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Leap Day

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Leap Day

the leftover fragments of other years
cobbled together
to make an impulsive day
beyond the capability
of my wristwatch to reconcile

what did we pour into
this freebie grabbag of hours?

a luminous sunrise
over islands over water
firing the wood paneling
of our little cabin

watching penguins from our breakfast
of warm rolls dotted with butter
melting to pools

looking for pudús (always)

watching metallic green hummingbirds
zip from fuchsia to pine bough

rambling down the beach path
to join the penguins on the water

taking in the black and white
volcanoes across the way
that mark the continent’s spine

entering the blue white yellow
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Chonchi
watching the stars wink
above a sea of incense and prayers

coming into Queilén, a warm haven
where the sea can sing to you
and the moon is tipped
in an unfamiliar way

every day is an uncertain gift
each date one that might never arrive
but some are imbued
with a bit more magic
sometimes we have the sense
to savor the day’s passing
before regret can even rise

poetry

adolescent boys

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adolescent boys

slowly I must remove
the stones from their eyes

how to do this with kindness and patience
not panic and shock?

one by one
I reveal the world’s wounds

trying to balance each truth
with a modicum of sunlight

trying to remain
someone they’ll speak to without squirming

trying to prepare them
for the brutality they can’t close their eyes to

trying to remind them
their choices can change our path

trying to teach them
the joy of being gentle
even in a violent world

photography

New Zealand

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One of our favorite places that we have been to, New Zealand was our next stop after Australia. Also known as “the land of birds” (because there are only two native land mammals, and the rest are birds) I couldn’t wait to get there because of the high proportion of endemics.

We started our trip in Christchurch, and while walking through the botanic gardens we found that the entire area is frequented by flocks of Black-billed Gulls, an endemic which is endandgered.
Black-fronted Terns are another endandgered endemic, and again easy to see when driving through centrel Canterbury.
In Dunedin we went to the famous Taiaroa Head Royal Albatross colony, and although we didn’t go on the tour, we still saw some albatrosses and the huge colony of Silver Gulls, which pooped and threw up on anything that dared to walk below.
One of the few albatrosses we saw fly over the hill.
Also near Dunedin we went to Orokonui Ecosanctuary, a “mainland island” where there are no invasive mammals. The New Zealand Robins there are very obvious, and are quite inquisitive.
Tuis are very common across the country, and are easily identified by their bronzy-blue color and characteristic dual white tufts.
This is a Pipipi, one of only three in its family and another endemic. We only saw them once, again in Orokonui.
New Zealand Bellbirds are also common, and are small honeyeaters that enjoy the nectar from flowers anywhere.
Orokonui’s star bird is the South Island takahē, a type of rail. It was once thought extinct but was famously rediscovered on an expedition to the Murchison Mountains in 1948. There are numerous populations on islands off of the North Island now, but few still live on the South Island, so it was nice to see one there.
Stewart Island, New Zealand’s “third island” was high on my list, and we went on a birding trip to try to see the famous Southern Brown Kiwi. The trip began with some birding on a boat, and we spotted this Yellow-eyed Penguin, the rarest in the world.
The trip did pay off, and we got excellent views of a young kiwi feeding on the beach.
Kiwi are very sensitive to white light, so our guides had red light flashlights so we could still get a good view and get some pictures without bothering the kiwi.
Kiwi only generally come to the beach on Stewart Island, not anywhere else. They are foraging for the sandhoppers (a type of insect) that feed on the washed-up seaweed.
During our stay on Stewart Island we also took a trip to Ulva Island, a pest-free sanctuary. This Weka followed us down the trail for a while, and then turned into the forest.
On the beach there were other Wekas, this one with a chick that had been hiding in a pile of branches.
Flocks of Red-crowned Parakeets are a common sight on the island, and some let us get close.
Little Pied Cormorants are also common along the coast and inland lakes.
The town of Oban on Stewart Island is mobbed by flocks of Kakas, large parrots that destroy any wood they find, including the tables of restaurants.
The town of Te Anau on the mainland was one of our favorite spots, and we saw a family of Great Crested Grebes on the lake.
We took a day trip to Milford Sound in Fiordland, and on the way got to meet the famous “cheeky” Kea, the world’s only alpine parrot and endemic to the South Island.
We also got to see the Kea in action, as it twisted off the antenna of somebody else’s car.
Tomtits are one of the less common passerines, although you’re still likely to encounter them at some point.
On our way up the west coast we visited Fox Glacier, at the end of a hike to a viewpoint.
I had been hoping to take a pelagic birding trip from the town of Kaikoura for a long time, and we did. This Westland Petrel was one of the first species we saw.
Northern Giant-petrels, the “vultures of the sea” generally hogged the chum that we were using to attract birds.
Kaikoura is famous for the albatrosses, and this Salvin’s Albatross was one of four species we saw that day.
We loved the tiny Cape Petrels, who would dart in to snatch a bite of fish and then retreat before the giant-petrels saw them.
The number one bird for Kaikoura was the Wandering Albatross, the largest flying bird in the world, with a record wingspan of 12 feet. We were lucky enough to see a completely grown adult, as indicated by the almost pure white plumage.
The wandering was the only bird that could really take food away from the giant-petrels, and when the rest of the chum was thrown out it dominated the other birds.
Due to the small size of the boat, we were only feet away from this huge bird.
On the way back we stopped at a seal colony with several babies, like this one.
We also came across this lone Hector’s Dolphin, the smallest and rarest marine dolphin in the world.
After we had finished on the South Island we went to Auckland and took a trip to Tiritiri Matangi island, another pest-free sanctuary. This baby Whitehead is begging for food, not an uncommon sight.
This Variable Oystercatcher apparently has at least one chick, as you can see the balls of fuzz poking out from underneath.
North Island Saddlebacks were also abundant on the island, and quickly became normal.
We also saw several Stitchbirds, especially around the nectar feeders. Stitchbirds are in their own family, and are endemic to the North Island.
New Zealand Pigeons are very common in the forests, although rarer in the cities, where you are not likely to see them.
Tuis are also common on the North Island, and this one had just finished taking a bath when I got this photo.
Tiritiri Matangi is also famous for its population of South Island Takahes, and we saw an adult and a chick.
poetry

thank you, Maker Table Makers

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thank you, Maker Table Makers

my children make me a picture
of what’s worth protecting
but they miss themselves

moments later there they are
spitting with the effort
required to stay afloat

here I will build
a wall of light around them
a fiery band of love
that they can always call home:

whatever they do is enough
whoever they are, they’re loved

photography

Australia!

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After our stay in Papua New Guinea we flew to Cairns, Australia, and began our journey down the east coast to Melbourne. Along the way we saw many birds, such as cassowaries, cockatoos, lyrebirds, and more! We also got to see some of Australia’s most iconic mammals, such as koalas, platypuses, and echidnas. Here they are.

We started off our Australian birding with walking down the Cairns Esplanade, which provided a very good introduction to the more common birds, such as this Red-capped Plover.
As I mentioned before, there are two species of birds-of-paradise endemic to Australia, and we got to see one. This Victoria’s Riflebird came to a tray of cheese in Kuranda, northwest of Cairns.
In Kuranda we stayed at Cassowary House, a small lodge run by a birding company called Sicklebill Safaris. This is a Pacific Emerald-dove seen from the balcony.
As the name suggests, Cassowary House is one of the best places for Southern Cassowaries in the world. There are three species of cassowaries; all live in New Guinea, one, the Southern Cassowary, also lives in Australia. Cassowaries are the most dangerous birds in the world, with over 150 recorded attacks on humans, and several deaths. They attack with their feet and the inner toe, which is long and razor-sharp. A single kick can dismember a person. Luckily, it did not attack us.
At Cassowary House we saw in total 4 cassowaries: one adult female, named Gertie, one adult male, named Dad, and two chicks. This is Gertie.
On the chicks you can see the little wattle stubs and the beginning of the large casque (helmet-like growth) on the top of the head.
This rat-kangaroo dropped in after the cassowaries had left. Although it looks like a rat, it hops somewhat like a kangaroo.
Australia has an abundance of parrots, most of which are not afraid and do not fly away when you try to get a photo. This Scaly-breasted Lorikeet posed on the patio of a restaurant.
Like the Maleo from Sulawesi, this Orange-footed Scrubfowl is a megapode. We saw it excavating in the sand, so it could be building a nest mound.
Australia is also famous for the cockatoos, and one of the first ones we saw was a huge flock of Red-tailed Black-cockatoos.
In the town of Yungaburra just south of Cairns we got lucky enough to see at least two platypus! You can see the bill and the head, just above water.
This baby Bush Stone-curlew was seen on the side of the road with two parents at a lake near Yungaburra.
Nerada Tea in Queensland has a line of trees near the road that, for some reason, a group of Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroos have moved into, and they are now probably the easiest tree-kangaroos to see in the world. This is one of the three we saw.
Here is another angle on the same tree-kangaroo.
One of the most characteristic birds in Australia are these Rainbow Lorikeets, which look like there was a sunrise in their bellies.
These Agile Wallabies were the first kangaroo-like mammals for us to see. Since it was very hot, they just sat in the shade to stay cool
Off the coast of Townsville we took a ferry to Magnetic Island. This is a famous Laughing Kookaburra, seen on a street.
The Forts Walk on the island is famous for the likelihood of koala spotting, and this one gave us incredible views just below the World War Two installations that give the trail its name.
Since this koala was asleep I was able to explore different angles of photography and get close without disturbing it at all.
Here you can see the specially adapted hands. Instead of one thumb and four fingers, it has two thumbs and three fingers to help grip.
In the evening we also visited Magnetic Island’s Rock Wallaby colony, a type of very small kangaroo that lives among the large rock near the beach. They are occasionally fed, so are very used to the presence of humans.
One of the more common cockatoo species in Australia are these pink-and-gray Galahs, one with its crest raised, and although they are seen flying over easily, I didn’t get many chances to photograph them perched.
Emus are one of Australia’s two species of ratites (a group of birds that includes ostriches, cassowaries, kiwis, rheas, and the extinct moa and elephant birds), and are actually easily seen in fields near the road. However, these two crossed in front of us and headed down a side road. When I later updated my life list, they were found to be my 1000th species ever!
Although not our first kangaroos, this mob included our first joey. We approached using the cover of a tree trunk, and got great views.
At one campsite, there were kangaroos almost everywhere, and I couldn’t resist getting some more photos.
The classic cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are very common, but don’t usually get close. We were inside when this bird landed, but I got pictures through some windows.
Lamington National Park is one of the best birding sites in Australia, and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat provides feeding stations for many birds, such as this Australian King-parrot.
Crimson Rosellas are also very common around the lodge, and are easily seen inside the gift shop (not kidding).
One of the park’s rarest birds is the Albert’s Lyrebird, closely related to the more famous Superb Lyrebird. Albert’s only live in a very small area around the border between Queensland and New South Wales, so I was ecstatic when this female just walked by our room and across a parking lot, where it foraged for at least 15 minutes.
This eventually turned out to not be the only lyrebird sighting for us! The next morning we saw another female Albert’s (potentially the same bird) in a different part of the lodge grounds.
The foraging method of the lyrebirds is to scratch large holes in the leaf litter to find insects, and this female was accompanied by smaller birds such as scrubwrens, presumably to feed on insects disturbed by the scratching.
O’Reilly’s also has a canopy walkway, and we climbed a ladder to a platform where you could see into a cavity with baby Brush-tailed Possums, a type of arboreal marsupial.
O’Reilly’s also offers a great chance to see Australia’s two most famous bowerbirds, such as this Satin Bowerbird, which we spotted from our balcony.
O’Reilly’s other bowerbird is the Regent Bowerbird, which is more common near the restaurant and at the feeders by the entrance. This male was seen on the morning bird walk.
Australian Brushturkeys are a very common type of megapode, but this was the only chick we ever saw.
Superb Fairywrens are frequent visitors to the lawns outside various buildings, especially outside the main area.
A less common sight are Red-necked Pademelons (a type of forest wallaby) like this one, which occasionally come out to the roads.
In Sydney we went on the opera house tour and got to go inside the many theaters of the landmark.
My favorite birds that we saw in Australia were a flock of Gang-gang Cockatoos, seen driving up to the trailhead for Mount Kosciusko.
Gang-gangs have a crest like no other bird, made up of thin, wispy, curled feathers. Personally, I would love to pet it.
This Eastern Rosella was just walking by our driveway in Jindabyne, and it ended up being the only one we saw.
This echidna was spotted crossing the road, and we stopped and walked back to try to find it. We did, and watched it forage for maybe 10 minutes.
Echidnas were the one classic Australian mammal that we had given up on seeing, but it made an appearance anyway!
Green Cape Lighthouse has a group of wombats that come out almost every evening, and we saw three of them.
We described wombats as small bear-ewoks, and that seems very accurate.
poetry

standing declaration

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Graham’s penstemon photo by Susan Meyer. White-tailed ptarmigan photo by Owen.

standing declaration

Do you believe in a creator
who intends that humans should
act as guardians of creation?

my chest opens
and frozen birds fall out
my lips part
and fuzzy orange tongues
lisp yes yes yes
my hands clench and unclench
in an angry motion like prayer
all signifying
who have we become
when we must swear in a court of law
that we still believe
in the righteousness of compassion
before scientists can do their job?

tonight while sleep stifles me
I’ll do my own work
dreaming of penstemons and ptarmigans
in a paradise devoid of people
where they’re left to sing their own songs
make sun into sugar into flight
just for the pure joy of being
not to do a single ape good

poetry

beginner

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beginner

en español
I learn
to loose my tongue
to make mistakes
in a loud enough voice
to say what I need
I am no longer above
committing grave grammatical errors
changing tenses genders numbers
in the most haphazard unsophisticated way
I am being brave and humble enough
to open my mouth
and let imperfections stream out
while someone nods kindly
understanding just what is needed
from the way I move my hands