I took this photo yesterday as I was running the dog in the late afternoon. This is in Seattle and it is where I once saw and heard a male California quail almost three years ago. knotted with light and shade This male Callipepla californica was making an “advertisement,” cow, call. And maybe it is advertisement although, honestly, I do not think we know enough about the call’s function to call it that. I have intranscience. Salt away. … Continue reading
My son is writing a Quail Diaries of his own. It is a somewhat different narrative, however. The quail in these diaries are working to overcome their nemeses–including….Cooper’s hawks and Dr. Calkins. I’m in it in the first chapter, trapping and banding the birds. Quant, the hero quail is never trapped but Y/S Y/B is, and this bird, with help from Quant, shoots me in the eye, thus forcing me to retire from trapping. While … Continue reading
In the context of the rain, and surge and winds on the other side of the country it feels unutterably calm here. not honey, not the south Though outside, right now, is one of the few sunny days we’ve had this year in Seattle. So it is a weather event, though not an unseasonable one. not the plunder of the bee/from meadow or sand-flower/or mountain bush The beauty of this place is undeniable like today … Continue reading