Sometimes you witness a thing and wonder. It doesn't have to make sense. And if you don't scold yourself for being ridiculous, try to shut it down or parse it into safe, little, bitesize pieces...
Oh---this is full of wonderful stuff! The Chukars with their painted faces! The male, with his deep red beak and red eye in that black Z-stripe, is especially striking; he's got presence. Looking at his face up close is trippy---such alert intensity.
I love the magic of echos---physics & poetry & art---all of it mixed up together in small or long moments. The quiet echos, or the exuberant, dancing echos; all the subtle or hollered-out echos. Past & present.
I suddenly remember my little-girl self wrapped up in total wonder as my own voice shouted back at me from the cliffs. I tried to fool them by hollering out in complicated, sing-song variations, but the cliffs always got it just right...
I love the Thomas Lloyd Qualls quote---thank you for including these beautiful quotes along with the science. You spoke poetry in many ways, my friend---and now I hear echoes everywhere...
You are completely welcome, Toni. So glad this found purchase within you, your atuned, artistic soul and careful reader's eye. This seems to have been an especially good year for Chukars, large families, abundant food; seeds and still tender leaves aplenty, abundant grasshoppers on the hillsides and plentiful choke cherries and blackberries in the draws and along the roadsides. I saw dozens, perhaps even a hundred over the week of walks and wanders. And though they are faster than gossip and excellent at concealment, one learns how to spend quality time in their near proximity. They are always a wonder to observe.
I've never seen Chukars---they seem quail-like in their family behaviors and calls---I so enjoy hearing your observations, and your pics were terrific. Love this learning journey...
I sometimes hear them referred to as Chukar Partridges. They are, methinks much larger cousins of quail, certainly act similarly, look out for one another, similarly and are bloody amazing at running up steep, rocky slopes, and actually members of the pheasant clan.
My goodness, never seen a Chukar in my life before and WOW are they beautiful. That eye stripe and the stroke of colour in the wing?! In that second photo of yours, the little ones gathered on the rocks reminded me so much of meerkats...
And their song is so rhythmic. One can only assume that their song has inspired many a piece of music in their native Asia, and beyond.
Notice and wonder is some very fine life advice, thank you, David.
When you come looking for Lazuli Buntings and Goldfinches, we must make sure you meet a covey/coterie of Chukar, as well. Or several. They occupy some of the same places and can often be spotted within moments of one another while walking, listening and looking. There is a sort of nobility to them, the way they station themselves upon some rocky outcropping and look contemplatively out over the nearby world.
The Wallace Stephens quote.
Slays me too. Magic!
Between the toes, you can almost feel its exquisite goo. That'll wake the inner child a tad.
I like how you think, Ann.
Love it….the ‘freedom’ to simply enjoy a sense of wonder.
Thank you for making time to leave a note my friend.
The echo is a gift. A gift somewhat akin to putting a seashell to our ear and hearing the ocean.
Jann, this is beautiful. Thank you!
Love this, David...
That you, Danyce. Picture me smiling at the thought.
Oh---this is full of wonderful stuff! The Chukars with their painted faces! The male, with his deep red beak and red eye in that black Z-stripe, is especially striking; he's got presence. Looking at his face up close is trippy---such alert intensity.
I love the magic of echos---physics & poetry & art---all of it mixed up together in small or long moments. The quiet echos, or the exuberant, dancing echos; all the subtle or hollered-out echos. Past & present.
I suddenly remember my little-girl self wrapped up in total wonder as my own voice shouted back at me from the cliffs. I tried to fool them by hollering out in complicated, sing-song variations, but the cliffs always got it just right...
I love the Thomas Lloyd Qualls quote---thank you for including these beautiful quotes along with the science. You spoke poetry in many ways, my friend---and now I hear echoes everywhere...
You are completely welcome, Toni. So glad this found purchase within you, your atuned, artistic soul and careful reader's eye. This seems to have been an especially good year for Chukars, large families, abundant food; seeds and still tender leaves aplenty, abundant grasshoppers on the hillsides and plentiful choke cherries and blackberries in the draws and along the roadsides. I saw dozens, perhaps even a hundred over the week of walks and wanders. And though they are faster than gossip and excellent at concealment, one learns how to spend quality time in their near proximity. They are always a wonder to observe.
I've never seen Chukars---they seem quail-like in their family behaviors and calls---I so enjoy hearing your observations, and your pics were terrific. Love this learning journey...
I sometimes hear them referred to as Chukar Partridges. They are, methinks much larger cousins of quail, certainly act similarly, look out for one another, similarly and are bloody amazing at running up steep, rocky slopes, and actually members of the pheasant clan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chukar_partridge
Oh cool; and ty for link.
My goodness, never seen a Chukar in my life before and WOW are they beautiful. That eye stripe and the stroke of colour in the wing?! In that second photo of yours, the little ones gathered on the rocks reminded me so much of meerkats...
And their song is so rhythmic. One can only assume that their song has inspired many a piece of music in their native Asia, and beyond.
Notice and wonder is some very fine life advice, thank you, David.
When you come looking for Lazuli Buntings and Goldfinches, we must make sure you meet a covey/coterie of Chukar, as well. Or several. They occupy some of the same places and can often be spotted within moments of one another while walking, listening and looking. There is a sort of nobility to them, the way they station themselves upon some rocky outcropping and look contemplatively out over the nearby world.