horned Owlet
The owlets disappeared and staff had thought the ravens killed them.  But I knew they were tired of the 2000 plus kids gawking at them.  And I went where I thought they may have been hiding.  All 3 were alive and well on our last day.  I told the staff that they were all alive and not to worry....but I kept their location secret.   It's exciting to share our discoveries with other birders, and yet there are times when it's best to keep that inner celebration inside.  The owls are sacred.
White-winged Dove
The Saguaros continue to bloom and every bird celebrates with each new blossom opening up.  Plants struggle during this hot and dry month.  They patiently await our monsoon season.
I say the good-byes to my feathered friends.  It was on this day that I decided to take on a challenge for next year.  I am looking forward to creating a group of teenagers interested in birding around our campus and keeping records.  Our wash has litter from the general school population and I am wanting to create this birding/clean up team to help keep this part of our campus healthy and friendly to the wildlife in the area.  It's the little things we do that help make change.  For all the challenges that teaching presents today, I still believe in this idea.  "Be the change you wish to see in this world."  School is out.  Guatemala is near.  Mexico in July.  The Grand Canyon in fall.  A trip back to Wisconsin.  The adventures begin to take me out of my state and into other worlds.  Until next time......

27 comments:

  1. glad the owlets are safe!

    LOVE the gilded flicker! handsome!

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  2. I am glad the owls are safe! Great shots! Have a happy summer and happy birding!

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  3. Don't know what all of your campus birds will do without you this summer!!! I know you will miss the owls --and they will miss you.

    BUT--you have a wonderful summer planned.. Can't wait to hear more about your adventures.

    Have fun and be careful.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  4. I wish you success for your birding/cleanup project for the students. It's a wonderful thing to awaken these interests in kids. Have a great summer, and I look forward to reading about all your travels.

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  5. Full time birding sounds just great Chris. Of course you are dead right about the relationship of the owls and ravens. They have lived together as species for millions of years and I guess they know how to handle each other by now. Don't miss work too much - enjoy.

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  6. Enjoy your summer! I love having the summer off as well! Hope you have some great birding experiences:)

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  7. Love your idea of getting the teens to take an interest in the birds and environment. All they need is a nudge to stop being stupid.
    Happy travels. I will be looking forward to pictures from central America

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  8. It's wonderful to know the owls found a way to stay in their territory but cut down on the distractions!

    Happy Summer and that sounds like a great idea for the students next year.

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  9. You are the best!!!!! Enjoy your summer!!!

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  10. Great idea for next school year to get the kids involved in birding and cleaning up the campus.

    I look forward to what your summer travels bring, and to seeing you in the fall at the canyon.

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  11. Lookng forward to the adventures you about to have Chris, now that what must be a really taxing job is over for a short while. I don't know where you teachers get the stamina, or the patience! The idea to get youngsters involved is a good one, I do hope things go well in that department. Have a good break.

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  12. There are some lovely species on your campus Chris. So glad the owlets are safe.

    What a great idea to form a group of teenagers on campus next year to clean up and go birding. So important to get young people interested in wildlife.

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  13. Ciesz się wakacjami, a dzieci w nowym roku zainteresuj ptakami. Śliczne zdjęcia z pożegnania roku szkolnego. Pozdrawiam.
    Enjoy your vacation, and the kids in the new year Attract birds. Cute photos of farewell school year. Yours.

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  14. Oh, I hope you DO form a birding club! What a great idea! Hope you enjoy the summer of full-time birding. :)

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  15. The campus seems an interesting place, a good idea with the group. I wish you success.

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  16. Go well, revel in the foreign birds. And I wish you every success with your own birds once you return.

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  17. Thank you all!! It's a thrilling thing to discover new species for the first time and I can't wait to do my first real birding and reports from these areas. It might be a little overwhelming at first:) But I'm sure I'll manage.

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  18. Thank you very for sharing .. Very beautiful images of these great birds .. Different to Spain nature ..
    I send you a great regard from Madrid.. :-)))

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  19. You've got a great way with words, Chris, and they add life to your super photos, which just get better and better!

    I hope that you are able to enjoy a really rewarding vacation, and look forward to your next posts.

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  20. Hahaha, don't ALL students think their teachers are a little bit weird?? Love your improvement idea - I bet you'll find some takers!! Have a great break!!

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  21. Enjoy your birding trip Chris. Your plans for the next few months sound so exciting.

    You have some clever birds on your patch, the ravens ofcourse but the owls were super smart to move to a quieter place! Your photos of the Gilded Flicker are great:=)

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  22. Glad to hear the owls are well. Your student birding group sounds like a great idea. Amazing that you have all of that on the campus. So many adventures ahead for your. Can't wait to see the posts.

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  23. I love your "teenagers challenge" for next school year!
    Just enjoy Guatemala, Mexico, the Grand Canyon and everything you are up too. Your agenda seems more than full!

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  24. I am with you on Team Raven! I think it's a wonderful idea you have to set up a birding group for kids - passing the torch - your enthusiasm for birds will surely be contagious :)

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  25. Am I too old to be in your class? You know, you could start the year off by having the interested students watch the movie "The Big Year"...

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  26. A bittersweet post....and gorgeous images tough. I know you you have seen many birds in the wash near the school that you will miss, and miss the desert too and all the spectacular birding while gone (but not the heat!):-) Can't wait to hear from you in July some time.

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