ML647082508

Observation details

the california aqueduct here, and perhaps elsewhere in the desert north and east of los angeles, is a surreal reminder of the desperate lack of water in the basin of america’s second city. here it is possible to walk along the aqueduct service road above a shimmering silver ribbon of fast-flowing water, its banks entirely of gleaming white cement, while to your right stretches a briar-clogged patch of dusty desert, devoid of water, with a notably low density of birds, bell’s sparrow included. this is a rather strange and long-tailed sparrow which alternates between boldly singing from a prominent perch (at least in early may) and diving for cover in the deepest recesses of a thornbush. i saw and heard several, but very little else, over a mile or so of walking beside the canal.