Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Mary StarboardWho would've thought you could go, fifteen years later, to the very place you grew up and see an entirely different place? I finally got to see the Rio Grande Valley last weekend not as a kid bored out of her mind and thinking she lived on an earthly Tattoine, but as a birder, grown up and in love with nature. I loved the outdoors as a kid, but I was somehow harder then; I never thought of nature as something we could or would destroy. Cities were where everything happened, or so I thought, and all I wanted to do was get out of the Valley and see the world. My childhood playing with frogs and toads, getting bitten by a lizard, being chased and scared by an owl--I figured when I grew up I would live in a big city and go shopping and work and just buy stuff like grownups did. It never entered my mind that I could grow old and learn to appreciate nature in a completely different way, not as just a place to play but as a classroom, a sanctuary, a church.
Being back in the Valley was fascinating; much had changed, but much remained the same. People still had shack-like houses along the highway with "yards" full of junk, there was still too much emphasis on development and "progress," and there were not nearly enough young people out there enjoying the natural world. I guess they were all in the malls and outlet shops. We didn't see one child in any of those birding areas, not one. There was a group of late teens taking a guided walk at SANWR, and a couple of giggly teen girls at Estero Llano, but they were barely engaged in the beauty around them. Like a typical oldster, I wanted to grab them by the shoulders and say, "Appreciate this! Believe me, you'll want to remember it for the rest of your life!" But they continued on their way and so did we.
Right after that, we saw and heard that Swainson's Hawk. What a moment it was, standing there listening to the Birdjam, both of us smiling from ear to ear when we heard that call, and we knew.
7 comments:
hey delia, it's me your seester Mary.
Wow! I took a quick break from the blog to make some oatmeal (still a favorite of mine) and come back to - another blog entry - such fast work.
I appreciate you adding the photos I took. Your blog and wonderful commentary make them really help to set them off. (Only you and me know how many of them were duds.) The video is especially cool. although artistically, the sparrows weren't my best work (i like the olive sparrow take at the end of Santa A. best) but your "freakin' sparrows" moment is pretty funny. tia chelo is well and we'll be heading for the hay soon...talk to you soon. love mgs.
Well I agree but I about the collection should acquire more info then it has.
Trip looks to be a great success! Thanks for the photos and report.
No trip expense report is complete without a narrative report!
Wow, I didn't know you were from that area—it must have been a neat experience to see it through a birder's eyes. Do you know if there are any birding programs down there for kids? I bet kids growing up there would love it--and grow up with a sense of environmental responsibility as well!
Dear Ms. Guzman -
I apologize for using your comments area to get in touch with you, but I could not easily find any other contact information on your blog.
I am writing from Princeton University Press. I would like to send you, from time to time, notices of our new books. Please email me back at jessica_pellien@press.princeton.edu
Thank you,
Jessica
Mary! I still love oatmeal too, man.
Anon--well said.
Rabbits' Guy--it was amazing!
Felicia--yup, grew up in Raymondville and Harlingen. Went to college in Kingsville (Texas A&I back then).
Jessica--welcome to the bloggy, and I'll email you.
Cool post as for me. It would be great to read more concerning that theme. Thnx for sharing that material.
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