Spring "Vistas"

This has been the most extraordinary spring in my memory. It has shifted my thinking about place and change. I thought I needed a change and a "vista." But, in spite of a late snowfall and slow-to-arrive spring, I have been very happy. Why? 

An April 18th snowfall had birds digging for food.

Four weeks of travel in late March and early April meant that I was ready to be home. When on the road it's hard for me to do art. Upon arriving home, I began a painting project that had been brewing for some time. I wanted to provide a background for the hummingbird alebrijes that I purchased from Jacobo and Maria's workshop in Oaxaca. I had the background image in my mind. On my 2016 trip to Oaxaca I stayed in a lovely home with a balcony that looked out on an orange-flowering tree (African Tulip Tree or Flame of the Forest). The distant mountains, the valley, and the gigantic yellow edged blossoms were all a background for lively hummingbirds every day. My photo was OK, but had too many distractions. I decided I could paint the background I needed, so I started an adventure learning to apply acrylic paint to masonite. Whenever I got stuck I either asked an artist friend or went to YouTube. What a treasure of information! I'm pretty pleased with the results. I still like working with pastels better, but in a kitchen, I need a scrub-able surface. 

   
Meanwhile, birds were arriving. And they stayed. I've never seen so many beautiful spring birds for so long a time. I was in awe. We literally would shout out what window had what birds at the feeders: "Scarlet tanagers at the suet by the bedroom!" "Indigo bunting on the thistle feeder out in back!" Most years I feel lucky if I see one or two colorful spring birds.

This is what we typically see in the spring. A slight movement in the bushes.
A yellow-rumped spring warbler. Nice, but not outstanding.

The indigo buntings shared the thistle feeder.

Scarlet tanagers at the suet feeder.
At one point there were 7 on the bush behind the feeder.

Lots of orioles. They liked both the oranges and the grape jelly.

We never found the nest, but this watchful mom had three babies screaming for food.
(It's a barred owl.)

Not a view from our yard, but in the Arboretum, a rookery of Great Blue Herons.
We had never seen it here before.

In addition to painting and bird watching, another project was happening. Jim was installing a window. I do my concrete work in a small, smelly shed with two tiny windows. We had saved two big windows from the Chiripa remodeling that sat in the shed for more than ten years. I had been whining that they either had to go or had to be installed. One is now installed and it will create a new feeling in my little space. Thank you, Jim. I can't wait to get working on my next concrete project.

 My new shed window. Notice the credit card signs on the left.
I think I'll keep them to remind me of where this came from.

And so, I now have a new appreciation for "vista."
1) I recreated a stunning vista from Oaxaca that I will see every day.
2) The spring birds created a vista out of every window in my house.
3) My shed has a new window giving light and air into a space that will evolve. 

I'm happy. Lots of work to do.

Birds: The Trip List

I don't consider myself a birder, but I enjoy looking for them and assisting in identification. Jim (my husband and traveling companion) comes from a family of birders and I support the habit as much as possible. We have a good pair of binoculars and we use the Sibley Guide to Birds (Second Edition). On our recent trip to Utah via Nebraska we decided to look for and record the birds we saw.

Our first stop (March 27, 2016) was on the Sandhill Crane Flyway near Kearny, Nebraska where we saw tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes on their spring migration. We were told that the weekend before had been the peek with around 500,000 birds. We were there when about 250,000 were still hanging out in the cornfields during the day and congregating at the North Platte River at night. 

During the day the Sandhill Cranes feast on the local corn fields.
(Don't miss the masses on the ground!)

At night they congregate along the river. The sound an be deafening.

In the morning they fly back to the fields.

We heard them before we saw them.

A group landed right next to our camp site. 

If you like birds, don't miss this annual event!

The following list includes the first siting of each bird and the place it was seen. 

Bird	Date	Where
Meadowlark, Eastern	3/26/16	Wisconsin
Hawk, Red-Tailed	3/26/16	Wisconsin
Goose, Canada	3/26/16	Wisconsin
Vulture, Turkey	3/26/16	Iowa
Crow, American	3/26/16	Iowa
Pigeon, Rock	3/26/16	Iowa
Starling, European	3/26/16	Iowa
Gull	3/26/16	Iowa
Robin, American	3/26/16	Iowa
Duck, (Misc)	3/26/16	Iowa
Grackle, Common	3/27/16	Nebraska
Dove, Mourning	3/27/16	Nebraska
Blackbird, Red-Winged	3/27/16	Nebraska
Kestrel, American	3/27/16	Nebraska
Sandhill Crane, Lesser	3/27/16	Nebraska
Sandhill Crane, Greater	3/27/16	Nebraska
Wigeon, American	3/27/16	Nebraska
Teal, Blue-Winged	3/27/16	Nebraska
Flicker, Northern (Yellow-Shafted)	3/27/16	Nebraska
Owl, Barred (heard)	3/27/16	Nebraska
Willet	3/27/16	Nebraska
Goose, Snow	3/27/16	Nebraska
Mallard	3/29/16	Colorado
Heron, Great Blue	3/29/16	Colorado
Raven, Common	3/29/16	Colorado
Towhee, Spotted	3/30/16	Utah, Moab area
Jay, Pinion	3/31/16	Utah, Dead Horse SP
Magpie, Black-Billed	4/2/16	Utah, Moab
Woodpecker, Downy	4/2/16	Utah, Moab
Dipper, American	4/2/16	Utah, Moab, Mill Creek
Wren, Canyon	4/3/16	Utah, Arches NP
Sparrow, English	4/5/16	Utah, Capitol Reef NP
Chat, Yellow-Breasted	4/5/16	Utah, Capitol Reef NP
Vireo, Warbling	4/5/16	Utah, Capitol Reef NP
Bluebird, Mountain	4/5/16	Utah, Capitol Reef NP
Coot, American	4/5/16	Utah, Bricknel Bottoms
Pheasant, Ring-Necked	4/5/16	Utah, Bricknel Bottoms
Swift, White-Throated	4/6/16	Utah, Capitol Reef NP
Titmouse, Juniper	4/6/16	Utah, Capitol Reef NP
Eagle, Bald	4/6/16	Utah, So of Capitol Reef
Jay, Stellar’s	4/6/16	Utah, So of Capitol Reef
Flicker, Northern (Red-Shafted	4/6/16	Utah, So of Capitol Reef
Loon, Common	4/7/16	Utah, Petrified Forest SP
Merganser, Common	4/7/16	Utah, Petrified Forest SP
Merganser, Red-Breasted	4/7/16	Utah, Petrified Forest SP
Cormorant, Double-Crested	4/7/16	Utah, Petrified Forest SP
Sparrow, Chipping	4/8/16	Utah, Lower Cedar Creek
Sparrow, White-Crowned	4/8/16	Utah, Lower Cedar Creek
Sparrow, Lincoln	4/8/16	Utah, Lower Cedar Creek
Bluebird, Western	4/10/16	Utah, Bryce NP
Shrike, Loggerhead	4/10/16	Utah, Bryce NP
Nuthatch, White-Breasted	4/10/16	Utah, Bryce NP
Nuthatch, Pygmy	4/10/16	Utah, Bryce NP
Kinglet, Gold-Crowned	4/10/16	Utah, Bryce NP
Warbler, Yellow-Rumped	4/11/16	Utah, Zion NP
Goldfinch, Lesser	4/11/16	Utah, Zion NP
Warbler, Black-Throated Gray	4/12/16	Utah, Zion NP
Goldfinch, American	4/12/16	Utah, Zion NP
Chickadee, Mountain	4/12/16	Utah, Zion NP

Spotted Towhee in a nearby bush. The redish background is the rock formation across the River.

My favorite bird siting was the Spotted Towhee that hung out by our campsite on the Colorado River near Moab, Utah. 

I think he got used to us. That's our picnic table! 

Watching for birds was fun. They are so elusive! The activity added to each day's agenda. Is this a sign of aging? If so, it's OK.

The Utah road trip description will follow soon. Three weeks, 5 national parks, a couple national monuments, and some state parks left me with too many photos to sort and notes to edit. Look for the post in a week or so.