Shy ones

Friend Patty is a friend to animals of all kinds, which means that she indulges them with all manner of feeders. As we left her house after yesterday's game of Scrabble, these seed bags were covered with little guys. By the time I had my camera in shooting position, there were none. But I waited them out. Slowly, they began to return -- the goodies were irresistible. By my first shot, there were three of the little fellows -- all watching me quite careully.

Soon another joined -- and one, satisfied that the giant wasn't about to attack, began to eat.

Most of the birds were ready for food by the time another pair arrived.

A total of seven birds had returned to the feeding bags when I decided to call it quits. I suppose that if I really want to take pictures of birds, I will have to get into the feeder business. Which sort of defeats the purpose of my long zoom lens, which was to enable my camera to see into the trees and underbrush where birds hang out. It doesn't -- the dang camera carefully focuses on the branches and twigs in front of any birds I espy. Besides, I already have one demanding pet to take care of. And, no, I'm not going to burden myself carrying all that glass of a a DSLR.

Linkage: Sometimes you really have to admire grumpy folk with a fine sense of irony. Boonie, for instance, who essays an essay on forest fires as a way to fight an economic depression. One of my recent posts about trees at the ridgeline got a mention in the most recent Festival of the Trees over at Arboreality (I love that name!); the theme for this blog carnival is secrets in and of the forest. And, on the subject of festivals, I came across a URL for the Prescott Film Festival (which is a effort that I don't quite understand. Besides, I always thought that a proper Prescott Film Festival would consist of a week-long celebration of yesterday's westerns.)

Bird amenities

Surely ours isn't the only small city that can support a shop strictly for bird watchers -- or a column in the local paper all about birds. But we do indeed have such a store, Jay's Bird Barn, over by the north Safeway; furthermore, the proprietor, Eric Moore, writes a weekly article for the Courier. But I shouldn't be surprised. I've been collecting pictures of bird feeders and bird houses and bird baths all over the area. There are ever so many. In fact, a US Fish & Wildlife Service survey revealed that over 50 million Americans spend some time watching wild birds. No reason that Prescottonians should be any different.

Many people buy bird houses for their yards; some even build them, tho I've never before seen such an extravaganza as this homemade residence on sale at Batterman's. I wonder if a bird ever alighted on the structure; my suspicion is that the architect probably kept thinking of new improvements to add and just never got around to mounting it. Besides, I doubt if any birds would bother to unhook those latches.

On the other hand, here are a couple of handmade homes situated high enough that they just might entice a small bird couple.

This bird abode was too far away for me to decide whether it was homemade or store-bought. Also I'm not sure whether it is really suitable for live-in birds or is merely yard decor, like far too many of the houses that I've seen.

Most often, the cute would-be nests are located within arm's reach; if I were a self-respecting bird, I'd stick to the trees for safety's sake.

I wonder if the apartment building above has ever had tenants. The unit below may have -- it was very high up on a pole.

Again, I suspect that some feeders are decorative rather than utilitarian.

But, again, locate the house (above) or feeder (below) high enough and customers should show up. Note that there are ropes so that the little nesting box may be cleaned out periodically. As for the feeder below, I walk under it every so often; it's so high up that a ladder is in order.

Some straight-forward feeding stations (above, below).

Of course, in our dry climate, water is a necessity for the birds, tho I don't see nearly as many bird baths. Probably because it's a lot more work to keep them filled -- and clean.

Then there is the cat problem....

Linkage: There's this big picture of me over at Pictures and More plus a song about Never Been to Prescott; what can I say, Steve, except thank you!

Granite Creek in Winter

I suspect that moderns and newcomers have no idea how central Granite Creek is to the history of Prescott. In fact, I had to be reminded by this bleak picture, from the Sharlot Hall archives, which is on the historic information plaque on the Gurley Street Bridge. Our creek was once a free-flowing (and free-flooding) stream that provided water for the townspeople and gold for early prospectors.

Today, the creek (looking south) is confined by concrete walls. Happily, the snow up in the hills continues to keep the creek well watered.

Looking north from Gurley: a jungle of twigs, branches and limbs.

Also north of the bridge, there's a new set of stairs leading down to the creekside trail. They're part of the new patio project at the back of Prescott Coffee Roasters.

Water is moving slowly enough that the reflections are serene pictures.

As I was photographing the creekside mural from the walkway to the Dinner Bell's back room, I spied these neat hanging bags of bird food. There was also a hanging platform feeder for other birds.

Another item that caught my attention (for the first time, tho I've been here many times) -- the big beam supporting the bridge. I wonder when it was installed, tho I vaguely recall that there had been some discussion of the necessity of shoring up the old bridge way back when in the
Courier.

And, while I was at the creek and not on a schedule, the timing was right to document the long mural depicting Prescott's history. Look for it on the east side of the creek south of Gurley. And catch it before the trees and scrub leaf out, hiding half the artwork.

If I'm not mistaken, the project was the work of Prescott High School students.

The Airstream is a neat symbol for modern tourons -- though I guess we're still supposed to look out for big cats that lie in waiting.

The authors and, perhaps, members of the touch-up team, too.

For some reason or other, painting walls and the sides of buildings is a popular pasttime in Prescott. Thus far, I've recorded the White Spar murals (both versions, here and here), as well as the four seasons painted at the back of the shops on Gurley. I've yet to catch up with the current state of the mural project next to the city parking garage ... I intend to redo my pix of Prescott College's new mural... and there are those history-of-Prescott windows at the high school in my files. Not to mention art I've found on smaller buildings (here and here.) Does anyone remember the two-storey solar system occupying the side of one of the old four-flats on South Montezuma Street? Too bad it was painted over in a fit of maintenance. It was cool.