Jemez Falls

[anyamind]

Thrill seeking. Today is my first day off. After a brief and thrilling 2 hour meeting about the new GIS :/T drive with the fire guys, I set off for Jemez Falls. A short 1 ½ mile trail leads you from the parking lot, down a pine, fir, and aspen ridge, and eventually to a guardrail protected area with a nice view of a mist-ical 60 foot waterfall. Hyped up on adrenaline from the sound of crashing water, I skipped the guardrail and started making my way down the cliff and towards the base of the fall. To my mesmerized pleasure, I found a bolted sports climbing route on the right side of the fall. I’ll be back soon. As I stared down the wall, climbing it in my head and analyzing its features, I noticed that there was a climber already using the wall. Directly under the waterfall was a small and plump grey bird hopping its way up the cliff. As the bird disappeared over the top of the waterfall I let out a chuckle and just before I averted my eyes I saw that same little bird soar down the fall headfirst with wings wide open and its body clearly in the water. Cinclus mexicanus, the American Dipper, a true thrill seeker. “Perhaps you and I aren’t so different little bird!” I exclaimed. Three times in a row I watched this bird do this same routine. On the end of her third dive, I witnessed her emerge with insect in beak which she quickly awarded to her sweet little hatchlings whos’ anxious chirps suddenly became loud and distinct to my ears. The nest was a small pendulous cluster of grass and twigs with a low opening which revealed three hungry mouths every time momma bird came by. What’s thrilling about this nest is its precarious position in a small shallow nook practically under the waterfall.

(Birding happens.)


  


Can you spot the nest?