Quick Afternoon Observations

Shon Parks, our land planner and avid outdoorsman/botanist, and I went up the road a bit to check out the potential for creating a bird and wildlife oasis at the area we call the Chinese Well Riparian Area.  There is constrant running water out of two or three old wells running down the draw into large flat areas.




View Avimor- Chinese Well Riparian Area in a larger map

This place has tons of potential but will need a little restoration work as the cattle have really done a number on it over the last century.  We hope to create some shallow water areas and mud flats to be inviting to shorebirds.  We also are looking at native and fruiting trees and shrubs to plant in the area to provide food for birds year-round.  I have this dream of little micro-habitats for the various bird species and I look forward to studying them over the years.  My wishlist includes a nesting island or two, viewing blinds, and maybe even an observation tower.

We saw several great birds on our little jaunt today including a solitary Brewer's Blackbird (which may turn out to be a Rusty Blackbird if I can get photos or confirmation for folks more skilled than I), a pair of Spotted Towhee, at least three Wilson's Snipe, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches, Black-capped Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, load of Juncos and White-crowns, and finally a juvenile Bald Eagle flying overhead and eventually landing on a high power line tower.