[texbirds] Spring Migration and Paranoia
- From: Cameron Carver <c.o.carver@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, TexBirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 14:29:38 -0500
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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