[leasbirds] Re: Spring Migration and Paranoia
- From: "Carol Lee" <spwrc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 15:02:08 -0500
Cameron,
I really enjoyed your post. The line: "However, the officers encouraged me
not to provoke people by birding neighborhoods" made me laugh out loud.
Provoke! Ha!
It reminded me of another "city official" I met in 1988. He came out to the
Wildlife Center when we were just getting started to "inspect." His first
question:
"Were we going to raise lions and tigers?" NO. "Then what were we planning
to do out there?"
I replied we'd be raising and releasing wild songbirds.
In all seriousness he looked at me, clearly puzzled, and said, "You wouldn't
want that to get around!"
My reply: "Excuse me, but who doesn't enjoy wild songbirds in their yards?"
At that point I think he realized his stupidity (but maybe not J ).
Now in our 26th year, I'm happy to say we're still raising and releasing
wild songbirds!
Carol Lee
spwrc.org
From: leasbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:leasbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Cameron Carver
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2014 2:30 PM
To: leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; TexBirds
Subject: [leasbirds] Spring Migration and Paranoia
Greetings,
This morning looked like it was going to be a decent day for migrants in the
area, so I thought I would try out a new birding spot. There are several
old, affluent neighborhoods in Lubbock that also happen to have a great
number of large deciduous trees. Tech terrace is one of those neighborhoods
and a place I bird often. Rush is another one of those neighborhoods. The
trees here are much taller and numerous than Tech terrace. This is seemingly
a great place to find migrants. I parked my truck at Higginbotham Park and
started walking around the neighborhood. Lots of Northern Cardinals out and
singing. Since Lubbock should be a flat grassland, lots of Northern
Cardinals is a good sign. I had a Brown Creeper crawling up a trunk and some
American Goldfinch singing in a tree. I heard a Curve-billed Thrasher
calling. This species is often difficult to find within the town.
As I was trying to find the thrasher, a man drove up in his big white diesel
truck and asked me what I thought I was doing. I responded that I was bird
watching. He explained that I looked like I was being suspicious and that it
would be a great way to get shot. I reminded him that I was on a public road
and was doing nothing wrong. I also explained that I regularly birded other
neighborhoods and have not had any problems. He became more aggressive with
me - perhaps he hadn't yet drank his morning coffee. I told him that I was
going to continue what I was doing. He then asked me if I wanted him to call
the cops to which I responded with a definite yes. As I was walking away, he
yelled "Well, if this is a public road I am going to follow you." I enjoyed
the company. With him in tow, I heard another Curve-billed Thrasher and saw
a Great-blue Heron fly over.
Soon, not one. Not TWO. BUT THREE police cars arrived on the scene. They
asked the man (still in his truck) why he was following me while another
officer made small talk with me. Paranoid, delusional man drove off and all
three officers chatted with me. As I explained to the faux-Zimmerman, I was
doing nothing wrong. However, the officers encouraged me not to provoke
people by birding neighborhoods. They also said that this man wanted and was
fully intending to beat me up. I can understand that from their perspective
this is a hassle. BUT I have every right to be at this location and I will
continue to bird this location as it has great potential. I will, however,
likely bird THAT neighborhood with a birding buddy from now on. Safety in
numbers.
I birded some local playas after that. Nothing exciting, just some American
Avocets and Black-necked Stilts trickling in.
I decided that I wanted to cleanse myself of idiocy and go to a neighborhood
that was acceptive of birders. Ransom Canyon was hopping. Swallows
everywhere on the lake (could only pick out Cliff, Barn and Tree + Purple
Martin). A whopping 24 American White Pelicans were on the lake. I believe
that is a Lubbock County high count in eBird. My first Black-chinned
Hummingbird of the year was near a feeder. Common Grackles have returned to
their trees in which they breed. A Twonsend's Solitaire was near the chapel
parking lot and allowed me to get some decent digibinned photos. My first
Green Heron was in the spillway pond and an Orange-crowned Warbler was below
the pedestrian bridge (a bird that has been scarce so far this year).
On the way out, a brilliant Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was sitting on the
wire.
I still have managed to miss all of the Swainson's Hawks in Lubbock County,
but I have already seen them well north of here.
Chickens are lekking where chickens lek. They are a Threatened species now.
Doesn't that make you want to see them even more? No one has reported them
to eBird yet in the state of Texas. All other states (CO, NM, OK, KS) have
reported them this year. What are y'all waiting for?
Cameron Carver
Lubbock, TX
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