What Would Bob Ross Do?

Nesting Great Horned Owl

 A week passed and I kept myself busy with work while doing a little volunteering for Tucson Audubon.  I monitored my nesting owls but couldn't shake the news.  No matter where I went, I was bombarded with it everywhere. 

Quiet at the San Pedro Riparian area

The United States is having a moment.  The citizens are at odds.  The conservatives complain that all the liberals are whining too much and that they should get over it. But the protests should tell them that it's not going to end anytime soon. 

A Merlin

Americans are witnessing something very historic and very ugly for the first time in decades.  Speaking about politics out in the open is poisonous and deadly.  This uncontrollable poison leaches into everything I do.  And I am not the only one.  Something big is building and I don't think people have a clue about how bad things are going to get.  A movement is beginning.  One that I have never seen in my lifetime.  But perhaps those who are in their 60's(and older) remember a similar moment in history known as the Civil Rights Movement.  So for people to casually blow this off as simply whining are really not understanding how serious this is.  We are a pressure cooker and the top is about to blow.

Pronghorn rest in the Cienagas Grasslands near Empire Ranch

SO.  I tried birding in several spots to rid myself of this negative energy, but everywhere we went, whispers from the crowds and hikers kept the political conversations going.  We had to go away from the tourist and crowded outdoor attractions to find quiet.

Pyrrhuloxia

 It wasn't until we reached the grasslands that I was able to freely let that nasty energy go.  There is something about the grasslands that is so healing. We watched as the wind bent the grass blades forward, rippling across the miles of golden terrain.  

In the silence, my mind began to wander as we hiked along the trails.  At one point, I began to think about Bob Ross while passing a random and solitary tree.  As you may or may not know, trees make everything better in the world of Ross.  And they really do:)

a sleepy Western Screech-Owl

What would Bob Ross have thought about all of this craziness? Would he have put more of himself into his work?  Or would he have said anything at all?  My mind eventually drifts back to the trees.  Some stood together while others stood alone. And yet there was enough space for all of them to grow freely. 

Bob Ross once said, "You need the dark in order to show the light." While he may have been speaking about his painting process, Bob often spoke with a deeper meaning.  I mean, that's why his show was so awesome.  It wasn't just about painting:)

Unfortunately, it'll take more than Bob Ross to get us through this national crisis.  And it's times like these when birding and art and discovery and life should be free from all this madness. It's not.  Somehow, somewhere there will come a breaking point when the so called "whining" turns violent and history will repeat itself....again. For now, the US is in it deep. Until next time......

Close Inspections

I found a magical fairy village in the middle of the woods!

August is a whole month of crazy.  Monsoon is in full swing and so is migration.  It's the one time of year when everything all comes together.  But the temps are brutal in the desert and surrounding areas. 

Enjoying the cool breeze of a monsoon storm in Sierra Vista along the San Pedro River

And it is during this time of year that I collect my data for migrating warblers, shorebirds and birds listed as endangered or in decline.  Did they nest?  Are there juveniles? Are there more or less of these birds coming through the area right now?  After chasing life birds in Chiapas, I just felt I needed to connect more with "my birds" and do quality study. 

The monsoon clouds build over Cochise Lake in Wilcox

While I love the grasslands, I'm not a huge fan of the chiggers and bugs.  Right around the first couple weeks of August, we hit the peak season of monsoon.  It's during this time of year we begin to see some early migrants passing through our area while also observing difficult birds, like the Cassin's Sparrow, out in the open doing their "larking display".  There isn't a certain date for this peak.  It's just something I feel out each year.  Each weekend during the month of August, I carefully pick the spots to do my studies.  In this post, we stopped at the Wilcox Lake for migrating shorebirds, Mt. Lemmon for warblers, St. David for nesting Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and my work site in Oro Valley(weekly patch study) for the nesting Purple Martins specific to our Sonoran Desert.  It has been a quality month of research and birding.  None of it is boring.  The hikes are incredible and the treks are some of the most scenic on this planet. 

Black-necked Stilts

We headed down to Wilcox and explored "Cochise Lake" first.  We picked up two Stilt Sandpipers, one Semipalmated Plover and Sandpiper.  While these birds were wonderful to spot, our best observation happened with a cranky Northern Mockingbird and Swainson's Hawk. 

A Northern Mockingbird chases a Swainson's Hawk off the post.  That takes some huevos. 

After awhile, we headed out because it looked like it was going to rain in the area.  

Black-tailed Jackalope Jackrabbit:)

I wanted to check up on our now fledged Mississippi Kites, Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Yellow-breasted Chats.  Along the way, we observed lots of great birds around the countryside. 

White-winged Dove perches on an Ocotillo

We'd stop and look and then move onto the next area. 

A male Northern Cardinal sits on top of a Saguaro.  Talk about a strange sight!

After a summer of chasing crazy new birds in Mexico, I was happy to just stand in MY world with MY birds and let them fly around me.  I know this world best.  Every habitat.  And almost every bird.  It's great.  They are my secrets.  My escape. It is very comforting to know that many made it back in one piece.

Gila Woodpeckers are LOVING the sugar water right now.  Sorry hummingbirds!

The Gila Woodpeckers fought the hummingbirds for nectar. 

Spiders hid on leaves.  And chats.....did a lot of chatting:)

Yellow-breasted Chat

I went to St. David and followed up on the Cuckoos and Kites.

A Yellow-billed Cuckoo flies over my head.  I have a special connection with this bird as it followed me around last year in the trees:)  And it was back again in the same area where we hung out for awhile watching each other.  

Thankfully, they were all there safe and sound.

Here's my friend who is still around

Currently the western variety of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is in danger. It is listed as threatened and near the threshold of endangered. Tucson Audubon currently has surveys going on around their nesting areas in Southern Arizona.  They are collecting data about this declining species so that they can designate areas for their protection. "The loss and degradation of native riparian habitat throughout the western Yellow-billed Cuckoo's range has played a major role in the bird's decline"(source)

Back at my work site, I do a weekly survey of the birds found around the campus.  The Purple Martins were concerning for me because they are clear cutting major areas of desert next to the school and wash.  Normally, I see these birds before school is out but I hadn't seen them before summer break.  However, I was SO happy when I discovered this desert subspecies flying around the Saguaro cactus at the start of our new school year.

I don't know how they did it with all the chaos around them but they raised another wonderful family.  They had 3 young at the time but have now begun their migration.  I hope they return next year.  It's crazy how connected I have become with my local birds.

Black-crowned Night Heron

On a particularly hot day, I wanted to bird but not far from home.  So I went to my other regular patch at a nearby park to count the juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons.  The Herons have had a good year!  4 juveniles were seen on this 100+ degree evening.

The heat can be intense!  Thankfully warbler migration begins on top of Mt. Lemmon in August and this is where I'll finish my reporting.

Townsend's Warbler

It was hot in Tucson at around 113 degrees.  Mt. Lemmon was sunny with a slight breeze in the 80's.  This was a no brainer.

On this beautiful day, we had 11 of the 13 warbler species on the mountain.  The Wilson's, Townsend'ss and Hermit warblers were AMAZING!  It was a successful outing indeed!

Wilson's Warbler

Warblers are pretty cool birds.  Yes, they are difficult to see, but they are little gems that dance underneath the shadows of leaves. 

Hermit Warbler in flight

Overall, it has been a great month out and the data collected was a success.  I realize not all years will have such positive reports but this one was one of the best thanks to lots of wonderful rain.

Birding can be quite meaningful. With this collection of data, I become stronger and better at being not just a birder but a true citizen scientist.  

Over the next two weeks, we'll meet new friends on the trails.  Las Aventuras is about to begin Chapter 3 of "Americano".  Stay tuned for more friends:)

Stop to Smell the....

Hooded Skunk on the Proctor Trail near Madera Canyon

I never forget that while on our little adventures to look up every now and again at the epic landscapes around us.  Today’s post is about watching where we step and noticing the “bigger picture”.

Willcox Lake

Part of the fun from birding comes from the great eats and hikes along the way.  And the views are to die for!

Bisbee, AZ

Most of the time, it's quiet.  No planes.  No cars. No people!  Just the wind blowing through grasslands.

The Whitewater Draw-Male Northern Harrier

There are moments of pure perfection as the sun sets or rises.

It's  during those moments I smile and think about how magical this trek continues to be.

Agua Caliente Park, Tucson

Along the way, I have faced cold and hot temps, blowing dust, whipping frigid winds, and some close wildlife encounters.

But the views keep me coming back.  As do the birds:)

Lakeside Park, Tucson with Great Egret

We inspect every blade of grass, hilltop, treetop, river, lake, and rock.  Movement catches our eyes and we spot a coyote(below).

And then there are moments of lazy birding around foreign feeders.  White-crowned sparrows and a Pyrrhuloxia dazzle the eyes.

San Pedro House near Sierra Vista

Sometimes the birds take you to secret hidden places most people don't know about.....like the waterfalls of the Santa Cruz river.

Santa Cruz River on a cold day

A solitary tree against the backdrop of snow covered mountains energizes the soul.  What lies beyond that next canyon? Or mountain range?

Friends make everything better.  A hot cup of coffee with Ms. Kathie Brown makes the outing even more special.

The birds surround us. Again. No cars. No planes.  No people.  Just nature.

And not all is perfection when there are factors that push the human limits.

Sometimes people get dragged along for the ride:) They enjoy the spectacles for brief moments before saying, "Enough is enough!"

And of course, I have to watch where I step.  This little guy almost sprayed me while I was taking his pic.  Instead, he sprayed a rude family with a dog!  As I walked back to my car, I heard the scream and then....oooh no!!!  Kharma.  Always pay attention to your surroundings.  And if you bring a dog that is going to bite people, you probably should leave them home.

This last photo warmed my heart while we were at Reid Park and it is one of two pictures from this post that are my favorites. I have always been an observer since I was a kid.  And for the first time in my life, I am seeing things clearly.

Reid Park, Tucson