Seasons of Change

Wood Duck-Drake

After returning from treks like California, Mexico, Wisconsin or Colorado, I am always amazed by the Arizona landscape. 

From the airplane, an overview of the Estrella Mountains near Phoenix, AZ

On our flight to California, I snapped this shot of the Estrella Mountain range outside of Phoenix.  From above it looks completely barren of life.  And DRY!  This could easily be a photo from Mars.  Or a map of Middle Earth:)

A Cactus Wren nest in a Cholla Cactus at Saguaro National Park

But let me assure you that our deserts are green and full of life.  Granted, Arizona doesn't have the vibrant greens of other places but the color scheme does exist here:)  It's just more subtle. 

Greater Roadrunner

After California, I hiked and biked around many areas in Tucson alone. I had been craving the silence. This is the eye of my storm.  As you will see over the next several weeks, things are going to take a strange turn.  This is the year of life changes. 

 The biggest battle with our neighbor is yet to come.  Now that the community is united and we have all our ducks in a row, we are going to take this man down.  There will be no more attacks on children, men or women.  It took a lot of work and communication to come together and string all the incidents together to make one huge case against him. He now has a warrant out for his arrest.  Henry Yanez III, your days are numbered in our community.

Greater Roadrunner taking a dirt bath

Then there is the birding.  I want to say that this year has been a lot more challenging for me.  Not because of the birds but because of the time and stress to make sure that my birding DID happen.  It may seem selfish but I have found that I can't live without it.  I think it will always be a part of me now until I die.  And that's a good thing!

Reid Park at Sunset

The cooler temps have arrived and I have begun my long hikes.  What I didn't expect was how painful it would be to ride my bike again.  I started my birds and bike tour for the winter and discovered that I'm out of shape. Well I expected it to be a challenge:)  I can hike miles.  But I can barely bike 2 miles!  That will be remedied over the winter months:)

The Wood Duck was my reward for taking the bike out for a spin.  The good part about biking is that I can hear all the birds in the neighborhoods surrounding the park. In a car, you miss half of it.

The storms brought us wonderful weather and cooler temps.  Over the past several days, I have stood outside until sunset just....being.

A nice sampling of Sonoran desert vegetation.  Note the spacing between the various plants.

I don't know where I am going with this life.  It has been confusing trying to redefine who I am as a person, employee, birder, and community leader.  The birds are my escape.  I like to stand in one spot and let the world of wildlife pass me by..... 

The weather has now fully empowered my birding battery.  The heat begins to dwindle and cooler temps of winter will/have arrive(d). And finally......

Neotropic Cormorants

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Beth Marie. She followed Las Aventuras for several years. We got to know one another over that time and I always enjoyed her day to day stories back in the Midwest.  Just recently, I found out why she hadn't been answering my emails and it was like a punch to the gut.  She passed away this past spring from cancer.  You will be missed my friend. 

Taken at Sweetwater during the storm.

While I have not "met" many of you out there in this great big world, I often think about your writings and wonder what you would say or do if you were in my shoes. This virtual friendship has lead me to make incredible and REAL friendships over the past several years within the blogging community.  So, Beth Marie, you will be in my thoughts during this autumn season. I am glad you no longer suffer in pain from the cancer.  But please know that you are missed. Rest in peace my friend.