Meanwhile

Our Great Horned Owlets before leaving the next this year

We arrived back to Arizona and there was very little rest for me.  I had several projects and some guiding to do! Not only that, we had a fund raising event.  So I had to carefully weave my work schedule and birding forays together into one masterpiece of a lesson plan.

On the work front, I was busy watching over our Great Horned Owls.  They, once again, successfully hatched in our new nest box.  There are 3 beautiful new owlets in the world now.  It takes quite a bit of community outreach to educate the general public and school population about these birds.  Hopefully through my talks and data, more people are aware about how owls fledge. And hopefully the Freshmen learn that they do not eat hot and spicy Cheetos. Ugh! It's the same conversation EVERY year.  Everyone thinks they're injured when they find them on the ground.  In most cases, this is not true.  Great Horned Owls need to develop leg strength first and THEN their wings develop. They flop out of their nest and stay close to a bush or tree for cover. The parents are usually close by watching and protecting them. It's funny watching them begin their first flight:)  Here's a recent video of the birds after they fledged. 

On the guiding front, I met a new friend and birder from Florida by the name of Homer.  It was his first time to Arizona which means he got to do the Southeastern Arizona sampler with some of the fun extras that are rare to the US. 

We had a blast looking for all kinds of great birds around Southeastern Arizona. This guy was serious and he was "no holds barred"! He's a great birder and was ready for the challenge. Every morning he was ready to go!  It's the adrenaline of being in a new space.  I smile because his energy was contagious and it was fun finding life birds. 

Bendire's Thrasher

There's nothing quite like birding in Arizona.  I love this state and I love my birds. I just bird local areas now unless something good comes into the state, but even then, I think I'm slowing down on the chases. Like most of you reading this blog, we watch birds from our local patches.  I have become more interested in behaviors. But when a friend comes to visit for a good chase, I'm ready for the challenge. Homer is a fantastic photographer and I hope he comes back again to visit. 

Gambel's Quail

We spent some time in Box Canyon searching for some incredible birds.  But I also couldn't get over these amazing views!

The beautiful Box Canyon

Meanwhile the dramas of public education played out during my daytime job.  We are losing teachers and no one cares.  Promises are broken and the majority of parents have come to see education as a glamorized babysitting clinic.  It's a bit scary.  I do my part and try and build community in my classroom.  On this day, we celebrate our year's accomplishments. 

Cascarones Day, a celebration before finals

We took a bus of students over to the Biosphere where I took my readings of nesting Barn Swallows on the grounds.  Everything looks fine in that area. Thanks to Lori for organizing the event! 

During this time, me and Mr. Gordon took a side trip over to Texas and New Mexico.  Those posts are coming. 

Bell's Vireo

My friend Celeste came to visit and she had never been to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. And I was itching for a road trip with Betty.  

It was a gorgeous day FULL of birds.  The exciting find for us there was a Red-eyed Vireo!  It was a new state bird for me.  I should have been more excited, but I have to admit, it was really about the company and once again, great weather, birds and views. 

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

I wasn't done.  Yes, I am mentally and physically exhausted.  I have been going non-stop since March.  One of my last things I got to do before diving into my work full time was join our Wrenegades team once again to fund raise for Tucson Audubon. We did it once again and this year our Birdathon raised over 35,000 dollars! 

the Wrenegades strike again!

I have discovered that I now have a bunion.  Bunions are real and they hurt like crazy.  So I need to wear wider shoes.  Plantar fasciitis is also real.  Good gods!  I both love and hate getting older!

Bushtit

It has been a fun ride to the end of this school year.  

Grace's Warbler

This summer is going to have a small change of plans from my normal birding treks.  My Dad had a triple bypass surgery recently and I wanted to be home with my family to help out.  But before I do go home, I'll be stopping in Maine with Kathie and Gus for some fun birding. 

climbing Tumamoc Hill and counting birds

 This year has been difficult for so many people.  I'd like you all to keep Kathy Cooper in your thoughts.  If you've followed this blog over the years, you'll know she has been the wind beneath our wings at the Aribabi Ranch.  This weekend she fights for her life at the hospital. I went to visit last night and I wish I were here to help her daughter out but I've got to head back to be with my Dad.  To top it off, Kathie's hubby, Gus, had a stroke this last week.  So please keep these peeps in your thoughts. They're all wonderful people.

Kathy on the Aribabi Ranch doing a land survey

The human condition, birding, mentors, work, relationships and everything else can be a real challenge.  The only thing I can do is be there with good energy for the people who have done so much for me in my life.  I can only hope to pass on their knowledge from what they've taught me.  It's not that we won't find birds together; we will.  But this year, it's about being present. Next week we take a trek to Texas to search for several endemics!  

We discover a secret pond in the foothills and I collect data with Lori and Tami

Life truly is an amazing adventure!  Until next time.....

Blur

The Wrenegades! (photo courtesy of Sara Pike...she's on the right:)

Recently I went out with Tucson Audubon for their Birdathon, a fundraiser for Audubon.  The challenge?  To find as many birds as we could in a 24 hour time period.  And all I can say is, "Oh. My."

Night birding at Reid Park.  No pimps or murderers.....just sleeping ducks and Great Horned Owls
(Pic courtesy of Sara Pike)

I joined up with the Wrenegades and their captain Jennie MacFarland at 1 AM. As we drove through the busy streets of Tucson during clubbing hours, the team found themselves surrounded by young people in their big trucks and fancy cars.  The race was on!  The only difference? We were searching for birds and they were looking for human females. This was exciting! It was a rare opportunity to night bird with others in the darkness around our city parks.  Normally I wouldn't do this kind of thing alone, but because we were the Wrenegades, nothing would stop us....except maybe a cop.  Luckily that didn't happen.

The Evening Grosbeaks stole the show.  Unfortunately we saw them at dawn

 I love Arizona.  I really do.  But I miss walking during the calm cool nights of Wisconsin summers in the parks.  In my own Tucson neighborhood, there are prostitutes and drug dealers.  So it was exciting to walk the dark city parks looking for birds with the group.  And so we began in Reid Park.  It would be the first of 22 stops that we would make around Southern Arizona.

Me, standing in my shorts freezing my rear off
(Pic courtesy of Matt Griffis)

We needed each other to stay awake during our epic trek.  After Reid, we left for the desert oasis known as Agua Caliente Park.  The crew stood under the starry sky listening for owls, nightjars and more!  Once we heard the Elf Owl, Great Horned Owls, and Western Screech-Owl, we left for Mt. Lemmon!  There we picked up the Whiskered Screech-Owls, Northern Pygmy Owl and Flammulated Owl.

Jennie and Matt crunch their way out of the snow back into the warm car on Mt. Lemmon!
(Pic courtesy of Sara Pike)

As we went from the warm desert basin up into the canyons and mountain tops, we began to slowly freeze.  The roads turned into crunchy ice. And the wind sliced through our jackets and pants.  Of course, I wore shorts.  Yeah......

Corey, the youngest of our group, helps us add birds with her quick eyes!
(Pic courtesy of Sara Pike)

Our night turned into day and I began to feel my body groan from the lack of sleep.  There were moments I completely blanked out in the van.  One birding spot blurred into the next.  My photography was terrible on these outings.  The focus was birding and not photography.  I knew deep down that if a life bird came my way, I wouldn't have much time to document or wait for the bird to pose.  It just so happened that we'd find a lot of the specialty birds either too early in the morning or too far away for the camera to capture a decent image.  So I just snapped photos for ID purposes. We had to move.  There was no time to dilly dally around!

What's out there? A Wilson's Warbler?  Townsend's Warbler, Grace's Warbler? NO!  A Red-faced Warbler!

 Of course, my lifer, the Hermit Warbler, would pop out just as we had to leave!  Hey, this was a competition.  No time to sip tea and wait for the bird to get into focus!

A blurred photo of the Hermit Warbler

After Mt. Lemmon, we headed to Sweetwater in Tucson.  Then we headed south to Paton's House and Patagonia Lake.  After that trek, we went up to the Amado water treatment plant and Madera Canyon.  But wait!  There was still light!  So we had to go to Florida Canyon!  There we would pick up our last birds for the birdathon!

Rocks and people who love birds!
(Pic courtesy of Matt Griffis)

A whirlwind indeed!  Were we crazy?  Perhaps, but it also was an epic journey into the heart of Southern Arizona.  Tim was the master planner who had the data charts and statistics on each of our stops.

Tim, casual with a smile......and he has a plan! And so does that turkey on his right.
(Pic courtesy of Matt Griffis)

His organization allowed us to cover more area while following a specific route and time period.  Each place was timed and everyone was great about staying on schedule. This was an example of target birding at its best!  Jennie did a great job keeping everything together.  She knew her birds as did the entire team! Sara and Matt drove everywhere.  They were the happy pilots. Thanks guys for driving.  I know how tired you both were. Corey joined in on the fun.  She is a young lady who is a current student at my school.  If it hadn't been for her wonderful invitation, I would have missed out on this event. So thank you Corey from the bottom of my heart!  I hope you continue with the trails and birds after you graduate.  Birding will take you to some of the most amazing places on this planet.  After you graduate from high school (and finish your 4th year Spanish class), Central and South America await you.

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet at Patagonia State Park

And me?  Well I took the photo id's and did the record keeping for all of our bird stops.  I like recording the data because it keeps me focused and centered. And on this day....awake.

Viewing a Northern Goshawk in flight above the ridge at Madera Canyon!
(Pic courtesy of Matt Griffis)

Overall, it was an epic day.  We found 160 birds in 24 hours!  And like the title suggests, the day was one big exciting blur. And so was my photography! The best part was that we had an amazing time working together for a really important organization. What a great group of people!  When I got home, I crashed.  Apparently, according to Pat, I was snoring and threw my poor cat off the bed in a rage.  Sleep deprivation can do that to a person:) The cat survived.

Western Tanager

I'd like to thank Sara Pike and Matt Griffis for their photo contributions to the blog today. I'm so glad you both remembered to snap photos of our epic trek.  There is still time to help out Tucson Audubon. Click on the donate button on the right and help us out.  Here is Sara Pike's webpage from the Wrenegades site. Until next time friends.......

Sacred Night of Chance

Before the dawn, I wait. 

Quiet.  Still.

Out there. 

Under the night sky. 

Watching us. 

The invisible. 

Shadows of our imagination.

Under the night sky.

Out there. 

Listen.

Under the starry sky.

Whispering from crooked branch or vacant hole.

Midnight choir.

Their haunting melody.

Under the starry sky. 

Listen.  

Vulnerable.  Before the dawn. I stand.

Quiet still. Alone. 

Into the darkness we go.