Fixing the World
Tiana Williams, who hunts, said she will switch to non-lead bullets this year. And she and West think a voluntary switch to non-lead ammo would work better than a ban in this region. She said a switch would benefit not only future condors, but people as well.
“The tribe does a lot of subsistence hunting, and because the shot scatters in the animal on impact, my people are eating lead too,” she said.
Up in the Bald Hills in a grassy saddle between hilltops, a herd of elk grazed. The surrounding sweep of hill and forest revealed little sign of humans: a few twisty dirt tracks; an old barn; the fortress-like fire lookout on School House Peak. There were a few hilltop snags where a large bird could perch to survey the broad landscape or just soak up the last light of evening or the first light of morning. A cold wind blew in, steady as ever, from the ocean — a condor could easily open its 10-foot spread of wing into that wind, lift its great bulk into the air, and soar on one wingbeat for 60 miles or more. In an hour, it could be at the coast ripping open dead sea lions and gorging. Or in some valley eating a downed elk. Or back to the redwood tree cavity — or perhaps that place in the cliff on the Lost Coast — where it had laid its egg.
A robin chortled. The meadowlark trilled once, twice. Movie-style, a redtail hawk swept overhead and let loose a sky-curdling cry. Then a turkey vulture rode silently in on a northwest current into the blue space above. And here came another, soaring in over the yellow-grass horizon. And another.
→ post a comment
seven-o-heaven
Old Town Arcata
Will Plaza Point put the kibosh on Arcata whippersnapper shenanigans?
Recent on the cover
Feb. 2
Drug Money
Spending records offer rare glimpse into fiscal life of Humboldt’s drug cops
Jan. 26
Burlesque!
Now it’s bustin’ out all over
Jan. 19
New Direction
The fall and rise of John Shelter, homeless advocate turned entrepreneur
Today
Label GMOs Signature Gathering Training
meetings / 4 p.m. Sun Yi's Academy of Tae Kwon Do, 1215 Giuntoli Lane, Arcata. Help gather valid signatures to get the 'California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act' on the 2012 ballot. E-mail northernhumboldtlabelgmos@hotmail.com. 223-0424.
Open Celtic Music Session
music / 3 p.m. Cafe Veritas/Mosgo's, 180 Westwood Center, Arcata. Informal monthly gathering of musicians playing Irish and other Celtic music. Hosted by Seabury Gould. seaburygould.com. 845-8167.
Nonviolence Action Camp
etc. / 10 a.m. Chinmaya Mission near Piercy. Weekend-long direct action orientation features workshops, role playing, seminars, ceremonies and field trips. Bring food, bedding, warm clothes, signs, banners, bikes, drums, acoustic instruments. Pre-register. saverichardsongrove.org. 932-5898.
Audubon Society Field Trip
outdoors / 9 a.m. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta. Meet at Refuge Visitor Center off Hookton Road. Leisurely, two- to three-hour trip intended for people wanting to learn birds of Humboldt Bay area. 822-3613.
More →
ONE Comments
Comment / By Pamela Kamstra / Nov. 12, 2009, 12:02 p.m.
Hey Chris, You are doing some very cool work. I read about you in the paper not long ago. It is nice to see you focused on something you find so important. Send me your e-mail and I’ll send you my #. We can have coffee and hot chocolates.-Pam