May 2005

May 20, 2005

If the rains of the last few weeks have kept you inside, you may have missed the grand transformation to our campus environment.

Small buds on bare branches have exploded into full leaf. The machinery of photosynthesis--powered by water, air, and light--has sent quiescent perennials reaching ever higher. In a competitive race to capture more light than their neighbors, they spread up and out in any space available. Gaps in the forest canopy are favored by these light seekers, as are the unclaimed spaces on the trail along the creek. Their exuberant growth makes walking a challenge for intrepid Mt. Hood saints.

The animal community has likewise blossomed. Nuestros amigos del pájaro han llegado!

From the forests of Mexico, Black-headed Grosbeaks announce their arrival with a robin-like song. The familiarity of their tune and the similarity of their colors may confuse a casual observer, but a closer look makes clear their name. Theirs is a beak for crunching seeds, not pulling worms.

From El Salvador and Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras, come the diminutive but striking Black-throated Gray Warblers and their Dendroica cousins the Townsend’s and Hermit Warblers. These three species, markedly different in coloration, confuse even the most seasoned birders by song. Some individuals are simply passing through, others will establish nests and raise their young. Observed or heard, they are a pleasure to have on campus.

Thousands of miles traveled--from the stable, but competitive tropical habitats to the uncertain, yet bountiful north. Each arrival tells a story of a remarkable journey. Each is a messenger of hope and faith. Hope that we may rejoice in their presence and protect the places they live. Faith that life carries on both small and large, far and near, subtle and obvious. And, best of all, faith that when the rains stop, they await our discovery!

with an eye on nature,

Wally




http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-headed_Grosbeak.html
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.html
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Townsends_Warbler.html
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Warbler.html