[texbirds] Re: Spring Migration and Paranoia
- From: Danny Hoehne <hoehneintexas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx" <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>, Cameron Carver <c.o.carver@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 13:25:44 -0700 (PDT)
________________________________
Being a retired cop and a lifelong birder, I can assure you that being a
stranger in a strange neighborhood (especially if affluent) with a pair of
binoculars around your neck will most assuredly get you some attention. Don't
take is personal, and certainly don't make it political with comments like
"faux-Zimmerman."
Danny Hoehne
Harlingen, Texas
Cameron: I had such a day in Gonzales back in Feb. (plus a near wreck with
a herd of hogs on the way down and forgetting my wallet)..3 different cops
stopped to ask me as to what I was doing on a Sunday morning walking the
streets in the historic part of town. I was even wearing nice jeans :-) I
feel sure people had been calling me in. One even said something to the
effect that "folks don't know you" There was no one else on the streets
and no reason for the law to be in the area otherwise..But they were all
nice once I explained.
**********************************************************************
Brush Freeman
503-551-5150 Cell
120 N. Red Bud Trail. Elgin, Tx. 78621
http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/
Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas
On Sun, Apr 6, 2014 at 2:29 PM, Cameron Carver <c.o.carver@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 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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