Northern Mockingbird in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
One of the most familiar birds in the Sonoran Desert is the Northern Mockingbird. They hunt insects and spiders eat a wide variety of fruits; berries of lantana and pyracantha are mainstays. Males and females have similar plumage: nearly uniform gray except for long dark tail and white patch in open wing. Males are the singers that often practice all night long on a concatenation of bird songs borrowed from a variety of other bird species. Three plants in particular produce fruit attractive to mocking birds: Desert Mistletoe, Fremont Thornbush, and Desert Hackberry.
“One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here.”
Another Year of Few Wildflowers In The Sonoran Desert — Image by kenne
Spring wildflowers in the Sonoran desert depend on fall and winter rains. When there are little to no rains, as has been the last few years, then there are few wildflowers in the spring. The above image is in the Molino Basin, where in non-drought years, there are plenty of wildflowers to photograph. This year there are only a few patches to be found.
I’ve been told that I’m built like a fencepost Kind of wiry A few knobs here and there A knot or two for character I make a pretty good fence Good at keeping things inside Not letting things out But now my shadow seems leaner Not quite as tall in the morning sun The soil around my feet eroding Drying out isn’t all it’s cracked up to be Staying straight ain’t easy The herd is getting restless And the barbed wire on my back is tearing me up inside.
“Life exists only at this very moment, and in this moment it is infinite and eternal, for the present moment is infinitely small; before we can measure it, it has gone, and yet it exists forever….”
Homeless; – Down by the muddy Mississippi Skinny as a rail, Sleeping under the old Eads bridge Feeling low, dirty, and frail – Homeless; – With less than two coins In both pockets, Empty eyes Look through sunken sockets – Homeless; – So many people walk right on by I wonder how many care, They all keep moving Even though they stare – Homeless; – Lost a job Lost a home, Lost a family Lost all hope – Homeless; – Where will I go from here What should I do, I’m so thankful when the weather’s fair And the skies are blue – Homeless; – Don’t know the day nor season And, yea, it sure gets cold at night, I’ve got an old sleeping bag I’ll be alright – Homeless; – There’s so many of us out here Without a home, Even so I feel so very alone – Homeless; – It’s a tough situation Not pretty, just true, And at any time It could happen to you – Homeless; – Hey buddy… Could you spare a dime, And say a prayer for us … sometime – – I’m just homeless, not less human…
Becoming is Superior to Being 