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a p r i L Neither Snow nor Sleet Can Keep Spring Away new bird species seen this month: 84 totaL bird species by the end of the month: 536 pLaces birded: Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida April 2 I’m driving west toward Big Bend National Park, about 550 miles from Fort Worth. I need to get there to get a camping permit before the Panther Junction visitor center closes. If I get a permit, I will brave the forecast heavy winds, hike to Boot Springs and camp, and try to get a Flammulated Owl. It’s early in the season, but the owls should be there. Of course, there are a lot of other new bird possibilities for the year in Big Bend. If I get there too late, I’ll have to revise my plan. April 3 Here I am, sitting on my orange air mattress at the BC-1 campsite in Big Bend, up in the Boot Springs area. I was in doubt much of the way as to whether I’d make it up the mountain. It a big year quest is just like gambling— You pays your money and then get rambling. You takes your chances, and bet on winning, But you also know, from the beginning, That you might just never get what you’re after, Or maybe the day will end with laughter. The birds will show, or they’ll disappear, The clouds will rain, or perhaps they’ll clear. You might get lucky, or lose the hand, In spite of all you’ve done and planned. You keep on trying; you keep obsessing, You pray for yet another blessing. The dice are thrown, the wheel is turning, You hold your breath; are pulled by yearning. You can’t escape it, despite the cost, Despite the hours of sleep you’ve lost. The joker’s you, but you’re not knowing, With blinders on, you keep on going. although you’re doing something mad You do know that your heart is glad. Yet big year birding’s so much more, It’s peering out an open door To see the beauty, hear the sound, It’s such a wondrous world around. januarY 61 aPrIL is such a relentlessly steep climb, especially difficult with a heavy pack. The weather is lovely, no strong winds as of yet, just pleasant breezes alternating with absolute stillness. Yesterday was windy but not bad. My first new bird of the day was Cassin’s Sparrow—a couple of them singing south of Monahans. Once I arrived at the Big Bend headquarters, about nine hours after I left Fort Worth, I got my permit for the campsite. Mark Flippo (Big Bend ornithologist) told me that the Common Black-Hawks were being seen, so I headed to Rio Grande Village where they have nested for years, with a brief stop at Dugout Wells, where an Ash-throated Flycatcher greeted me, the first of a few new birds for the day. At Rio Grande Village, I immediately went to the known Common BlackHawk site, a small grove of large cottonwoods. With very little scanning, I located a Common Black-Hawk perched about 20 feet up in the one of the “usual” trees. I took a few pictures and then was surprised to realize that there was a second one perched about 10 feet from the first. By backing off on the lens magnification, I could get them both in the same picture. I could see nest materials in the tree, but it might have been a previous year’s nest. I wandered around the Rio Grande Village campground after a picnic supper . Then, since darkness and possible owls were taking so long to arrive, I drove into the amphitheater parking area and packed my big pack for today in the light of day. As dusk approached, I drove over to the Boquillas Canyon trail, hoping to hear and/or see Poorwills. It was very dark, and they should have been there, but maybe the wind kept them away or kept them silent. I did hear a Rock Wren while I waited for dark. After that I drove around the campground, hoping to hear owls, but nothing again, probably due to the wind. I drove to Chisos Basin, arriving about 10:00 p.m. I washed up in the restroom there and crawled into the back of my car (the back seats were removed, giving me almost enough room to sleep...

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