After A Bit Of A Hiatus

Post-shutdown finds life getting back to normal at BANWR. On Monday we worked at the flight pens which house about 300 Masked Bobwhite Quail. This is normally the area where two of the other volunteers work but they have taken a month off and will be returning in March. We only did routine care (feeding, checking water, inspecting for incursions of wildlife (snakes, rodents, etc.) as we were helping to prepare for a survey to be held on Tuesday. Later in the day we drove the areas to be surveyed (and later burned). The mud was deep and slippery and the roads had been heavily rutted by Border Patrol vehicles and military Humvees.

Tuesday dawned cold and grey with a strong wind. The survey would go on but it was cold. The survey was in the southern-most part of the refuge, abutting the border with Mexico. We were looking for Pima Pineapple Cactus, a rare specimen only found in Pima County, Arizona. When cactus are found, they are photographed, documented and mapped. The urgency for this survey was a “prescribed burn” of areas near the wall. “Prescribed” as in planned and not wildfire but this burn was ordered by Homeland Security so there would be less cover in that part of the refuge. The hope is that cactus would survive a fire and the effects of fire could be studied. After nearly eight miles of trekking in formation across some difficult areas, no PPC were found. The tracks were determined by GPS and all 17 of us were kept in line by fire crew on either side and the biologist in the center, each walking with an iPad in hand. We did however see military troops installing razor wire on the existing border post fence. This was a bit startling but also the gossip from our (BANWR) fire guys said a baby had born in Sasabe to a migrant during the shutdown. I guess the wall plus razor wire isn’t a totally reliable barrier for immigrants.

On Wednesday it was back to the quail facility where our normal tasks are—you guessed it—food and water. As the weather continued to be cold and windy, we didn’t get back to cleaning various brooder cage bits outdoors but engaged in cleaning and dusting inside with the quails. There is one female quail (with various names such as Munchikins or Mean Girl or Lila) who is quite spoiled. She was a runt and not expected to live after she hatched. Due to good care, she has become quite robust but will not be bred. She is nasty to other quails so she has her own pen and has become a favorite. During the day, she is allowed out of her pen and she walks around visiting other quails, picking up any spilled seeds or feed pellets. She doesn’t go far but it can be startling to see one of these very valuable birds out and about.

Thursday brought our weekly trip to Arivaca Cienega to take water readings. Water seems to be up just a bit but the weather remained cold and windy. On our way back to the Outpost, we stopped at Maintenance to use the power washer on our truck (the tiny but reliable Colorado) which was packed with mud and clay from the border roads. Rumor has it that we may get another, slightly larger truck soon.

On Friday we went to Tucson for our weekly shopping. We do seem to make a production of it. Here’s the route: Whole Foods; Trader Joe’s; Fry’s (like Stop & Shop); Supercuts (Ellen); Bed, Bath and Beyond: Fry’s fuel (diesel); REI; Summit Hut; St. Mary’s Mexican Food (tortillas for Wednesday’s potluck); and finally on the way back to the refuge Nico’s Fast Mexican (takeout for dinner). Phew!

On Saturday we agreed to help out a fellow volunteer on the bi-weekly Brown Canyon Hike. She was scheduled to lead it on her own but we were concerned that one person was too few for 14 hikers (finally reduced to 12). It’s not a hard hike but the area is remote and has no phone or radio service. A small injury could become a big deal. So, one more day of work this week. But, being Saturday, there was desert with our dinner, Lacy’s chocolate cookies!

Photos!