On The Road – Albatrossity – Big Bend National Park – #1

We got to the park at sunset, and were able to stay in some of the rustic cabins near the lodge in Chisos Basin, the administrative center of the park which is nestled in the Chisos Mountains. This was our view of the mountains at dawn the next day.

There were lots of birds near the cabin; I didn’t even have to get off the porch to see this Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus). These clown-faced birds store acorns in large “granaries”, which are basically just acorn-sized holes in a handy dead tree. They are gregarious and have a complex social structure, with young birds from last year helping to raise the young, joint-nesting by multiple females, etc. One of my favorite birds, and very raucous as well!

Another bird near the cabin was this White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica). Large, noisy, and currently expanding its range northward, they can be distinguished from the familiar Mourning Dove by the larger size, white upperwing coverts, and shorter rounded tail rather than the pointy tail of the Mourning Dove.

The area around the lodge has lots of hiking trails, which are home to lots of interesting southwestern birds. This Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) obligingly perched on a prickly pear cactus and showed off its eponymous brown cap.

One of the iconic geological sites in the park is a feature called The Window, a slotted canyon at the end of a hiking trail that starts near the lodge, and is a gorgeous place to view the sunset. But at dawn this view of the sunrise also presented itself, set off by this flowering stem of the Sotol (Dasylirion sp.). This spiky plant can be used for fiber, livestock food, and even to make a liquor called sotol, which involves roasting flowerheads like this one for 24 hours and then distilling the juice. We couldn’t find it in the stores, but it sounds, ummm, interesting.

In the lower desert (which makes up most of the park) there are also some interesting birds. Black-throated Sparrows (Amphispiza bilineata) were abundant, and familiar to anyone who has birded in the American Southwest.

Another abundant denizen of the lower desert is the Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), It is aptly named, as it is nearly always found near rock jumbles and canyon walls.

Common Ravens (Corvus corax) also live in the low desert areas of the park, as well as in the upper more mountainous parts. They are hard to photograph, wary and mono-colored, so I try to get a decent picture of them every time I have the chance. That broad wedge-shaped tail is the best field mark for identifying soaring ravens, which are actually larger than many Red-tailed Hawks.

Finally, one of the target birds for many visitors to the American Southwest is this Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus). A member of the cardinal and grosbeak tribe, also known as the Desert Cardinal, it is easily distinguished from the more familiar Northern Cardinal by the stubby yellow bill and the wispy pointed crest. Based on the rosy color on the chest and breast, this one is a male.