A Season of Studies

During my weekly count at Reid Park, I capture this cold and wonderful moment

This new year has taken a strange yet welcome turn of events here in Tucson.  Things I had thought about separately are now merging into one big blur. 

Monk Parakeets

First, I need to write about the projects. I have been serious for years about the Monk Parakeets of Arizona.  There was once a feral population back in 2004.  While most people blew the bird off(it's an exotic non-countable bird for listers), I was actually interested in finding out what had happened to them. And like a good detective, I interviewed neighbors over the years who had told me that they had hired someone to "take them out".  I didn't want to get into specifics, but I understood that they were removed from the area.

The Rosy-faced Lovebird was once considered an exotic bird.  Today they number in the tens of thousands around the Phoenix area.

On January 1st, I did a study with Magill Weber on the exotics that have established themselves in the state.  I have been ebirding my data on the Monk Parakeets for several years with detailed data. Gordon Karre has also followed up on reports around the Phoenix area. A couple weeks ago, an AZFO(Arizona Field Ornithology) member by the name of Kurt Rademaker found an old report of mine and asked if I would be interested in writing up a paper and organizing a census.  He is also the same person who is responsible for getting the Rosy-faced Lovebirds on the state list. 

the Nanday Parakeets of Tempe, AZ do not show signs of breeding.  These birds were escapees who have managed to survive Phoenix's harsh climate

I know Monk Parakeets well. I grew up with them and I raised them with my Mom from egg. But to do a paper on 4 or 6 random parakeets found around the Phoenix area?  No.  So Magill and I both decided to visit several of the historical areas where Monks had been seen in smaller numbers. For years, I have been searching for this colony.  Every year, a Monk or 2 would show up in random spots like a hotel or person's backyard. I knew that they weren't escapees and that they were coming from a large colony somewhere in the Phoenix area. So we followed the electronic trail. We needed answers.

I needed breeding evidence to seriously consider this request.  And by pure accident, we found TWO colonies of Monk Parakeets in an area south of Phoenix.  It was like the Holy Grail for me and finally answered the 8 year question that had bothered me for so long.  Where did the Arizona Monk Parakeets go?

It is a serendipitous moment that I won't soon forget. I'm supposed to be the "navigator" but everyone knows that I am terrible at it:)  Magill asks me, "Where do I turn?"  Me, thinking I know the directions, tells her to turn down the wrong road in the wrong direction.  Classic me.  Then a flock of Mourning Doves flies over her vehicle? NO! WAIT! A flock on Monk Parakeets!!!! We both pull over and gather our whits. It's something we both witness for the first time in Arizona.  Monk Parakeets calling from all over the place! We have a moment and witness something very rare and special.  There was evidence of breeding as a parakeet flew out carrying a branch to a secret nest on private property.  And there was evidence to prove that the colonies were feral/wild as they flew away as I approached them.  We are hoping to have the first of our population census at the end of February.

This January, I helped with a CBC count in Pinal with Keith Kamper.  Keith had access to private property along the San Pedro river and I was immediately interested.  

a private piece of conservancy land  after a fire in 2018 is full of brush piles, perfect for sparrows

 Part of the riparian area had burned thanks in part to an ignorant resident burning brush during the driest month of the year!  But not all things are terrible.  The fallen branches and trees created brush piles for hundreds if not thousands of sparrows!  It was amazing!

Blue-throated Hummingbird, Madera Canyon

In a couple weekends, I'll be working with Gordon Karre on his water bird count up in Phoenix.  Over the course of February, I'll be working with Tucson Audubon in the grasslands to count the declining populations of Chestnut-collared Longspurs. 

Mexican Jays on a cold day at the Santa Rita Lodge feeders of Madera Canyon

Along the way we'll be meeting old and new friends alike discovering new things.  In March, I'll be giving a lecture in Wales about Arizona birds. Then the busy season of guiding happens.  My friends will have finished their birder's casita and I'll be there to guide when needed. 

Olive Warbler in Madera Canyon

Birding requires a strict budget with strict planning.  I think in one day I was working on the details of my Wales' trek, talking to Gordon about our lek trek in April AND planning for a pelagic in Maine with Kathie Brown for a very special photo shoot this summer.  I love it but I am definitely not a casual birder.  There are goals!  On top of that, a budget and savings account are needed!  Any extra cash flow goes into the treks.

American Kestrel

I've also been working on other projects.  In winter, I really enjoy being outdoors.  I've finished the hummingbird part of my garden which has plants that are favored by butterflies and hummingbirds.  I utilize plants with red, orange and yellow tubular flowers. Plus I hung up some solar lights on a curved metal piece for honeysuckle to climb, another popular treat for my Broad-billed Hummingbirds.

a confiding Greater Roadrunner at Sabino Canyon

January is a great time to get any artificial nests all situated.  As you may recall from this blog over the years, we have a pair of Great Horned Owls who nest during this time every year under our Ironwood Trees.

Great Horned Owl nest

Over winter break, me and a couple friends fixed up their nest box.  We now wait.  She will begin to lay eggs either this month or next.

friend and co-worker Mike secures the box securely against the Ironwood tree without damaging the bark

And at home, I have put up Lucy's Warblers nest boxes to help promote nesting in my garden. If you have a mesquite or several, it's a great idea to get a couple boxes from Tucson Audubon.  They're 5 dollars a box.  If you live in Arizona, I highly recommend checking it out. They're easy to install. Lucy's Warblers will begin to arrive in March and will begin their nesting right away.

Lucy's Warbler nesting box

I have a regular job, but it seems that every year, I am pulled more and more into the birding world. I don't mind it.  It provides escape, something I much need these days.  The world sometimes feels like it's tearing itself up.  I don't recognize my country anymore and it's the wild spaces that prevent me from going crazy. But now even that is a mess!

During a moment of anxiety, in the middle of the ridiculous government shutdown, caused by the orange baboon, I needed to breathe and walk in the snow landscape of Madera Canyon. He's a complete idiot.  The wall is an ecological disaster that will cause great harm to the wildlife here. AND currently, I have friends who are not getting paid at their National Park Jobs.  And the National Parks are getting trashed.  It's horrible. I see it.  It's not made up. Now I can't even escape it.

So I walked and found this perfect moment. My talented friend Kathie Brown wrote this beautiful poem based on the pic below, 

"When sunlight through the forest streams

and plays its little dancing beams

like golden fingers in the creek

this woodland magic makes me seek

the beauty of these Nature places

which soothes my soul and then erases

the worries that the world imposes

on our hearts and mind, exposes

why we need this quiet place, 

this woodland glen, this open space, 

We leave renewed and refreshed 

From all this lovely wildness."

~Kathie Brown, 2019

rare snow event in Madera Canyon

I'm glad I'm not alone in this world and that others are also going through this madness as well. This poem brought a smile to my face. In other news, the blog has hit one million views. Thank you for following! Until next time......

The Last Stretch of the Year

Bridled Titmouse

Wandering through the elevations of Arizona state, we stop and glance at the various birds around us.

I marvel at the intelligence of the Common Raven.

Ravens, hawks and a condor look like tiny specks against the mighty Grand Canyon.

Along the rim, a Pygmy Nuthatch bops around on the ground looking for food.

We stop and carefully look over the edge.

Winter birds begin to arrive and we see them in great numbers.

Western Grebe

The rains and the cool weather force leaves to change color.

Birds normally secretive in summer, like the Canyon Wren below, pop up for a longer linger.

Birds and berries evoke thoughts of making a holiday card.

I'll be honest.  I am tired.  Exhausted.  So many feelings.  So much stress.

Blue-throated Hummingbird

If it wasn't for friends and birds, I'd think I'd go insane.

A special friend from Wales makes a visit to southern Arizona.  Hello Ms. Bonnie!

We have arrived at the final chapters of this year. There is still work to do, but for now, it's all about the enjoyment of birds.

It has been an amazing year for las Aventuras.  As always, thank you for following the adventure!

This post is dedicated to Barb Padgett who was a strong supporter of Tucson Audubon.  She passed away last week at the age of 65.  I will miss her chats about Star Trek, government and so many other things.  I never met her in person, but I got to know her via Facebook.  Thank you Barb for everything you've done in the birding world.  Thank you for supporting and believing in me. When I see a Yellow-headed Blackbird, I will know that you are with me in spirit.  You are loved by so many people.  Thank you for everything.

The Slippery Slope

Scouting areas for my tour.  Sandhill Cranes launch at sunset in the thousands over a field at the Kansas Settlement

When is too much birding wrong?  For those addicted, never.  For the spouses involved with these addicts? Often. Yes I am an addict, but in today's post, my addiction prevented a disaster. And I gotta tell you all, life experience, knowledge of my birds and working with groups of people saved this outing from becoming truly disastrous! It's certainly one I won't forget anytime soon. Today's post is about the human side of birding. So here we go.....

A Red-tailed Hawk for my photographers in the group

The ancient and wise birders warned me. But I'm a glutton for punishment. Damn my stubborn German side! I promised I'd help out with a birding tour during the Wings Over Willcox festival.  This was my first time as a paid bird guide and I learned LOTS from this little adventure! Mainly that it's not an easy job. But I liked the check:)

a nice Vesper Sparrow to find out who my birders and photographers were; this is a good bird to help me figure out who is a serious birder or beginning birder; it's also an easier sparrow to explain when it's time to talk about "field marks" for the beginners

We had all levels of birders in the group ranging from no experience to A LOT of experience. I was ready for their challenge. It was a, "I've never seen a Pyrrhuloxia before."(easy) to "I've never seen a Montezuma Quail."(Now you're talking!) trek. As a teacher, this is something I can handle easily. I have the knowledge. My stops and bird searches were fine, but there was something more important than the birds.....bathrooms! Thanks to my friend Kathie, I remembered to make sure we had frequent stops.  Although I still lost one man to the woods:)  I felt his pain!

Mexican Jays came in for a visit on the way up to the Chircahua National Monument

By guiding an already preset route designed by the coordinators and drivers at the festival, I studied my habitat and made notes on the birds my crew would probably want to observe.  My tour was called "Birds on the Mountain"....specifically the Chiricahua Mountains. An epic place to bird. I am quite familiar with these mountains and truly enjoy birding this area. So I studied the route they told me we were taking and was shocked early morning to find out that we were going elsewhere. NO communication! When I do a trip somewhere, I expect to be taken to the places promised in the brochure. So it was going to be one of THOSE trips....the "think on your feet" kind.  All the scouting I did was for naught.

The creek before the fatal mistake of driving the slippery slope

As with every group I teach, I ask beforehand what birds they wanted to observe.  Then I asked how many were photographers, etc etc.  The overall expectation was that we would be heading to Portal or at least Rustler Park for the Mexican Chickadee.  The problem?  The route was scheduled to go to the Chiricahua National Monument which is a beautiful place to visit but not very birdy due to the windy conditions of the peaks.  It's a place you take photographers, not birders. And it wastes precious birder time on the road. It also wasn't in the brochure.

Pretty but not much in the way of birds; photo taken 5 years ago 

The other problem? SNOW. This is a non-negotiable variable and it's okay. What's not okay? The drivers and coordinators knew there was snow on the mountain and yet still planned on driving the routes!  In my mind, I was livid!  We had the time and they paid the money.  I had a back up plan but it was rejected. I began to ask myself if drivers and bird guides have occasional disagreements during a tour. And if so, how do they deal with it? So here's where it gets very interesting.

Instead of changing the route to a safer one, they kept going with their original one.  Midway up to the Monument, we had to turn around because the road was closed due to heavy snow. Even though they already knew that.  I could have prevented what the drivers were going to experience. But as I have learned from my own experiences, sometimes, you just have to let things play out as they will.  Clearly I was also forced to be a participant in this routing disaster of a plan. In the back of my mind, I heard the ancient voices of my bird masters whispering, "We told you."  And they really did. Last year. 

We could learn so much from Sandhill Cranes.  They fly in an organized pattern.  Humans?  Not so much.

Then we went into Pinery Canyon and tried for another spot where the group could sit and watch the bird feeders.  This would satisfy the photographers in the group.  Everything seemed to be going well until we saw that the road to Rustler Park was closed. Again this was expected. I wasn't expecting the lower road to be an obstacle! Again, the drivers were warned. In the birding world, you have to adjust according to the weather. We had enough gas, time and food and drink. Yet, the overall plan was not to be reexamined.  In teaching, this is called a poor evaluation. 

Coues Deer

Had we been on the "birdier" side of the mountain heading up from Portal, it would have been different. Paved roads, more stops and less snow. We still wouldn't have been able to make it up to Rustler Park, BUT we could have gotten to the research station or the George Walker house or the lower level birding trails! I began to question if this route was planned by an actual birder or a Sunday afternoon driver looking at pretty scenery. The driver's mission was to take us to the end of Pinery Road where we'd eat lunch at this locally run campground.  The problem?  Our vans got stuck on a steep ledge.  One of our participants had a meltdown and ran ahead of the van. I made more mental notes inside my head. And I took pics.  I couldn't make this stuff up even if I wanted to!

Excellent drivers backing up on a very dangerous ledge with a lot of physical pushing and yelling back and forth.  Something about turning the wheels...:)

In my teacher calm, I helped direct everyone to where they needed to be. I also reminded them to look around the area and keep birding. And I also pointed out photography opportunities like the icicles hanging from the cliff. During that time period, a Canyon Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hairy Woodpecker made themselves present.  

Meanwhile the driver's were stressed to the max, but with a little group effort all was not lost and we were able to get the vans off the ice and down into an area where they could safely drive again. Another promised location not happening! We ate lunch along a cold creek where someone asked me about American Dippers. I shared my personal stories while eating my turkey on rye.  Another asked me if eating turkey was a birder faux pas. My response, "Not when it tastes so good." 

Because I was leading, my job is to get people on the birds and photographers ready for action so I don't have many photos of the experience.  Here is a stock photo from my Montezuma Quail studies.  This one was taken in 2014.  The latest Montezuma Quail photo can be see in a recent January post of this year. 

There was an older gentleman who was an excellent birder and had helped us get the vans from sliding off the cliff. I asked him what he wanted to see more than anything else in this world.  His answer, "Montezuma Quail". This was one of the few birds we had within our limited range from our list of possible birds we could see. And by the bird gods, I would get him his quail.  He had been searching for them for years and was frustrated.  I know these birds well! As I pointed to a patch of grass and rock along a dry wash, I told him to keep both eyes open. As I stepped down, a twig snapped and EXPLOSION! Five Montezuma Quail burst forth from the grasses!

Our trek lead us back into the grasslands where the group would also net a covey of 14 Scaled Quail.  The day ended up being a 3 Quail Day which was awesome.  Participants were able to observe Coues Deer and Coati.  We also were able to get them several lifers, but not the birds they were expecting like Blue-throated Hummingbirds and Mexican Chickadees.  I have seen a few Blue-throated Hummingbirds winter in the Portal area.

Another photo of a great bird that I was not able to find for my group.  This is the Blue-throated Hummingbird which does winter in Portal.  Not in great numbers but they can be found around the Bed and Breakfast feeders there. It was a bird they were hoping to see from the brochure.

I have also learned from my career that if you are given a lemon, you have to try and make lemonade. Sometimes the sugar is missing:)  But you have to try.  What was even more challenging for me on this tour was the mentally unstable woman in our group. The group did not particularly care for her too much. So I had to figure out a way to deal with that situation. And she was touchy! With friends, it's one thing but with strangers, it's not appropriate. At the end of the tour, I was mentally and physically exhausted.  When I finished my paperwork, I spoke with the coordinators. 

I stop the vans for a bird count on our way back to Willcox.  Not everyone saw the first Pyrrhuloxia and in this field there were two along with a great many other birds. While the mountain birds were quiet, the grassland species were very active!

They said the group had a great time which I had not been expecting to hear.  For many, it was an adventure.  For me, it was a routing disaster.

This is another bird the group got to see.  The Bridled Titmouse.

In short, they asked me back for next year. And this is what I said, "Only if you allow me to plan the route and really define the meaning of "Birds on the Mountain". I knew what the group was expecting. I don't think the coordinators did. Next time I do ANY guiding, I'll be the coordinator of the route and drivers 100%.  I'm OCD about my work."  They were birders.  I am a birder. And they should have stuck to the brochure because that's what the participants paid for! 

The Yellow-eyed Juncos played hard to find. Normally, they sit right in front of you for attention:)

What did I learn from this? Well, it's the age old adage, "If you want to do something right, you have to do it yourself." So I won't EVER let that happen again.  I have enough experience with people and planning to know how to do this properly!  And if they don't like it, they can find another leader.  Then they asked me to be on the committee.  Oh boy.

Our overall total for birds that day was at 51 species.  I found myself discussing the subspecies ID of Dark-eyed Juncos. We had Pink-sided, Gray and Oregon varieties. I found my group their lifer Yellow-eyed Juncos which played harder to find than normal. Usually, they're the first bird you see!  Everyone had a 3 quail day.  

These are stock photos from my photography collection. 

 I found the crew an excellent Red-tailed Hawk moment (above) and ONE Ferruginous Hawk. There were 12 remarkable White-winged Doves. And I was able to get them on 3 Brown Creepers of the Mexican subspecies which could be separated down the road as a new species of bird. Oh and yes, we found 3 Pyrrhuloxia:) 

After the tour was over, I was in control again. Next time I make the calls. I'm not trusting others to do it especially when my name in on the line:)  Guiding groups can be wonderful or terrible. I am grateful for the experience because it taught me a lot about guiding a large birding group of 20+ people. Until next time.....