As I watch lines around stores form and snowbirds fleeing the city in the thousands to get back to their doctors in their home states, I stand on the sidelines watching humanity unwind. Meanwhile, bird migration is happening on schedule as if nothing was really happening, giving me a false sense of security. I am absolutely fascinated by it all.
Copulating Killdeer
I counter crowds by finding my secret spaces to find birds. I run to all the places I need to go before quarantine takes hold. I pick up house and garden project stuff. I get the oil change done. I visit Holly at the bamboo ranch to get my plants for spring planting. And for the most part, I am ready to stay indoors full time. People are no different from birds. They also have habits that can be predicted.
Great Egret
As of today, Covid-19 has killed more than 2000 Americans in the US. Globally, it has killed so many more people. It's quite a show watching this "President" and his Corona task force deal with this crippling blow to the US. And now I watch this house of cards finally collapse around him at the cost of his supporters and everyone else who lives in this country. I cannot believe that some people think this is just a hoax!
Curve-billed Thrasher
I'm not angry anymore. I just don't care. I feel for those infected. If I get it, I'll be okay as well. Humanity needs a shaking up. We have been abusive and complacent in this world. I try to do my best to make progress. I switched out all plastic bags this year for cool grocery purses that I can reuse over and over again. I got rid of plastic bottles for a hydroflask. But the environmental damage Trump has done to the US is unforgivable. And now, here we are with this disease thanks in part to poaching and the illegal trade market in China. Middle and western African countries are going to take yet another hit on top of all the other things they have been dealing with like HIV, Ebola, bad economies, etc etc. We are all connected. And we are all to blame.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
I also think that there is more about this disease we DON'T know like when did it really start? The first US case was reported January 21st. NOW, let's go back to October when I traveled to Oregon. If you've been following this blog, you might remember that I had a severe illness for a couple months. I went to the ER twice. The doctor's had said everything was fine. I experienced GI issues, difficulty breathing doing easy things and in November and December, I had the desire to just die.
Black-throated Sparrow
I am now feeling better. There is still a smaller issue, but I went to the doctor again this past week to hopefully obtain the last bit of antibiotics I need to take out the last bit of this GI issue. Thousands of dollars and no answers to every single test they had done on me really made me frustrated.
Anna's Hummingbird
Now let's fast track after winter break during the month of January. Students were getting sick for more than several days. In fact, they were out for weeks at my school. I know this because all the teachers spoke about it. We didn't get all the make up work in until that first week of March! In my 24 years of teaching, I have NEVER had a flu take out that many kids for that amount of time. Our attendance specialist was overloaded with absentee calls from parents. The last three weeks of January and first week in February were terrible. This wasn't an ordinary flu. Several students also lost their parents. It's natural to lose a parent sometimes, but to have several students lose a mom or dad in a semester was not only sad and devastating but horrifying.
female Anna's Hummingbird at my feeder
THEN, a teacher who is always healthy had an issue the last week of January. She was sitting at her desk working when a student came up to ask her a question. As he was speaking to her, some of his spittle hit her lips. She remembered being grossed out by this and told me about it. The next day, she couldn't function and disappeared for 4 days! We were worried about her, but she came back the following week her normal crazy self.
a very furry Nova chills on top a stack of freshly cleaned bathroom towels.
Now if you're saying, "Chris but......" First, let me say this. These are just observations from a teacher of 24 years. Not fact, just observations. Here's the thing. I work at a school where parents have weird jobs. One student proudly told me her dad had just come back from Wuhan on a business trip after it was announced that the virus began there. We weren't taking it as serious back then. People travel over winter break and it doesn't take much for a disease to cross over and begin its work. Now these are just things that I began piecing together since my own mortality scare in October. I NEVER get sick. I don't trust this government we have now because they lie all the time. I think things were building up to this moment back in January. It was the silent enemy hitting pockets of humanity. Now, there's no avoiding it. In Arizona, we still can't get tested unless we are showing all the symptoms. Trump is an idiot. We DO NOT have enough testing kits and WE ARE NOT ready. And now the US will pay the ultimate price. But sure, Bozo. Throw money at us. That will fix everything!
Nova helps me
"Why don't you get tested now?" Well because ONE I can't. There's not enough testing kits out there. And only people exhibiting the symptoms can get a test. TWO. I don't want to get reinfected again. Hospitals, cruise ships, crowds and planes are a germ fest! And there are still people who want to continue their flight or cruise! Unbelievable! And how are children's daycares still open? I live next door to one and there are still kids playing outside?! I have a deep appreciation for the health workers, grocery store clerks and law enforcement agencies putting their lives at risk helping the public get through this crisis.
Great Blue Heron at El Rio Preserve in Marana
I asked my students online what has been the greatest silver lining about doing their work at home. It was reassuring to hear things like, "I get to spend more time with my family." or "I can learn at my own pace and take breaks when I need them." and of course the ever popular teenage response, "I get to sleep in!". Some things never change.
There were other responses that made me smile like, "I get to see your cats more Profe. I love your cats." LOL! It's true. While I'm doing zoom or doing a video segment, I have cats who like to "help" me out. One of the universal responses to that silver lining question was, "I get to spend more time with my dog or cat." That made me smile.
My Cooper's Hawk ate one of my Ladder-backed Woodpeckers
Finally, I am enjoying this quarantini moment in my life. I am "forced" to enjoy living at home. I am "forced" to work on my home. I am "forced" to bird from my yard. I am "forced" to garden at home. I never had enough time to do it all. Now I have all the time in the world! I choose to see the positive in this all. It's a new challenge. My birding has turned me into being a robin stroker...totally appropriate for the moment. And it's a treasure hunt. A game. How many birds can I find in Pima county? How do I stay away from the evil sickly humans who don't stand 6 feet away from each other? Seriously. And avoid the terrible people who are rude to each other in lines? This is a living video game! Avoid the crazy man who runs over the worker with his cart because there is no toilet paper(true story). Oh it's a human shit show out there full of beautiful, sad and stupid human stories. On the plus side, gas couldn't be cheaper!
The White-winged Doves are returning to my yard again!
Spring migration is in full swing here in the desert southwest. We all secretly whisper to each other that we are so lucky to live here because there's a lot of open spaces and a lot of birds! But deep down, I know summer is going to be here in NO TIME! Trump said that the virus should be gone by Easter. Okay buddy. Then he said it should be gone by summer because it gets warmer outside. He's a smart guy that one. However, 115 degrees is hot and the virus has a difficult time living outside the body at certain temps. Heck, a human can't live outside in 115 degrees for very long:)
I head out with Celeste to do some night birding. We listen for Elf Owls and Common Poorwills
And the other silver lining? I control my eating. I'm not driving an hour and half every day to school. I can teach from my catio or side garden OR office. Even better? I can go for a walk in the morning like I normally would. And I'm losing weight again! I control HOW I do my job. Not vice versa. This pandemic is going to change so many things about how we do our jobs. I'm hoping I can teach online for most of the week with 2 days of teacher supervision to make sure that students aren't cheating. And that they also get their time to socialize. They did mention missing that aspect of school. But I gotta tell you all. I don't miss the classroom discipline part or the drug issues that plague most of the schools here in the US. That's on the parents now. I think some of them miss us:) Our schools in AZ are closed now for the rest of the year. I think everyone is in the honeymoon mode right now but it will slowly sink in as the pandemic wraps around our city more and graduations are cancelled. Right now, everyone is acting like it's no big deal in Tucson. And that's how this disease is spreading.
A Great Egret flies over my head at Agua Caliente Park
Please stay healthy. Spend lots of your time with your furry friends. If you have a spouse, smile at them from across the house from time to time. Maybe check in with them for dinner? Wait! Is that what dinner is all about? Touching base with the ones you love? What a great idea? Yes. Some old traditional values still stick and are time honored. How cool is THAT in this ever changing world?! Until next time......I'm hoping:)
Jeff Cherry shares his private backyard with us on this beautiful morning
One of my missions this summer was to revisit several important sparrows. In fact, this was a summer of sparrow study. During my stay in Maine, and in Wisconsin, I focused on habitat and breeding requirements. We'll visit 3 different tidal salt marsh hotspots today in this post that explore these amazing birds.
Glossy Ibis
Our first stop is the popular Scarborough Marsh outside of Portland, Maine. Here, we searched for Glossy Ibis and shorebirds. It was a gorgeous day out. I think Kathie and I had a lot of fun on this day observing nesting Least Terns in beautiful weather.
Scarborough Marsh. Photo by Kathie Brown
During the day, it became quite windy. I really liked the salt marsh habitat the most because we don't have this in Arizona. This is a great spot and I highly recommend it to birders. It covers a great expanse of marshland. Here you can find Saltmarsh Sparrows, egrets, herons, shorebirds and lots of ocean birds. This marsh obviously connects to the ocean which is yet another great and separate ebird hotspot.
Great Egret
Yet during another day out, Kathie introduced me to a wonderful man by the name of Jeff Cherry. I really really liked him. He was a kind soul and a natural birder. We focused on Nelson's Sparrows around his private property known as Cloudmarch. What an amazing place! A Brown Creeper on this day was visiting a nest in loose bark on a tree.
We hike around Jeff's large property discovering nesting and migrating birds
Along the way, we observed the eastern species of Willet better. It may be split down the road as a separate species so I wanted to study this current subspecies better.
Eastern Willet
During our treks to these beautiful salt marshes, we'd find clammers at low tide filling buckets with these tasty treats.
A common sight in Maine
We'd often face drizzly weather during our searches.
Wet cloudy mornings with coffee
The Swamp Sparrow is a gorgeous bird and one I don't see often in Arizona. I can say that this summer was great for observing them. I added lots of data for the atlases in Maine and Wisconsin.
A Swamp Sparrow
I think it was after our visit to Scarborough Marsh that we stopped at this great seafood place. I have to watch my weight so I held back on lobster rolls in Maine until we arrived at this popular restaurant on the drive back from Scarborough. I was proud of myself. Normally I make several stops for these highly delicious caloric treats. Anyhow, it was a popular place for locals. And I love to people watch. And listen to local dialects. I tried unsuccessfully to speak like a Mainer. Kathie even told me so:) I loved listening to their way of speaking. In many ways Wisconsin and Maine have much in common, especially when it comes to accents.
Instead of a perch fry like you'd have in Wisconsin, these Mainers were enjoying their lobsters and clams. And any good fish or seafood dish requires delicious coleslaw and rolls. Amen.
Nelson's Sparrow
Close to Kathie's home, we stopped at a tidal salt marsh. I braved the ticks(and there were plenty!) and hiked a bit into the salt marsh. Here I heard the "coins drop in a metal bucket"sound of a Nelson's. Then I felt another presence in the force as well. I heard the unmistakable call of a Saltmarsh Sparrow. My heart raced. This would be a lifebird!
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Both Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows look similar. They also hang out in the same habitat BUT behave differently. A Nelson's Sparrow sits on top of his flat dropping coins. The Saltmarsh Sparrow dens in ravines along the salt creeks of the marsh. I also had to be absolutely sure I didn't have a hybrid on my hands. Another goal for my summer checklist had been achieved. Some birders love owls. I love love love my sparrows. I mean look at that orange tinge in their plumage.
Kathie celebrates 500 lifers!
Kathie picked up Saltmarsh Sparrow for the state. And during our marsh adventures, she eventually reached 500 after we spotted the Little Egret(a rarity) at low tide at a local Audubon center.
A Little Egret, photo taken in Wales this year is a rarity to the US. It looks similar to the Snowy Egret. However, this bird has two floppy plumes that helps with the ID:)
We still have several more adventures in Maine. Until next time.....
During my trek back home to Wisconsin, I met up with friend and naturalist Nancy Gill. I think I first met Nancy through a former teacher of mine on Facebook. So once again, Facebook is legit as a social network. When and where would I have met Nancy otherwise?!
Nancy discovers what may be a "fake goose". Turns out, it was a sneaky juvenile Trumpeter Swan! Excellent find!
Last year during our trek to Wisconsin, Nancy was so kind to share with me the wonders of her backyard! And from that point forward, we have had a blast birding her farm and now Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area. I even landed my lifer Eastern Screech-owl at their farm this past winter! How cool is that?!
Red Milkweed Beetle
Nancy is all about responsible conservation on her farmland. She was excited for a planned Monarch project next year on her farm. Monarch numbers, as most of us know, continue to decrease in many areas. She's hoping that by creating a larger Monarch friendly area, it will help contribute to a population increase around the farm. And we did see quite a few Monarchs on their property while I was visiting. The secret is milkweed, a plant necessary for their reproduction needs. The problem? During my youth, fields of milkweed were wiped out for housing projects, factories and farmland. Today, there is an effort to increase the monarchs to their once abundant numbers decades ago. As a kid, I remember them everywhere! But the fields that had the milkweed are all gone. And so are most of the Monarch butterflies. I'm hoping we can reverse that trend.
We then continued to talk about the Bald Eagle population in Wisconsin. This winter I reported that I had seen them everywhere. And while it is true that the Bald Eagle population has increased, it is now facing yet another decline due to feeding from carcasses that are left behind by hunters. The carcasses still contain the lead pellets which then poisons anything that feeds off the carcass. In fact, Mother Nature asked this Eastern Wood-Pewee to point out what the Federal Government is doing about hunting at Horicon on their side. However, the state is a different story. As reported before, California Condors face the same exact threats in AZ, CA and UT. CA has banned lead bullets. Arizona has a voluntary copper bullet rule. (lead spreads while copper does not but copper bullets are more expensive than lead) I thought most hunters would ignore that suggestion but I was shocked to discover that most hunters are responsible and have adopted copper over lead here in AZ. I actually sat in on a hunting lecture to get a little education and was quite happy about what they were saying. So hopefully the state of Wisconsin will adopt similar measures (if they are not planning on doing so already).
Eastern Wood-Pewee answers a question I had about lead bullets. This is on the federally owned portion of Horicon
Horicon is one of Wisconsin's premiere birding hotspots. One of my favorite birds is the Black Tern and I was thrilled to see them hunting over the waters in great numbers.
Nancy showed me some areas around Horicon that Wisconsin birders normally explore. Last time we were there, I tried figuring out a route on this massive wetland area and connected some of the dots. In AZ, we have HUGE tracts of land that we lump into one birding list like the Santa Cruz Flats and the Cienegas Grasslands. These stretches go on for miles and miles. So where do birders normally stop for counts on these large tracts of land? Nancy helped me figure out a route on our trek this time around. It looks like there are two solid ways to spend your day!
One of the areas that is pretty spectacular is called the Main Dike road. In this location, the birds like to stay hidden. However, the ones that are hiding are good ones and worth the search efforts:)
What can I tell you all about Wisconsin birding? I know that when I'm here, I feel at peace. I know that when I meet Wisconsin birders, I feel a connection. Birding here is not the same edgy kind of birding found in Arizona. I don't feel like my car is going to get broken into or that I'll die from heat exhaustion. The birds are typical standard fare for the US. Rarities? Yes, there are some rarities but they are usually seen in Arizona. So the edgy nature of finding some rare first-to-the US Mexican or ocean bird isn't there. And it makes the birding super chill and fun.
And I totally get why people get excited about going to Arizona. We have some of the best birds in the world! BUT, after my Grandma's passing, all I wanted to do was get lost in the reeds, listen to the waves and watch the gulls. Wisconsin is the way, I think, birding should be. And after every outing, it should be served with homemade blueberry pie and a side of vanilla ice cream. On our day out, Nancy made delicious brownies for our trek. THAT's Wisconsin.
Oh by the way! Wisconsin doesn't have drinking fountains. We have bubblers.
We have McDonald's restaurants that proudly show off our natural wonders. Sure, we may not be as edgy as the Grand Canyon but we have some of the best scenery in this country! I've met a lot of people who take Wisconsin for granted. They've told me it's "boring" and "the same old; same old". I thought the same thing once but not anymore. Nancy has known for years what I needed to figure out on my own.......that my hometown and state are truly special places. She has the most spectacular photography that captures the color and feel of Manitowoc County during any season. Winter. Spring. Summer. Fall. All beautiful. All special in their own way.
Spectacular flowers during the summer will make you stop and stare. The crisp autumn air may carry the scent of pumpkin or apple pie as the leaves turn their colors. Each season has its moment. Each season brings with it a different Wisconsin dish. And if you think I'm making that up, you haven't met a proper Wisconsinite! We LOVE to drink and eat properly!
The Horicon Marsh and Wildlife Area is just a taste of the magical world of Wisconsin. My next trek to Wisconsin and Minnesota will be up in the northern region towards Lake Superior. This part of Wisconsin is known for its vast area of forests. Okay.....so I have a secret to admit.......
It rained like crazy at my Grandma's place!
I love pickles and carrots and lots of farm fresh veggies! Shoot! I just remembered my mom bought some kohlrabi's we never ate!!!! Maaaaaaaan!!!! One of the hardest things to do was find an iconic thing that would remind me of my Grandma. So I went one night to the house to find those several items that I could use with my kitchen ware. I found a sugar bowl, a creamer, two "insignificant" salt and pepper shakers that have been with my grandparents since I was a kid and her infamous Chex mix bowl. Well. As I was digging around her pantry for those endless and classic Grandma Krause snacks, I found 3 cans of black olives!!! My grandma always held a secret stash of black olives for my sister. Grandma learned early on that if she left the black olives out in the open, Bec would eat them all:) Clearly, my sister did not find this stash of black olives and so I took the pic above and sent it to her:) I know....pretty "sassy" as my Grandma would say. Family is everything and I'm so glad that we had the time to be together. And I'd like to thank Nancy Gill and Jody Kuchar for a nice break from the funeral stuff. So thank you both!! Our Horicon report is here. Until next time....
There is no gain without risk. While my post has birds, it isn't necessarily about birds. Some of the craziest things are happening in my life right now. I have opened myself up to possibilities again. And change. While I won't go into the various projects for now, I'll just write that things have gotten interesting.
The Great Egret stalking a lizard in a local Tucson park.......after several minutes, the lizard became lunch
I had become so stuck in my routine that I forgot to look up and remember who I was. After a particularly hard day at work, I went to go birding and clear my mind but instead I sat down on a park bench watching people pass me by.
A Jackrabbit at Saguaro National Park
I sat watching the sun sink behind the trees with an even greater sinking feeling inside. What am I doing with my life? Is this what a midlife crisis is? Perhaps instead of a nice big car, I'm looking for something else. Something more. This is where the wildlife has changed me. I don't know what it is about this year, but I have found myself on every outing surrounded by wonderful animals and birds. They don't mind that I am with them. But the minute other people enter this sacred world of trust, the animals disappear. They whip down the roads in their cars, speak loudly so that the whole world can hear their conversations and leave their garbage behind. I found a plastic bottle wedged in the hole of tree.....home to so many nesting owls.
I drive my car onto strange roads. Sometimes I am in the middle of nowhere without cell connection. When I stand in these locations I think about how liberating it is. About how this part of my life has opened my mind to the strange that is birding. The closer I am to nature; the harder it is for me to understand these pack creatures known as humans. I'm one of them. I'm trying to help educate the young minds. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't.
The Red-tailed Hawk
I am at a crossroads in my life right now. All of it good, but of course, it is a bit scary. This idea of change. Comfort is nice. Having a home is nice. Being with someone you love is awesome. However, it creates a routine. And I have found myself stuck in that routine for several years now. Oh change......how I despise you and love you at the same time!
The Pygmy Nuthatch on Mt. Lemmon
The older I get; the harder it becomes to take a risk. So much to consider. So much to keep in mind.
Olive Warbler on the Incinerator Ridge Trail of Mt. Lemmon
And yet while standing above it all, does any of it matter?
So as I sat on that bench contemplating my life, I sorted out some heavy thoughts. I know what I have to do, and I've put myself out there to let it happen. And it feels good.
Night birding at Madera Canyon for the Whiskered Screech-Owl
Another epic trek is about to begin to take my mind off of things.
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