February 13, 2015 7:08 am
Clear and Calm, 35 Degrees

Photo Credit: P. Nixon

Sunrise and I are not well acquainted, but nevertheless, I set my alarm for that early hour on Friday morning.  In the Audubon presentation about bird watching last week, Cheryl advised that the best way to see birds was to follow their habits.  I had my doubts, but dragged myself out of bed to find two cats thrilled that, for once, they would get an early breakfast.

I do most of my birdwatching from my desk, but in the spirit of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) set up a lawn chair outside, a distance from the feeder and bird bath.  Notebook, field guide, binoculars, steaming cup of hot chocolate—I settled in. My first sighting was my favorite.  The canyon towhee, perky and cheery with his rusty crown, discovered the sprinkle of millet I had put out for him the night before.  He did his little hop, scratch, and bob dance in the dirt up until a spotted towhee shooed him away.

The morning quiet was broken when a western scrub jay registered my presence, swooping in low and squawking loudly as he landed on a nearby piñon tree.  Overhead ravens, or were they crows, glided by.  Unable to tell for sure I left them off my official list.

Thirty-five minutes later I had noted only four species, six birds (the jay had friends).  I doubt that my entry does much for the cause of science, but it was a lovely way to start the day.

Note:  There’s still time to participate in the GBBC.  It runs through Monday, February 16th.  They have apps for cell phones, but I had trouble with the Android version.  I found it much easier to register and submit my count from the website using my computer.  Don’t worry if you can’t identify every bird—I had two at the feeder  that I could not positively identify and left them off my list.

What are you going to do with what time you have left?
-Robert Redford

Photo Credit: Richard Gartner

After a week in warm, dry California, I didn’t relish coming home to Santa Fe to find  I needed to don my puffy jacket and get out the snow shovel.  It  was heavy and wet, perfect for making a snowman, but I was too tired by the time the driveway was clear. This morning  blue skies have returned; the storm has lumbered off, headed to the Midwest.

It’s Super Bowl Sunday.  Since I don’t have much interest in either team and am not a Katy Perry fan, watching the commercials seemed to be the excuse I needed to serve beer and Buffalo wings for dinner.  But it turns out you can watch those on YouTube–at least some of them.

This beer commercial has been heating up my Facebook news feed for several days.  Wildlife advocacy groups have taken exception to the snarling wolf threatening the puppy and have urged people to sign a petition asking Budweiser not to air the spot (it worked to get the GoDaddy commercial pulled).  Late yesterday the New Mexico Cattle Growers weighed in asking folks to let the beer giant know that they supported it.  I am focusing, instead, on the recent enthusiasm for “Je suis Charlie.”  I don’t like the spot and wolves don’t need more bad press, but if that’s the way Budweiser chooses to sell beer, so be it.  I will not be serving Bud Light at my Super Bowl party.

The Sundance Film Festival ends today.   Last week “Democracy Now” devoted one of its shows to an interview with Robert Redford, the founder of the festival.  He spoke about global warming, the Keystone Pipeline, and politics.  In this segment he talks about his new movie “A Walk in the Woods”.  Based on Bill Bryson’s 1998 book with the same name it tells the story of two middle-aged guys (played by Redford and Nick Nolte) walking the Appalachian Trail.  I remember laughing out loud when I read the book years ago and I look forward to seeing the movie.   It’s the East Coast counterpart to Cheryl Strayed’s book, “Wild“, about walking the Pacific Crest Trail–another movie I have yet to see.

And finally, my favorite story of the week.  A rare fox has been spotted in Yosemite National Park.  Biologists estimate there are only about fifty of the Sierra Nevada red foxes left.  This is the first time in one hundred years that one has been documented in Yosemite.  Thanks to my friend Lori for sharing this good news story.

Have a good week!