The place...

Though the vistas are strikingly beautiful, this is a harsh land. Temperatures in our canvas-topped observation platform reach the upper 90's daily and well over 100 in the sun. The fauna is classic Chihuahuan desert - yucca, mesquite, creosote and a variety of brittle grass clumps with a scattering of other cacti, thistle and other small, desert tolerant plants; many defended by arrays of thorns and bristles. During our first three days we enjoyed the dramatic clouds and afternoon rains of the season’s monsoons, but in the week since it has been clear and hot and dry. The greening grasses have retreated into their brittle old growth. A few, striking wild flowers recall the short bounty of moisture. Pronghorn and bison have moved on to greener browse and, other than the continuing array of birds, the wildlife who now visit are of the rabbit, ground rodent, lizard, tortoise and occasional rattlesnake varieties. We are relieved that the falcon fledglings have developed to a point where we are able to leave for naps and AC through the midday hours.

Yippee! We’re on the road again where we feel most alive and content. “Home” now is a gently used 24’ RV in which we travel and live and work; a virtual palace in comparison with last years tent and bunkhouse living! Through our naturalist's lifestyle we honor it’s previous owner, Jan Arrott, a dear friend whom we met in her capacity as originator of the "Friends of the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge" which, like our own Bosque del Apache, is a winter sanctuary for crane and waterfowl.
As of July 2, our “home” is parked behind the headquarters of Ted Turner’s Armendaris Ranch, a 350,000+ acre spread in south central New Mexico. We’ve graciously been given the keys to “Ted’s place” by Tom Waddell, ranch manager whose acquaintance alone has been worth the trip. Tom is an unassuming, salt-of-the-earth man with a steel-trap mind. His managerial and scientific work is seasoned by wry observations of human nature and by depth of knowledge gained through personal study and his lengthy experience here and with Arizona’s Dept.of Fish and Game. The ranch runs about 12,000 head of bison and hosts, among other things, scientific study and/or reintroduction projects for Bolson’s tortoise, prairie dogs, big horn sheep, cougars (mountain lion) and our own Peregrine Fund project with Aplamado falcons. The ranch also includes a huge cave where hundreds of thousands of free- tail Mexican bats emerge nightly – we’re eager to see that - and so much more. It’s difficult to express how excited and fortunate we feel to be here.
Yesterday our first clutch of seven young Aplamado Falcons was flown in from Idaho and placed into the hack-site box atop a 15’ tower (in a remote section of the ranch where the buffalo roam) by Paul, one of our Peregrine Fund supervisors. Erv and I are the attendants for this site and will care for and monitor the young birds in the box for about six days then upon release until they are self sufficient. We man one of several hack sites in southern New Mexico and Texas where the Peregrine Fund is continuing its successful project to reintroduce this falcon into traditional habitat where it became endangered and vanished in the 1930s.
That first night was pretty exciting for the birds and for us as New Mexico’s monsoon season (not an oxymoron) began with an amazing display of lightening and torrential downpours. The next morning was no less exciting. A part of our duties include feeding the chicks portions of quail (thawed and quartered)at first light and at dusk. Our 5:30am drive to the tower was highlighted by near-entrapment in mud (envision the first stage of a fossilized specimen) then challenge by an advancing herd of 35 or so bison (all but the calves were larger than Erv’s Tracker) who must have felt really frisky after the rain. We had no idea those big critters could move so fast!
And so it begins – on the road again. Wonder what's next!

vacation time

CANCUN

It’s 6:30AM and we just awoke to another morning of sunshine, bird calls and crashing surf along the Mayan Rivera about an hour from Cancun, MX. Although with a good measure of guilt, Erv and I have enjoyed this week’s resort vacation. Everywhere we’ve been met with warmth which emanates from the people as well as the tropical sun.

It is undeniable that tourism has sustained and improved the lives of many, but the local economy’s dependance upon the decadence of wealth is troubling. Additionally, as the area’s resorts grow, the environment is compromised. Huge swaths of mangrove forests/jungles that secure the coastline have been bulldozed for the towers and beautifully manicured gardens of the resorts which also use immense amounts of water in thousands of rooms, each with Jacuzzi and daily linen changes.

The focus of the week was relaxation and warmth but we enjoyed a few excursions as well. Taking the ferry to Cozumel we were surprised and delighted to find Carnival in progress; snorkeling we discovered colorful fish and corals; and touring an ecological center with a guide who obviously loved the plants, birds, fish, animals and reptiles in his charge we learned several natural remedies derived from plants growing in this part of the Yucatan. All in all, a good week and good preparation for our next stop in frigid Nebraska where we will again serve as Rowe Sanctuary guides for the massive central flyway migration along the Platte River.