Bert Gildart: Writer and Photographer

©Bert Gildart: In the southwestern most part of the United States, there is a stretch of beach fed by the Tijuana River that empties into the Pacific Ocean.  San Diego is situated toward one end of the beach while an International fence separating Mexico from the USA is situated at the other.  To prevent illegal immigration one can see as he or she walks the beach several 4-wheel drive American Border Patrol vehicles whose drivers seems to monitor our every move. Helicopters fly overhead and the sound of their engines dominates the landscape.  It’s a wild scene further dramatized by the overwhelming presence of the Pasa del Toro, a bull fighting ring that is part of Tijuana, Mexico and that seems to glare as one hikes the beach.

 

But there is also a different view one takes from the setting, a more natural one.  Overhead, squadrons of brown pelicans wheel in a clear blue sky, while along the shoreline dozens of birds brave powerful ocean waves.  All the birds time their forays into the tidal zone – hoping their efforts will return an assortment of insects, worms, and crustaceans – before powerful waves engulf them. Included in this group are dozens of sanderlings, who scurry just ahead of waves that are measured not only in power but in miles.  When the sanderlings sense a breaker’s approach they accelerate their tiny  bodies on twig-like legs that are simply a blur. In this manner they escape what could be a watery fate.

The contrast between the artifacts of urbanization and the residuals of a wild America is intense, and in this setting it is preserved by Border Field State Park.  But as I walk the beach I’m not sure just how closely I can approach the huge fence that separates the two countries.  Nor am I sure what kind of a reaction Border Patrol agents will have when I erect my tripod and unpack my long 600mm lens.  I don’t want them to mistake my caisson-appearing lens for a weapon, so I carefully tilt the setup in their direction.

L to R: Back dropped by San Diego, Don and Nancy Dennis stroll along the beach celebrated at  Border Field State Park; sanderlings  race ahead of pounding surf; “Tony”, a Mexican/American
horseman strikes out for recreational ride along beach — pointing toward Tijuana and international fence.

 

But not to worry, and I begin my passion of photography, trying to capture all the bird life that seems to huddle near the American side of the international fence.  Near its base, undisturbed by Mexican bathers on the other side, rests a flock of Least Terns, which add to my tally of shore-dwelling birds.

The setting overwhelms me and I am simply amazed that this city of sour mesh graffiti, navy bases, and expansive bridges – all used by some 1.5 million people – can preserve such wildness.  But it is one of the awakenings Janie and I have enjoyed as we have explored what I call the wild side (to include the famous zoo) of San Diego.

 

We hike on, waving at the folks on the Mexican side, and now at the men in their patrol cars.  As well, we tally our San Diego bird list, concluding that it now numbers close to 30.

This day is simply a continuation of the wonders we’ve enjoyed as we’ve learned more about all that is protected by some of this city’s far-seeing fathers.  In some ways this may be a form of “Noblesse oblige” — but I am starting to understand the compelling mandate, for San Diego is said to be home to the greatest diversity of wildlife found anywhere in the continental U.S.

Again, we walk on, continuing with our explorations.

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AIRSTREAM TRAVELS ONE YEAR AGO:

*Montezuma Well

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BOOKS FOR SALE:

 

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 21st, 2013 at 10:22 am and is filed under National Lands, Natural History/Conservation, Photography, RV Travel, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.