Estimada gente impaciente,
Yes, yes, I know. Updates to the blog have become rare lately. So rare, in fact, that like the Great Auk, they haven't existed recently. For this, I blame a lack of cell coverage, long days spent birding, and possibly tequila.
Now that we're clear it's not my fault, and I still love you, allow me to lay down some education.
We are currently in Ramsey Canyon, AZ, near Sierra Vista. Recently, we have spent 3 days around Madera Canyon, 1 day around Patagonia, and then arrived here at RC last night. The birding highlights of our past few days have included finding a Five-striped Sparrow with our friend Alex, and also attempting to hear another rarity, the Buff-collared Nightjar, with him. Let's hear more about that...
The Birding Experience: Seeing a Buff-collared Nightjar
So, you'd like to be one of the lucky few to encounter a rare Mexican visitor, the Buff-collared Nightjar. You've heard that a Buffy is hanging out near Madera Canyon, and was heard not-too-long ago. What do you do?
First, drive to the location where it was reported, arriving about 30 minutes before dusk and shortly before your friend.
As you climb the last hill and pull off the road, you will notice several people already present. A rather large group, in fact. Maybe 20 or so people?
Most of them will be young men, about 16-18, and all wearing hats. About half have knit caps, and half have straw hats with brims. The Amish contingent is In Da House!!! Oh, and somewhat creepily, all will be staring at you.
The next thing you'll notice is that you are parked directly behind two Border Patrol trucks. This will become important in a moment.
When your friend shows up, then you will, like all good stake-out birders, retrieve a few cold beers from your cooler and crack them open. You will do this as quietly as possible, as the Amish will look inquisitively your way when they hear the hiss of a cap being popped. Verrrry inquisitively.
As darkness falls, the non-Amish will leave one-by-one, for some reason announcing their next destination loudly: "Welp, I'm going over to Box Canyon, they had some Poorwills over there." Umm... why are you telling me this? Good luck?
After the Poorwills start calling and the Nightjar refuses to join them, the Amish group will march en masse into the dark. To somewhere.
Now, it gets weirder.
The Border Patrol guys and their tracking dog will show up. They will ask that you move your car soon, but no rush, as there are Drug Mules in the hills (oh, really? you will say, nervously) and they have another officer tracking them, but he won't be down for a few minutes. On cue, you will see the light from his flashlight as he hikes down the hill.
Shortly thereafter, the officers will start chatting. The officer with the dog will apologize to the other for not being around the day before when something interesting went down, but his dog had to go to the vet because the dog came down with diarrhea. Apparently, our officers could be at risk because the guard dog ate some bad roadkill?
After the officers leave, you will realize that the night is getting late, and the Nightjar hasn't called yet. And, your beer is gone. So, you will decide to call it, and try again another day.
And this is how you attempt to hear a Nightjar. Just remember, failure is educational.
Until our next time,
Me
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