Cactus Wren
One of the most active volunteers at the Franklin Mountains State Park is Richard Love. Richard built the Wildlife Viewing Area (bird blind) at the Tom Mays unit. He is also an excellent photographer as these images taken on December 2, 2009 prove.
The viewing area is well worth a visit by youth groups, classrooms, clubs, senior centers and anyone else interested in the fauna of the Franklin Mountains.
You can see why it is so important to protect the habitat of all of the precious birds, reptiles, animals, etc.
For more information, visit the FMSP web site.
White Crowned Sparrow
Gambles Quail
Texas Antelope Squirrel
Wonderful photos, as usual, from Richard. Thank you, Jim, for highlighting his great work. The creatures who live in this desert mountain habitat are so elusive - it's important for all of us to understand that this land provides life to so many beings. There is a thoughtful passage in Jon Katz's book, "Soul of a Dog": "An old tradition holds that at the Last Judgment, the non-human creatures of the earth will be called by God to "give evidence" against each human being. The idea pops up in books and stories about the Creation, deemed a myth, but a persistent, imposing, even haunting one. We will be judged by the very creatures so dependent on us. So I treat, and will continue to treat, my animals -- the dogs, cats, sheep, donkeys, chickens, and cows -- with that in mind. They will give evidence. What would I want them to say?" Mr. Katz is talking about domesticated animals here but I believe this passage asks a profound question which encompasses wildlife as well.
ReplyDeleteJust love that wildlife viewing area! Richard does so much for FMSP, we could never do without him!!
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