Urban Leisure

Great-tailed Grackle

Phoenix.  It's a city full of heat, buildings, highways and people. It's also home to many conventions which includes the Phoenix Comicon.  And it's the only time of year when I stop to take a break from birding.  Well kinda.  

Cast members from Battlestar Galactica, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, entertain the crowds with their personal stories.

Some birders have the strength to switch off their birding powers. Meaning they can focus on the wedding, meeting or conversation in which they are presently engaged.  I do not have that control.  While eating breakfast with my brother and friends, I watch little House Sparrows "steal" food from around our tables.  It's amazing how these little birds work their way around people in the deadly heat. And yet somehow they do. 

House Sparrow on the prowl

In fact, the older part of downtown Phoenix really isn't a great place to bird at all. It's amazing that ANY birds can survive the heat.  But wherever dirty humans are; there be birds that thrive from our carelessness. Convention centers bring in hordes of people all year round creating an endless supply of food scraps.  Enter the Great-tailed Grackles, Rock Pigeons, Doves, House Sparrows and........well that's about it:)  Or so I thought.

Out of curiosity and a much needed break from the crowds, I grabbed my gear and headed a block away to a little green oasis in the center of town.  Without a car, I decided to go to the only spot with a tiny grove of trees. Above is the map that details just how much concrete surrounds the hotel.  However, if you take a closer look, there is just a tad bit of green indicating trees, shade, water and.....lawn. This is a perfect migrant trap. Thanks to the skyscraper buildings surrounding this area, shade protects this oasis from the scorching afternoon temps.  On this day, the temp was 105 degrees.  

Looking at a map from on top is helpful, but it doesn't always give the "at level" scale.  Here is the space from ground level.  Why are these pics important?  Let's take a look. Starting from bottom left you'll notice an Anna's Hummingbird feeding from a Penta garden.  Pentas and Coral Fountains(vertical upper right) make great hummingbird plants.  And indeed they were used by both Anna's and Black-chinned Hummers. Also note there is water, grass and tree cover.  When all of these things are present, special types of birds can be found.

Normally this time of year, American Robins can be found at higher altitudes around canyons and mountain tops. BUT on this day, I heard a thrush calling in the concrete jungle.  I traced the song to a tree and discovered a pair of Robins!  Never in a million years did I expect to find these birds here.  It didn't look like they were in any rush to leave the area as they fed in the narrow and shaded grass strips of the park. This kinda stuff blows my mind away.  I've seen the robin thousands of times but this sighting was pretty special.  

the male American Robin

The heat eventually got to this human and it was back to the convention center.  There I hung out with my brother(dressed in the Batman outfit he created) and watched people get excited while having their pictures taken next to him.  He does an amazing job with all that latex stuff.  

It was also great hanging out with my buds Gabi, Justin, Nick and Brian.  Of course, anything that has science fiction mixed up with birds has my full attention.  I purchased several creative pieces of art which include this irritated looking Chewbacca below.  Or as several friends have called him.....Jaybacca:)  I'm not sure where I'll hang these pics, but I'm glad I purchased them:) Whenever you see art that speaks to you, purchase it!  I saw this painting and kept returning to it.....which meant.....buy it!:)

Darrell Driver Fine Art

Also of important note this week, I added a new bird, the Abert's Towhee, to my yard list bringing the total to 42 bird species. Not bad for being in the middle of the city.  AND, I was asked to write an article for Bird Watcher's Digest!  There's always something exciting happening in the bird world and I'm glad to share it with you all. 

And finally, here are some images from the Phoenix area.  Every year, it's tradition to visit the Mute Swans on our way home.  These Mute Swans have attempted to nest over the past two years.  Each time, they have failed. 

juvenile Harris's Hawk

 Maybe coyotes or hawks were to blame for their empty nests?  This time around it looks like there was some human intervention.  They are loved by quite a few people and it looks like they are treated very well. 

The male kept a close eye on me....and I him:)  While this pic below isn't great, it shows that mom and dad are new parents to FIVE goslings!  Congrats!  I like to keep my distance from any type of nest, but it was fun hanging out with the flock for awhile. 

Hope you have a great week and stay tuned for more:)  Don't forget to check out Wild Bird Wednesday(upper left link) and Hootin' Anni's Chronicles. 

The Dream of the Dolphin

The "John Barrowman Sandwich" Oh my!!!

Why do I travel? Why do I explore? Why do I bird?  Every year at this time, we make an epic "trek" to Phoenix and celebrate science fiction.

Nichelle Nichols(Star Trek's Uhura)

Without science fiction or Star Trek growing up, I would not have explored the many many wonderful places around our world.   These actors remind me of my childhood for they are like my extended family. They were the people I ran away with to escape my own reality during my teenage years. Like most teenagers, I was not comfortable in my own body with my own thoughts and feelings.  I grew up in a small town with small ideas. I knew there was a greater world just beyond that next star. As a young adult, I knew that I wouldn't be there forever. Because nothing is forever.  Time, however, did crawl during those years.  But during that time, I locked myself in a room and read books. My Grandfather, my childhood hero, died when I entered my Freshman year of high school.  He loved Star Trek and passed his torch to me.  He was so young.  At that age, I learned quickly that life was not a given. It was to be treasured.  Embraced.  I made it through high school and escaped the small town.  Thanks to Star Trek every week, I didn't feel alone. They taught me that there was a place for me in this world and that there was hope. I had Star Trek to guide me and remind me that things would be awesome down the road.

Walter Koenig(Star Trek's Chekov)

After all these years, they still inspire the mind.  Nichelle Nichols(the original Uhura) may be losing her hearing, but she is still sharp as a tac. Martin Luther King once told her to stay on Star Trek back in the 60's for she was the only African-American woman on TV at the time. I watched as two gay black men nearly broke down and cried. Many may not know this, but it's not easy growing up in a black community as a gay person.  I had several friends who quietly died from AIDS in the 90's never once telling their families about who they really loved or about their sickness for fear that they would be ostracized from their families.  When their families found out, there was an embarrassment and cover story to go with their deaths. I could not understand this.  I'd bring food to people living with HIV and listen to their stories. I watched, along with 2 thousand other people, as these men stood before Nichelle thanking her for giving them hope. It was a very powerful moment. In the future, both men and women could have a voice as equals, and African-Americans could be someone important who had authority.  We have forgotten today that not so many decades ago, things were not equal. I still remember as a child that there were two drinking fountains in my hometown at the park.  One for the white people and the other for the colored. In Star Trek, the future didn't care what color, gender or orientation you were.

Role models who changed my life

It's not easy watching my TV heroes get older. They were like my family reiterating the words my Mother and Father have taught me over the years.  Embrace all cultures and ideas.  Seek out life and new civilizations and boldly go where no one has gone before. It may not be space for me, but the planet Earth certainly has many wonderful surprises.

Garrett Wang(Harry Kim-Star Trek Voyager)

While Star Trek helped nurture my inner explorer to the greater world; Star Wars captured my active imagination as a boy. I still have all of the toys:)

My brother Matt drinks in seedy places.  Here he is at the Creature Cantina from Star Wars

And today I hold the belief that we are not alone in this universe.  We are but a speck of tiny dust in this big big stellar cosmos. On a lighter note, our fire alarm went off on the 17th floor.  That's a bit scary when you have a lot of stairs to descend:)  And yet it was great seeing Wil Wheaton(Big Bang Theory/Next Gen) in the stairwell on the way down.  I had a good laugh.  We both are in our 40's and pretty much voiced the same things.  I won't repeat them here:)

If Darth Vader had a baby girl.......

I read magazines, the internet and watched TV about all the birds and mammals out there.   What if I got out of my chair and explored these places on my own and created my own adventures and discoveries?  What new truths could I find?

Me and my brother getting our nerd on

Before birding, I traveled and explored the Spanish language and culture.  I taught abroad.  I hiked the trails. And I'm certainly not done.....by far.

Cosplay(dressing up)  Batman's villains!

When I began to see birds, I started to understand the quest ahead of me better.  And much like this creature hitting me on my head, I finally opened my eyes to the details.  Life is but a dream?  Well if it is, I don't ever want to wake up.

Goofing around.  Taking a break from birding and travel and just getting caught up  in the moment

Sometimes I get caught up in the daily routines, but I've found that within the daily routines, I can search for that bird or animal hiding in the bush.  The rocks.  Or the tree. For each new bird I see is a new discovery of my own. I am at peace with myself and the world.

Beware of giant wookies!!!

And it all started with a little bit of fantasy and science fiction.  If I can dream; I can also discover new possibilities. Imagination.  Discovery.  Inspiration.  Endless possibilities. The Dream of the Dolphin. I'm still out of the country but will be back soon with some exciting finds.  Stay tuned for more.

Bats, Owls and Comics!

Have you ever wondered why Super Heroes are so cool?  Well, I started thinking about how nature and super beings are fused together in fascinating ways.  Some of my favorite heroes include Storm, Spiderman, and Batman.....all related to nature in some way.  Many of you may not know this but in the comics, people today are introduced to many of these elements everyday.  My focus today is on Batman.  My brother brought his costume to Phoenix Comicon and made lots of people smile.  But it got me thinking.....

Batman...the World's Greatest Detective.  No super powers, but lots of great gadgets in a cool costume made to resemble a bat.  Stealth, darkness, and shadows are all things that make Batman stand out in the Super Hero universe.  But did you know?  Currently in the DC Comics universe Batman, Robin and gang are facing some of the biggest villains in Gotham City.  Most of us think that the Joker is the worst of the worst, but there are bigger batties out there.  In a major event, DC comics has introduced the Court of Owls....a mafia group set out to destroy Batman and crew once and for all.  The thugs are creatively known as the Talons.  How clever!  Two night creatures fighting one another.  Two night creatures fighting for control of Gotham!  And guess what?  In nature, one of the bat's enemies is the......owl!!

But for now, Batman has decided to stop for a drink.  No owls here!!  From left to right, we see King Tuzigoot, Phoenix's really WHITE knight, and of course Batman.  In the comics, this is a major event. And very soon(in July) we will have the 3rd and final movie to the Batman trilogy...the Dark Knight Rises.  Hoo will win? The Court of the Owls?  Or the Bat?  Stay tuned for more.....

San Diego Comicon 2011

Here are some highlights from the San Diego Comicon 2011........

A Star Trek legend.  Shatner adds charm and laughter to the prensenation on a documentary about all 6 of Star Trek's captains.

Avery Brooks adds insight and thought to his answers.

Scott Bakula surprises the audience during Shatner and Brooks' presentation on "The Captains"

Ben Barnes

Jeff Bridges is having fun at a panel for an upcoming movie.

Brad Cooper answers questions about a new movie

Conen Obrien surprises the audience during  a Green Lantern screening.

Julie Newmar at the San Diego Comicon 2011