It has been a very long time since I posted a new entry on this blog. I feel that I owe my readers an explanation. Why no new blog posts? I have been deeply depressed for months – and depressed writers don’t write. In terms of what has been causing this lasting depression, it is a small avalanche of things…the unjustified furor over the most recent presidential election. The insurrection – one of the most unpatriotic acts I ever known to mar my country’s history. The widespread denial of science by millions of Americans. The pandemic – ranking the United States as the world leader in Covid deaths – an inexcusable national embarrassment. Mass shootings -another ghastly national embarrassment, as we lead all other nations on Earth by a very wide margin with respect to such violent, maniacal acts. The mounting gullibility of our populace coupled with a concerted effort by millions to divide a great nation. The horrific war in Ukraine…and there is plenty more, but I will keep the rest private.
As it has been throughout my life, the world of nature has been a source of peace, calm, reassurance, and sanity during these deeply troubled times. I am so grateful to live far away from towns and cities in a rural setting where birdsong, wildlife, a lack of crowding, and sunlight feed my soul.
So, what is going on in the Middle San Pedro River Valley lately? The landscape is very dry, even by desert standards. The usual winter rains were both scarce and weak, resulting in an entire region whose mesquite bosques sprouted no green understory plants, a valley floor bereft of the normal growth of winter grasses, perennial reaches of the river receding, and uplands nearly devoid of spring wildflowers.
As far as avian life goes, I have never witnessed such a paucity of birds here, both in terms of species diversity and numbers. Numerous migratory species, birds that I have regularly observed every spring for 20 years, simply did not appear, or appeared in very low numbers. There were no back-throated grey warblers, no orange-crowned or Virginia’s warblers, no Empidonax flycatchers. I recorded the presence of only one Townsend’s warbler during migration, and there were startlingly low numbers of normally abundant yellow-rumped warblers. Rufous-winged sparrows, a common fixture here, are entirely absent from our property this year for the first time ever. On the positive side of things, we now have three dazzling male varied buntings visiting our water dishes daily, two more than any other prior year had provided. Our resident ravens, Mike and Mavis, hatched out a clutch of four a few months ago, just 100 feet from my office window. That brood fell victim to a group of coyotes on the very first night that they left the nest. The determined parents have since built a new nest on a nearby property, a place where the landowner is very appreciative of the local wildlife. Mavis is busy incubating her second clutch of eggs in a safe place…
Even the local reptiles – especially the snakes – have been few and far between this summer. A few weeks ago, one of our local diamondbacks appeared at our bird pond to drink and grab a feathered meal or two.
During the hot months in southeastern Arizona, any water source attracts wildlife of all sorts. Simply maintaining a few water dishes does wonders for throngs of very thirsty birds, reptiles, mammals, and more. Our “bird pond” is nothing more than a shallow depression dug into the ground, fed by a trickling garden hose; very simple to set up and maintain. It would take pages of text to tell all the tales of the remarkable diversity of living creatures that have availed themselves of this water source over the years.
Last, but surely not least, as I began to assemble this new blog post on the evening of June 10th, raindrops began pelting the roof! This was no “teaser” rain, no ten-second-this-is-all-you-get rain, but a prolonged rain that wetted the dusty ground and left small puddles in its wonderful wake. This is a rare event, so early in June. Desert life benefits from the gift of every precious drop.
Thank you, Ralph ~ I’m so glad you folks got rain.. I could only watch it come down from a distance, watched the lightning and hoped no fires would be started. Even without rain here, a few miles up the road, the air was sweet and welcome.
Thank you for your latest post about the San Pedro River’s first rain.
I agree with everything you said about what is happening in our country and world and I certainly can relate to your depression. I hope that San Pedro related wildlife and your emotional state both pick up very soon!
I live in southeastern Tucson and earlier this evening we experienced clouds, thunder, and lightning for the first time in many many months. Although no rain fell here the dynamic weather was a nice break from hot day after hot day with no clouds in the sky anywhere.
Thank you also for your great book on the San Pedro River. I have really enjoyed reading it!
Here’s hoping for a terrific monsoon this summer!
Hi Duncan,
Thank you for your interest in my blog, and for your comments.
It was nice to learn that Tucson had some clouds and thunder, even
if no rain fell there. Here in the valley the rainfall was fickle
as it often is – some places received a little rain and others not a drop.
It looks like more may be coming our way today!
I’m so very glad that you enjoyed reading my book!
With best wishes and a growing hope for a good monsoon,
Ralph Waldt
You’re very welcome!
great to get an update, it is so unsettling to have so few birds this spring, with summer just around the corner. We have had only a couple of snakes in our house envelope to deport, however, their trails are clear in several places away from the house. We seemed to have lost our deer, but a couple showed up this past week.
thank goodness for the early rain.
charlie
And we have had a turkey couple the mail seems to have been injured and he may have wandered off this past week.
Thank You Ralph,
Ah,…. the air is sweet this morning after last night’s beautiful rain. Those Ravens loved the rain too, they work so hard, in tandem, to provide shelter for their eggs and feed themselves and be prepared for the day they hatch with mouths open wide to the sky. They are amazing birds. I saw three snakes of a different color yesterday in the Bosque. A yellowish Diamondback, a vividly stunning deep rose Red Coachwhip and turquoise Garter, or Sonoran Coachwhip? All beautiful. Life for everything seems better after the gift of rain.
Hey Gilbert,
I really appreciated your comments on my blog and the ravens and snakes.
This blog site is weird, I am never sure if my replies are reaching people.
If this reply gets to your inbox, would you please let me know? I am still
learning how to work this stuff.
Yes Ralph,
I did get your message, thanks
Hello, Ralph, welcome back; your writing as always, so fine. It has been a difficult time and continues to be so. Gratefully we can take refuge in the world right at hand. We had few birds this winter despite my diligence in putting out seed and suet and water. The ash throated fly catchers were three weeks late and there is a nest nearby, but God only knows what they’re eating. Not many bugs around, except for the singing cicadas. This spring brought out the claret cups in their full glory out on the back forty. Sadly the largest one was dug up by someone and taken away, hopefully to a good home. Not seeing it brought tears to my eyes; it’s been something to look forward to for many years. And the disappearance of the few prairie dogs left along part of the route I take back and forth to the college. My guess is that they’ve been trapped and taken elsewhere. Thank heaven there’s a Santa Fe city ordinance that says that’s what has to happen–no extermination. Waiting all winter was worth watching them pop out of their mounds with the approaching warm weather. And the perky sues struggled; no carpets of them as in the past. All of this sadness is mitigated by the bees coming to drink at the bird bath. I have to keep it filled twice a day! And finally, rain! We’re slated to get it for a whole week. In another day or two I’ll hike out to the back forty to see what’s been given a reprieve, and also to the Santa Fe River bed which always holds surprises after a rain.
Please keep writing, Ralph. Really important stuff.
Best, Luisa Baldinger
Hi Luisa,
It is always nice to hear from you and I so sincerely appreciate your
kind words and your interest in my blog! I have heard that New Mexico has
received a lot of rain during the past several weeks -what a great gift to
help quell those big fires and bring new life back to the dry landscape.
I,m sorry to hear about that missing claret cup – at least there are others
to brighten your future walks.
Here in Cochise County we have been getting some much-needed rains – almost
three inches since the monsoon began in mid June. It looks like more is on
the way as I write this.
All the best to you, Luisa.
Ralph
Thanks Ralph! I’ve been in Tennessee for the past month and could not be happier to be home in the desert. Hope I haven’t missed the entire monsoon! It’s nice to see some green in the desert. Good to be home. It sounds like Mike and Mavis’s clutch have hatched out at G.U.’s. He posted a picture recently.
Hope all are well on your end and while I’m saddened to hear of your depression, really who wouldn’t be with all we’ve been seeing. Glad to see you’re posting again.
Give my regards to K & B.
Bonnie
Although most of us have a lot to be thankful for; if there is someone out there who never has bouts of depression, from time to time, they should seek professional help.