Vivid memories of people, places and — birds

JOHN KARRIGAN

One of my first notes for this month’s column, just before I made a detour to “paradise” or “heaven” as I’ve heard it described by various people, was that I saw dandelions growing and blooming near the northwest shore of Powderhorn Lake on Nov. 28. At that time there were still a few Mallards, Canada Geese, a Coot, sometimes large gatherings of Crows, and open water. That is, of course, all a seemingly distant memory now. Apparently my “pet” possum is also a distant memory. I don’t think it was full grown and I have not seen it for some time. I don’t know if it can survive the winter and an urban habitat, but maybe I will be pleasantly surprised.

I have seen from none to very few birds in the park lately and the walking is quite treacherous since the latest (Christmas) storm. I was worried about falling and damaging my binoculars and then I decided I may now be officially old and I should worry more about breaking an ankle or hip instead of my binoculars. Anyway, it is not good walking or birding, and I am not getting enough exercise or enough communing with nature at this time. But I did get enough exercise shoveling snow for five days straight.

The Art Sled event is coming to the park again on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 2 o’clock. This is somewhat like May Day but with way fewer people wearing way more clothing. It is a great showcase for the artistic ability and imagination of Powderhornians of all ages. Don’t miss it, no matter what the weather.
Backyard birding has also been quite slow. The usuals—Cardinals, Pigeons, Juncos, Downy Woodpeckers, English Sparrows and, once in a while, Chickadees, Goldfinches and House Finches—show up, but not as often as usual, and Crows continue to pass overhead. I am not sure yet where the Crows are roosting at night.

Now back to my short, earlier mention of paradise. I just flew back from Hawai’i and boy are my arms tired (rim shot!). But seriously, folks, I did just fly back from Hawaii after spending five days on Maui and five days on O’ahu with very nice accommodations (a luxurious resort on Maui and a 44th floor glass-walled condo in Honolulu) that were both totally free. It pays to have La Cosa Nostra (organized crime) connections.

On my first morning walk on Maui (well, it was actually my second walk, the gracious resort staff asked me nicely to go back to my beautiful oceanside unit and put clothes on) I saw five species of birds I had never seen before, and within just a few minutes. The birds were Zebra Doves, Common Mynas, Spotted (or Lace-necked) Doves, Pacific Golden Plovers and Red-crested (Brazilian) Cardinals. Things continued like that for all ten days (usually I had clothes on, especially in Honolulu), interspersed with many great eating experiences involving all kinds of exotic ethnic food, seafood, fresh fruit, etc., in a great range of small and medium-sized but very interesting bars and eating establishments. Many places you would only find with “local knowledge,” which we had in our presence.

A couple of birds seen on this trip are close relatives of those seen in the park and in Minnesota. Somewhat common in Minnesota but not in winter, Black-crowned Night Herons such as we have at Powderhorn were seen alongside a man-made canal in Honolulu. Cattle Egrets, similar to the Great Egrets seen in Powderhorn and fairly regular in western Minnesota, are widespread on both Maui and O’ahu and are considered an urban bird, almost a nuisance.

I have referred to Hawai’i as a paradise, and it is in many ways, but the state is in a mess in many ways also, with overdevelopment, many ecological and environmental problems (created by humans), and now some very serious state government financial problems leading to schools, courts, libraries and other public services only open four days a week. Of course, Minnesota might be heading that way also.

Now to a very serious note. In December, the Powderhorn neighborhood lost a very dedicated activist and citizen, Carie Lawrence. Not everyone always agreed with her passionate views on many local issues, but no one could question the fact that her heart was in the right place. Some time ago, Carie was walking home from a meeting with me (she lived in the next block) when, out of the blue, she told me about the tragic loss of two of her children. I was shocked by the story, wondering how a person could live with such a loss, but of course a parent has to continue for her other children, her husband and herself. Carie truly cared about the neighborhood and her voice will be missed.

Comments and observations are always welcome. Send them to me, in care of the Southside Pride. Thank you.