[leasbirds] Re: Spring Migration and Paranoia
- From: Cameron Carver <c.o.carver@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 15:07:52 -0500
Let me preface this by stating that I am joking.
We should all get together and bird watch in front of this man's house. I'm
sure that might cause him to have an aneurism.
C
On Sun, Apr 6, 2014 at 3:02 PM, Carol Lee <spwrc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 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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