hummingcrow: one squall voice » wildlife

Camouflage

cherylcolan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:34:29 +0000

In March 2007 I made a video about Table Mesa Road. I was looking through the clips that ended up on the cutting room floor and found this one. The star of this video is just about 2 inches long. When you can see him.

I’m not sure what he is. I think he’s a hybrid toad, maybe part red-spotted toad and Woodhouse’s toad or maybe Arizona toad since he did have a tendency to hop rather than “walk.” Not really sure. While trying to identify him, I found a really nice description of the lives of toads in Arizona’s riparian areas.

Everyday Arizona

cherylcolan — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:50:33 +0000

Last year around this time, I made a video showing rain evaporating off the sidewalk. Ru liked it and reminded me of it recently. So when I found myself on the same porch stoop with some light rain falling, I made another video. Just for you, Ru.

Bird Dreaming

cherylcolan — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:03:06 +0000

Here’s a little more of Australia in 2004. Something I tried to do every day. We’d be tired and cold, and just want one more hour to sleep, but the birds would start singing loudly just before dawn. Some of the people around me put their pillows over their heads and went back to sleep. I often wanted to do the same, but I forced myself to get up and listen. It was my way of honoring this land and getting to know it as a place in the short time we had together.

Today, I am so glad I made this recording of the birds singing. I still think the crows have an Aussie accent. I know there were magpies around, and a mated pair of beautiful green parrots of some sort. And there was a little bird that looked a lot like a quail, only with the wrong colors. I don’t know all the other voices, but hearing them is still a form of sustenance.

Robert Croma asked if there is more from Australia. I’m actively looking for a few videos I remember making. I’m not sure if they are on tape, or already waiting my attention on a hard drive here in my office. But the travelogue I wrote with my mom still exists: Dreaming Down Under. And so do two photo galleries, one from 2004 and one from 2005.

Montezuma Well

cherylcolan — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 06:34:54 +0000

Montezuma Well is a limestone sinkhole in central Arizona, but it’s much more than that. It’s a constant source of water in the desert, for one. The Yavapai people believe they emerged into this world from within the Well. It is their ancestor. It reveals some of the history of previous civilizations. It harbors a unique ecology and is a source of medicinal herbs. But mostly, it’s a place of such awe-inspiring beauty and energy that it forces you to listen.

Of course, my mom is also a source of awe-inspiring beauty and energy, and you’ll hear her voice along with the sounds of the Well.

If you ever come through Phoenix, I’d love to take you up here for a picnic.

Hummingbirds

cherylcolan — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:49:21 +0000

This year, Spring was a difficult time for me, mostly because I was losing my cat (and longtime friend), Rosie.

But the world seems to be trying all the time to remind me that life is a circle.

During the same time Rosie was slowly leaving this world, these little hummingbirds were arriving. They have been a delight I am happy to share.

Right-click and download a 640×360 (AppleTV-sized) version of this video if you like.

Nurturance

cherylcolan — Wed, 16 May 2007 23:15:50 +0000

When I saw Ryanne’s promo, I knew I had just shot the perfect footage to make a follow-up Pixelodeon promo. And though it’s not as good as hers, I made my own music, too. I’m one of the Pixelodeon editors. I hope the other editors are having as much fun as me.

Burrowing Owls

cherylcolan — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 03:54:25 +0000

I found myself in an unusual staring match today. These beautiful burrowing owls live at Scottsdale Community College in a parking lot behind the Performing Arts Center. They stay year-round in our mild climate, and use little drain holes to make their nests. Across the main road is an agricultural field where they can find plenty of bugs and mice. I worry about them because pesticides are used on the crops, but they seem to be managing. I just adore them. They’re a great topic for my sixth Videoblogging Week 2007 post.

I’m sorry about the shaky camera work, but it’s my little Xacti zoomed all the way in telephoto, because I didn’t want to frighten my friend. The video is too long, but it needs to be for you to have any inkling of what it was like today to sit with this little fellow for awhile. Enjoy the connection.