When there are a few enthusiastic fishermen in your neighborhood, it's likely that you will get invited to a fish fry! The seniors in my neighborhood are known as "Empty Nesters". That's because their kids left home and the nest is empty..... flown the coop! A few of these fun-loving Empty Nesters caught fish, and then invited all of us to travel to cool, beautiful Pinevalley for a friendly fish-fry. What a relief from the hot weather! A
fresh
bubbling stream, tall
Ponderosa Pines, and birds everywhere.... it was a summer paradise.
The Western Tanager is common in forested areas like Pinevalley. Each time I visit I watch for them. This brightly colored bird is a crowd-pleaser. What other bird can make humans stop what they're doing and stare in awe? We were right in the middle of the fish-fry when one of these beauties flew through the open campground and landed on a pine branch. Wow! The fish took second place to this stunning performance. Red on the head, yellow body, black wings.... a real eye-stopper.
The Western Tanagers are treetop-foragers, gleaning food from foliage and branches. They are well-adapted at catching aerial prey, and they love fruit. Western Tanagers are Neo-tropical migrants that winter in Mexico and Central America. They migrate at night, traveling at high altitudes. Seldom are they seen in our area without a forested background. If you would like to encounter a Western Tanager, I suggest that you travel to Pinevalley, to Pine Park, to Oak Grove, or to Cedar Mountain. The female, is a bright yellow, but is usually seen with her splendiferous partner.
Thank you Artist Brenda Rusnell for drawing the Western Tanager. Even with their bright colors, they are often inconspicuous and difficult to observe. Have fun looking, and if you would like to come on a Red Cliffs Audubon Field Trip or know more about this bird, call Marilyn Davis 435 673-0996.
Past Articles:
"Cold
Days and Good Memories"
(White Pelican)
"Where's
Sherlock Holmes When You
Need Him?" (Yellow-billed Cuckoo)
"Tale
of Four Birders"
(Western Scrub Jay)
"East
Zion Continued"
(Golden-crowned Kinglet),
Vermilion
Flycatcher
"Aerial
Wolves" (Sharp-shinned Hawk)
"From
Clown School to Pond"
(Ruddy Duck)
"Shades
of Red" (Red-tailed Hawk).
"Predatory
Songbird" (Northern Shrike)
"The
Cagey Killdeer"
"A
True Bird Story" (Willet)
"A Song to Remember"
(Hermit
Thrush)
"To Catch a
Fish..."
(Green Heron aka Green-backed Heron)
"No Spring Cleaning"
(Brown-headed Cowbird)
"Look-alikes Galore" (Sage
Sparrow)
"A Jazzy Singer" (Cassin's
Finch)
"Salute the Coot" (American
Coot)
"Put a Smile on Your Face"
(Greater Roadrunner)
"The Tale of Fred and Ethel"
(Mallard)
"A Flutter of Sparrows"
(Clay-colored Sparrow)
"A Sight to Remember"
(Blue-gray gnatcatcher)
"About Night Life" (Northern
Saw-whet Owl)
"Black
and White and
Smart All Over" (Black-billed Magpie)
"Dressed for
Dinner... of Fine Wines and Bugs" (Red-naped Sapsucker)
"A Life List" (Painted Redstart)
"Bird-Brained" (Flammulated Owl)
"Needle in a Haystack"
(White-throated Sparrow)
"Booby Hatch" (Red-breasted Nuthatch)