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Tucson Audubon Society
A Moment in Madera
By Carsten Wintsch (The Night Owls Birdathon Team)
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This story won the "Best Birdathon Story (written narrative)" for 2007
Out of all the fascinating moments I experienced during Birdathon, one of my favorites took place in Madera Canyon .
In Madera Canyon , there are some feeders that attract a variety of birds and birdwatchers. One of the “hot” birds that is seen at the feeders, is the Flame Colored Tanager. I was lucky enough to see several Tanagers, including the Hepatic, the beautiful Summer Tanager, and the yellow and orange Western Tanager. But out of all those Tanagers, there was one at the feeders that was very special; the striking Flame Colored Tanager.
Our team and some other birdwatchers heard the call of the Flame Colored Tanager and saw him fly to one of the feeders. At first, I didn't see him, because I was observing a covey of Wild Turkey. Dick tried to notify me in time to see this spectacular bird, but sadly, when I looked---it was gone, just like that. This made me feel very disappointed, because I was looking forward to seeing this elegant bird. Dick wasn't giving up that easily though, and he wanted to find one for me.
We sat at the feeders for at least an hour and saw all of the other Tanagers and the Black Headed Grosbeak. There were also a variety of Sparrows, Finches, and Wrens, but no Flame Colored Tanager. Since we had been there for an hour, and we had got nearly all the species we could see at the feeders, we had to get ready to go. But right when we started to walk away, we heard the fantastic bird's call. Dick turned around and started to help me look for it. When he notified me that the call was of a Flame Colored Tanager, it sounded like music to my ears.
We saw the bright, brilliant, flame colored bird fly into a huge, ancient sycamore towering above us. I was so thrilled to see this bird, it was almost like it was putting on a show for myself, Dick, and my team. As it hopped around in the green, dense Sycamore, it showed off its bright, brilliant belly which the sun illuminated spectacularly against the deep green leaves of the Sycamore.
I could have stayed there for the whole entire day, observing that Flame Colored Tanager and his gleaming colors. If I knew that we did not have to move on, I would have happily stayed there. But I reminded myself that this was the Birdathon, and there were other amazing species yet to come!
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Email This page was updated on 06/04/07