ahh, Dennis mentioned this little elusive critter and it brings
back yet more memories of the Goshute ridge raptor project.

Some of you may've seen the photo of a fellow sitting in a lawn chair
at the edge of a cliff included in my mostly birdsnaps page. This
is the Goshute observation site, where I've spend many an hour
relaxing in my rocking chair, ticking off dozens or hundreds of
migrating hawks.

For the past several years, we've had resident Rock Wren living
in the limestone cliff atop which we sit.

Sitting in my rocking chair, scouring the sky, pacing migrants
as they move south far off to the west, and then, from perhaps
five feet away, nearly at my feet - "Be-deep! Be-deep! Be-deep!".
Out comes our little Rock Wren, being sociable.

It doesn't seem to matter how many people are about. Thirty or
forty folks may be crowding the ridgetop, but at various times
of day you can be certain that our little friend will appear,
"Be-deeping" cheerfully at cliff's edge, watching us watch him.

I've wondered if it might be possible to further acclimate him,
but in general I find the idea unappealing. Still, the thought
of sitting on the clifftop, rocking away, with a Rock Wren
"Be-deeping" from my shoulder, is an interesting one. Would
certainly give visitors something to talk about, wouldn't it?


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>