Joann Merritt's Essays

Harris' Ranch
September, 1993

This narrative began in 1984 when a mechanic, Charlie Anderson, assisted a rancher, David Harris, with his tractor when it quit functioning properly. In response to David’s query “What do I owe you for repairing my tractor?” Charlie named his price - “How about letting us look at the birds on your place?” Since David’s yes answer was open-ended he is still making payments on that repair bill. Interest on the debt is variable, usually being the highest during spring and fall migration when Midnats enthusiastically serve as collection agents.

Let the non-listers beware, do not read further but go directly to the article in this publication.

In 1984 and 1985 Midnats identified 94 species of birds at Harris’ Ranch, then year by year gradually increased the total to 126. At that time 150 species of birds seemed to be a workable number to find there within a ten year span so I set that number as a goal. When 1990 produced absolutely no new birds and in 1991 we tallied only 5, hope for finding 150 species was waning. Then an incredible 1992 fall (and fall-out!) resulted in the addition of 17 migrants to our list, an event that got the heart rate up to Dr. Patel’s specifications.

Never ones to procrastinate, on September 6, 1993, some gung-ho Midnats celebrated Labor Day at Harris’ Ranch. Besides finding several other migrants they espied an American Redstart flirting daintily among the branches of a pecan tree. Since The Lister was not present nobody realized this beautiful warbler was species #150!! This number of birds has been seen collectively by Midnats, but I have 138 on my personal list and with one year to go I would need only….oops!…there goes the accelerated heart rate again. What a stress test!