Birds on a Wire

I am fascinated by how animals adapt to a changing world. In particular, how do wild animals utilize human-altered habitat and man-made structures. To be sure, many species are too reclusive or their habitat requirements are too specific to be found in human altered landscapes.

I have a whole series of bird photos I might loosely refer to as “Birds on a Wire”. Birds readily utilize poles, fences, wires etc… as perches. This is especially true in grasslands, natural or man-made, as these perches offer a place to survey their surroundings. Even a slight elevation can help males proclaim their territories, free from the muffling influence of ground vegetation.

Birds are not the only creatures to take advantage of human alterations to landscapes. In 2010, while hiking through King’s Canyon near Tucson, I came across an old stone shelter. The roof had blown off and a few yards away lay the tar paper. The ground underneath was shaded and damp. Besides the usual invertebrates, a brightly colored lizard caught my eye. It was a Western Banded Gecko. These native geckos are primarily nocturnal and this one had appropriated the tar paper as a daytime refuge.

What started this whole train of thought is a series of large pipes and culverts stored by Colorado Springs Utilities at Pinello Ranch. They provide a favorite hiding place for cottontail rabbits and once I saw a bullsnake slither away under them. Last week our Ranch Manager, Patrick, pointed out two bobcats hunting amongst the pipes, most likely for those rabbits. These wary cats are not usually out and about during the day. I wondered if the two might work in tandem, trapping a rabbit somewhere in the maze of pipes.

Roughly 2/3 of the continental US is being used for agricultural production. Given this massive use of land to raise our food, it is clear that farms and ranches need to also provide wildlife habitat. Not only is it a necessity to conserve wildlife, but it is also smart for farmers and ranchers. This is a complex theme that I will return to again and again.

Red-tailed Hawk near Pinello Ranch. Photo: Phil Russell

Bald Eagle, Pinello Ranch. Photo: Diane French

Song Sparrow singing on handrail at Pinello Ranch. Photo: Diane French

American Kestrel with morning meal atop telephone pole at Pinello Ranch. Photo: Diane French

Savannah Sparrow atop “T” post at Pinello Ranch. Photo: Jeannie Mitchell

Western Banded Gecko. King’s Canyon, AZ

Bobcat peering under pipes for prey at Pinello Ranch.

Bobcat, one of a pair, hunting at Pinello Ranch

Bobcat hunting amongst pipes at Pinello Ranch