Close Encounters of the Feathered Kind
The Fall program of public events on the Red Rock Ranger District is in full swing -- and full feather. Arizona Birds of Prey will be presented on Friday October 6 from 10am to noon at the Ranger District Visitor Center on Highway 179 one mile south of the Village of Oak Creek. Starting at 10am, Arizona Natural History Association Education Coordinator Tori Marshall will speak about birds of prey common in our area. Following the presentation, from 11:00 to noon, live birds will be featured at a Meet and Greet wildlife program on the Visitor Center porch. This is an opportunity for close viewing of native Arizona bird species and conversation with Rangers about these fascinating creatures.
The feathered guests may include a Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, Zone Tailed Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, as well as the very clever Common Raven, which is classified as a songbird rather than a bird of prey. These birds are non-releasable due to injuries and are among the Education Ambassador Birds under the care of the Runnin' W Wildlife Center in Cornville AZ. Forest Service Environmental Education Coordinator Candice Mark is one of the trained bird handlers and says "We are bringing this program to the District as a way for residents and visitors to grow connections with native wildlife."
The Forest Service Fall event program then takes to the sky for a Star Party on Saturday October 7, in partnership with the Astronomers of the Verde Valley. Solar gazing, with safely-equipped telescopes, will be offered from 2pm-4pm. An astronomy presentation begins at 6pm in the Visitor Center, followed by expert hosted telescope viewing until 9pm on the patio. The Village of Oak Creek has joined Sedona as an International Dark Sky Community, making for an unforgettable star gazing experience.
Coming next on November 3 at 11am, a First Friday talk will feature an update on the work of local volunteers to preserve Red Rock District archaeology through photo documentation. Project leader Spence Gustav will demonstrate how new technologies - such as 3D photo modeling - not only enhance photograhic records but also enable public "visitation" to archaeological sites via the internet.
Indoor presentations at the Red Rock District Visitor Center are limited to the first forty participants.
For those wishing to take to the trails for new learning experiences, Friends of the Forest volunteers are launching a new season of guided hikes and walks. All hike and walk programs are limited in participation and require registration at 928-203-2903 or in person at the District Visitor Center. Locations and other details for these events are provided upon registration.
Red Rock Geology Hikes: Thursdays October 5, 9am-11am, November 16 and December 7, 10am to noon. Naturalist Chris Weld has been leading interpretive hikes of Sedona's geology for fifteen years. Weld believes, " understanding Sedona's geology is a part of fully appreciating the spectacular beauty of our environment. The concepts we discuss can be a basis for gaining knowledge of geology elsewhere." This hike involves two hours of moderate difficulty hiking and standing.
Red Rock Photo Walks: Wednesdays October 18, 8am-10am, November 15 and December 20, 9am-11am. Local photographer J.K. Lovelett creates an opportunity to explore Red Rock Country through a camera lens on two hour easy to moderate walks. "We seek out interesting things to shoot - such as the iconic red rock formations, flora and fauna of the area - using a camera or cell phone, while enjoying the morning and each other's company", says Lovelett. She offers suggestions and ideas for photo composition and camera settings along the way, making these outings suitable for any level photographer.
And rounding out the Fall calendar, with more bird encounters:
Birding Walks: Tuesdays October 17 and October 31, 8am-10am, November 14, November 28 and December 20, 9am-11am. Birding Guide Kevin Harding gives a hint of a birder's experience: "At Bubbling Springs we often see Great Blue Herons that are easy to identify and look rather prehistoric. They feed on fish, amphibians and small mammals by spearing the prey with their long beaks. We recently saw a Great Egret that confused me for a bit because Great Blue Herons and Reddish Egrets come in a white version called a white morph. The key is the color of the legs, and once it was clear that the legs were black then we knew we had a Great Egret and not a white morph of another species. This is the kind of challenge that makes birding such great fun."
Follow the Sedona Friends of the Forest website for ongoing updates about the free public programs on the Red Rock Ranger District.
Serving Sedona, written this week by Friends of the Forest volunteer Jennifer Young, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.