The Red Army Part 2

At the midnight hour, the day before we were supposed to return back to our classrooms, the deal fell through.  Anger.  Rage.  And once again, a trip up to the capital in the thousands is what many Arizona teachers did.  

"20 By 20" was Governor Ducey's response to the public education crisis in Arizona.  In other words, a 20 percent raise by the year 2020.  Originally it was 2 percent, but Arizona teachers had had it. Classrooms falling apart, support staff gone, and the loss of amazing teachers to other states were just a few issues that set off the Red For Ed movement.

Now at the midnight hour, literally, we were in the legislature once again in Phoenix.  The legislature wasn't going to pass Governor Ducey's proposed budget.  With thousands in the mall, legislation building and inside the legislation room with our lawmakers, we made it known that we weren't leaving until that budget passed.  And it did in the very early morning hours. It isn't a perfect plan, but it will do for now.  It was very clear that Arizona lawmakers didn't care about public education. They ignored the shouting from the mall and outside rooms. Their indifference spoke volumes. One representative, Kelly Townsend, wanted to fine teachers for walking out of the classroom.  Thankfully her bill didn't pass. This class act happened to be watching a movie while voting down a child care measure. Needless to say, their days are numbered. They have unwittingly created a red army come re-election night. Both Republican and Democrat teachers have joined together to stop these bad lawmakers, the Koch Brother agenda to privatize public schools and Dark Money. 

Exhausted physically and mentally by the strange hours of the strike and (not getting paid), I prepared for our fundraising event with the Wrenegades.  The crazy hours were taking their toll on my body.  I wanted to back out, but I made a promise to the team and I didn't want to break our year tradition.  

Wilson's Phalarope

 We raised lots of money for Tucson Audubon and had a very challenging time with high winds.  Each time we come together as a team, we learn lots from each other while catching up with things happening in the Arizona birding world. 

I birded, but my mind was on the strike.  How many more days would we go like this? Would our demands be met?  Would they extend our school days?  There were so many balls up in the air that it was difficult to concentrate. And my sleep schedule was all off. 

White-faced Ibis

 The birding was good and the first part of our evening passed with a beautiful reminder......

.....which was to just go with the flow.  I can't be 100 percent all the time, but I will try my best. 

Our evening was made even better when we started getting into the creepy urban wildlife spaces like the Sweetwater Wetlands.  I shared with the team why I had the heeby jeebies and they kind of all laughed it off until the person from Tucson Water, who unlocked the gate, joined us and shared a similar tale. 

There are no ghosts or goblins.  But there are strange characters that hang out at the park during all times of the day. Two such characters are known as Raccoon Bob and The Butcher.  When the lady started telling the story about the Butcher, they all burst out laughing.  I could tell that they hadn't birded Sweetwater enough to know that the Butcher was real. 

And while we were there, Raccoon Bob PASSED us in his rusty old bug TWICE!  Raccoon Bob hides in the darkness to watch mammals at night.  His favorite mammals are the raccoon.  I wasn't afraid of him.  I was more afraid of the Butcher.  He rides in an old red meat wagon and lives out of the vehicle.  Birders swear that he has been breaking into their vehicles.  And I'm also of the mind that it's the Butcher responsible for the parking lot crime wave.  We didn't see him that evening, but I knew he was around the area.  So did TEP(Tucson Electric and Power)

After the Sweetwater experience, I became a zombie up on Mt. Lemmon. I couldn't focus for the life of me.  It was 2 or 3 AM and I was cold.

In the morning, I found a letter on a rock overlooking the grand canyons of Mt. Lemmon.  The team thought I was joking around at first when I read the letter aloud, but it was a sad note.  A hiker had recently passed away on the trails after getting lost. By the time he was found, he was too far gone.  Our team member, Sara, saw his body in the bag before they took him away.  The letter was from his niece telling him that she would never forget him and that every time they looked out from that vista, she would think of him. On the rock by the letter were a pair of sunglasses and a tea packet. We folded the letter neatly up and placed it back on the rock.  It was a moment of reflection. 

Red-faced Warbler with the nest site behind

At this point, I had achieved my "2nd wind" and was excited to watch a pair of Red-faced Warblers make a nest under the roots of a tree. 

It was early morning and the woods were dark.  But how beautiful.  Then I found out the strike was off and it was back to work again getting the students ready for the finals. 

Canyon Towhee

After the Wrenegades, the strike and being back in the classroom, it was then time to guide.  Believe it or not, I looked forward to the guiding the most.  It gave me something to focus on.  

Western Screech-Owl

For 2 weekends, we chased really great birds and had success with most of them, except that blasted Arizona Woodpecker.  They were heard everywhere and yet, they were little buggers to spot.  

Western Tanager

I had a blast spending the weekends with Steve and Kathy from Wisconsin.  There is something about Wisconsin birders that I love.  Maybe it's because we're from the same state.  Maybe it's because I can slip back into my Wisconsin "don't cha no" accent and not be teased.  Or maybe because it's just nice to be around good people. 

Yellow Warbler

I take huge pride in Southern Arizona.  Showing people our secret gems from around this part of the state is always wonderful.  We are more than just a desert.  Although, I think Kathy will agree with me on this.....it's hot here!  So we went to higher elevations OR got up super early.  

Acorn Woodpeckers

We found the Rufous-backed Robins, Sinaloa Wren, Rose-throated Becard, nesting Elegant Trogons and lots of other birds.  

American Robin guarding a nest

We even spotted some weird rarities like Cassin's Finches, a Townsend's Solitaire and Williamson's Sapsucker. All lifers.  And not expected at all during their visit.  

The days fly by so quickly.  Kathy asked me what I'd do this weekend and I laughed. Nothing.  I am going to clean my house and sleep in.  No birds.  No heat.  No strikes.  No fund raising.  Just me and a cup of coffee watching my bird feeders.  

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Las Aventuras is planning 3 major treks before this "season" is over. August is the start of the new birding season. Anyhow, one trek is just exploring an area for birds in general.  The second trek will be the important one and it will hopefully propel me beyond the 1000 life bird mark.  And our 3rd will be a fun road trip to find just one bird in the US.  Stay tuned for more.......

Feathered Dinosaurs

The gorgeous Tanque Verde Wash is full of bird life!

Arizona is on fire this year, in a good way!  I've never seen so many energized birders on the trails around the state like I have this year.  I definitely get the sense that birding is becoming a cool "thing" with people.

Buff-breasted Flycatcher

Over the past two weekends, I've had a blast doing some personal birding with friends around Southern Arizona.  Each weekend, we've found something fantastic, and although the birds have been incredible, it wasn't a bird that left an impression on me. Instead, it was an enthusiastic young kid and his parents who were eavesdropping on our dinner conversation . 

Greater Short-horned Lizard

The birding community, like any group, is full of strange and cool humans.  I wasn't a birder since childhood like most of the birders I know.  I stumbled onto the birding craze because of my studies abroad and my attraction to the culture and nature surrounding the places.  That's not to say that I didn't love birds when I was younger because I did.  I would chase Killdeer across fields and secretly follow Ring-necked Pheasants to their roosts at my Grandparent's house.  So what connection do I have to these birders?  I know I'm one of them, but how?

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet-now that's a real dinosaur sounding name!

While on the trails, we've been followed by annoying birders, cool birders, secretive birders and photographers pretending to be birders. But hey, they all love birds so it's ok.  I've been contacted on and off the listserv about birds that I've refound by someone else or have been finding on my own.  

I imagined myself hopping up on that horse and running off away from that birder!

One birder, who I barely know, followed us on the trail and TALKED the entire time. I thought to myself, How in the world are we going to find birds, if you're talking all the time!?!!?  We tried to politely lose the person but it didn't work. You have to understand that there is history with this person. Another birder friend of ours, who was also on the trail, smiled at our attempts to shake this birder but ultimately she knew we'd fail.  This birder was trying to argue field mark points on random birds while we were trying to focus on hawks!  At one point, we did eventually break free, but when I got home, I had an email from this person!  How did this birder get it?!!!  I blocked the birder and then proceeded to get another email later on!!!  I felt a tad violated.  The second attempt to block seemed to do the trick.

From the Carpenter Bee group

Generally birders are awesome people, but I think we all know a few people in our circles who try our patience.  In my world, there are about 3 birders who I try to avoid and most of the time, I'm successful.  My Wisconsin manners have me act polite which is good, but I'm finding it harder the older I get to keep from snapping at challenging people.  I'm like an Elegant Trogon marking my territory with a bark!

We get our shoes wet trying to refind and get photos of a Broad-winged Hawk.  I had seen it the day previous but fell with my camera trying to get pics.  I wasn't very graceful:)

During one weekend, I had a blast with my friend Gordon Karre.  He's like the older brother I've never had.  We have a healthy competitive side that keeps us going strong.  Both of us get buried deep into our birding worlds helping others find birds, etc.  So I am always appreciative of any time we get to spend together to go birding.  

Northern Pygmy Owl

We had a magical day out on Mt. Lemmon exploring the trails and finding lots of great birds. The day would sadly end and my work week would begin again.  Finals are approaching and the madness of my job begins.  

An early Red-faced Warbler

Then Friday came.  A new birding friend, Steve Bonta, wanted to explore the Huachuca Mountains on Saturday so we set up the time to do so.  I met Steve this December while working on a CBC up on Mt. Lemmon.  We also make a good team finding birds. 

Scaled Quail

Don't worry, I'm not rambling here.  This story has a beginning and an end, but I need to give you the backstory of this past week.  

One of the several Red Warblers I saw around the mountains of Central Mexico

Two MEGA rarities showed up in Arizona, the Red Warbler ( I just saw this species outside of Mexico City) and the Fan-tailed Warbler near Portal.  Steve went to chase the Red Warbler on Mt. Lemmon.  Only a handful of birders, like Steve, got to see this incredible warbler.  A hundred + did not.  It was a first time record for the US and every ABA lister wet their pants to get a chance to go observe this warbler.  Thousands of dollars were spent on airfare and the following day, birders from all across the country showed up.  No bird. 

Red Crossbill

Conspiracy theories began like crazy. The ones who did not see it began to rationalize that the bird must have been a caged bird because of the wear on the feathers, etc etc. Some of those who saw it maintain that the bird is wild.  Me?  Well, I know Mexicans like to cage their birds(and sell them near the border), but what I didn't know was whether or not Mexicans caged Red Warblers. I would think that warblers would not do well in confinement. In the US, I have heard people joke about single women having a household full of cats.  In Mexico, the same is also said of women but with caged birds.  I have found several of those stereotypes to be true.  But I'm married.  What's my excuse?! Who am I kidding, hoarding cats is awesome.

Swainson's Hawk

We spoke with a good guy who leads tours around Mexico.  For most of us, the Red Warbler was a shock.  None of us expected such a bird to cross the borders of the US.  A first time record in AZ of a White-tipped Dove or Rusty Sparrow would be more likely.  But not a Red Warbler.  According to this expert, the bird was probably caged and escaped or was released somewhere in Mexico near the border. The Red Warbler is apparently captured in the wild like many of the colorful birds and sold on the black market in the pet trade. The warbler found its' way into our sky islands and into the correct habitat where it was observed. It was a one day wonder. Who knows what the official bird people will decide?  But it was exciting(and sad) to imagine this warbler in Tucson up on Mt. Lemmon. I hope it survives. If it is indeed wild, it's further proof that global warming is pushing birds north OR that birds are getting pushed out of their already crowded habitat due to human caused expansion.  Another conspiracy theory that I heard was that some unethical person from the American Ornithological Society(AOS), who held their conferences in Tucson, may have released the bird up on the mountain to kick start their event.  Ohhhhhh, the joys of birding politics!

Way cool and out in the open of normally skittish Band-tailed Pigeons!!!

A much more real possibility showed up the same week, the Fan-tailed Warbler.  So Steve and I ditched our plans at the last minute and headed to Portal to go find several key birds. He didn't have to twist my arm because I love Portal.  Any opportunity to go bird in that area is fantastic!

The epic Fan-tailed Warbler

We found this stunning bird out in the open.  Normally, when I've seen it in Mexico, it's skulking around the dark foliage.  So to have it just happily and casually bopping around someone's yard was a trip.  I'd like to thank the Taylor's for being so kind and allowing us couple of bird nerds to see this amazing warbler!  

So what about the boy?  Did I forget about him?  No.  I haven't.  After another amazing weekend out, Steve and I both went to celebrate at a great Mexican restaurant in Willcox. We happily were discussing birds in this busy restaurant and going over several endemic Mexican species for future treks.  Yes.  My eyes are on Mexico now. Anyhow, little did I know, but there was a couple with a bright eyed little boy eavesdropping on our conversation.  

I assume most people like birds but don't get into it any further than "liking" them.  There's a whole lot of planning that goes into this stuff.  At the end of our meal, the young man came up to us both and explained to us that he also went after the Fan-tailed Warbler but turned around at the Private Property sign.  We had spoken to the locals in Portal previously and they said to go past the sign but not get out of the car.  Most birders did not know this however and turned around.  Anyhow, I felt a small human emotion as I watched this serious young man share with us all his passion for birds.  And it gets better.  HIS PARENTS were taking him out birding for his birthday!!!

Part of the beautiful Chiricahua Mountain range

I wanted to hug them.  We had to get back to Tucson, but I told the parents that ever since I began my adventures in birding, my life has changed for the better.  I thanked them for supporting their kid and fostering his passion for birds.  But I had a bigger question for this little bird man, "Why birds?"

At Cave Creek Lodge in Portal.  A really nice place to bird once you've done your hiking.  Or not hike:)

"I don't know.  I liked dinosaurs.  And then I liked birds."  Steve laughed and said that he played with dinosaurs when he was a kid.  I also played with dinosaurs and knew every crazy name.  So dinosaurs were what linked us all together.  Birds are essentially living dinosaurs! We walked out together and waved good-bye. I think that was the best part of my day. 

This road is magical and will take you into the beautiful Chiricahua Mountains

Until next time......

This is for my friend in England from her blog Ragged Robin's Nature Notes.  I know we've never met but I hope we do.  This is in your honor, a Blueberry Peach pie:)

Juvenile Boot Camp

Northern Flicker(Red-shafted)

Right now, up in the mountains, around the grasslands, hopping around the cacti and playing in the canyons, many Arizona fledglings are learning how to be birds. AND SURVIVE! Each species is unique when it comes time for raising their young ones. 

Yellow-eyed Junco just developing the yellow eye:)

Yellow-eyed Juncos work together as a team.  The young ones stick together and hunt along the ground for food.  

Olive Warbler

Olive Warblers learn how to fly for the first time as the parents lead them from branch to branch. Sometimes if they stray too far, they remind the little ones to return to their location. 

Red-faced Warbler

Young Red-faced Warblers are curious just like most juveniles of our planet's species (which includes our own).  Parent's keep a close eye on their young ones when a Cooper's Hawk or Steller's Jay gets too close. An alarm call goes out and parents will actively chase the predators away. 

Bushtit

The smaller birds, like this young Bushtit, try to figure out how to eat this ant.  It takes the bug and smacks it many times against the branch.  And then again and again until the bug is dead.  Many of his siblings are doing the same.  The parents know that with time and practice, they'll be pros. 

Some birds, like the Cordilleran Flycatcher, just sit on a branch and wait for Mom or Dad to come feed them. Then the parent's call their young one to fly to their new position where they'll feed them again. Clever flight training technique! 

Cordilleran Flycatcher

A young Bridled Titmouse tries to take down a very large moth that is much bigger than the bird.  It grabs the wing of the moth and the moth pulls the bird with it!  Once again, Mom and Dad save the day and help out!  

An older photo not taken from this photo shoot but one to help tell the story of the Bridled Titmouse

Young birds MUST learn quickly how to survive.  It's a do or die world out there in the land of Nature.  They face so many obstacles and as we observe these young birds, we hope they make it. Sometimes, it's heart breaking to observe a Steller's Jay take down a young Dark-eyed Junco while the parents helplessly scream and attack the Jay. But we understand that the Jay is also part of the world and needs to survive. 

Other times I am mortified by what I see. Here are some stock photos from a couple years ago.  I see babies jumping out of nests and parents and older siblings flocking around the predator to make sure the young ones survive.  Again, I do nothing in this case.  It's part of Nature.  

Pyrrhuloxia on high alert

 But when I see the young ones on the road where they can get run over by a car, I do assist because most headphone wielding joggers or drivers aren't paying attention to their surroundings. I block traffic and allow these young ones passage to the other side of the road where they will be safe.  

Mom is waiting with food once the young are off the road.  Dad and Uncle P are screaming at the snake while the fledglings bounce out of their nest onto the road. 

Anytime, humans are involved, I will break the Prime Directive of Birding and assist when needed.  They already have enough to worry about and don't need the human threat added. Fortunately, the Pyrrhuloxia story ended well.  As for the Coachwip(Red Racer) snake?  Well once the birds were off the road, I backed away carefully.  It's a beautiful snake but I've seen it get nasty with Herpers when they try to hold them.  That's why I don't hold snakes or lizards:)

We had a great time helping Jeff from Madison, WI find his lifers on Mt. Lemmon.  And while he found his lifers, we observed some amazing parent/fledgling activity. Every time I go out into the field, there is ALWAYS something new and different happening. 

Life is good.  Until next time.......