Motor trip, Berkeley to Las Cruces, N.M. Feb 28, to March 3, 1979 We recorded birds and mammals seen along the highway as I was astonished at the scarcity of vertebrates seen in the San Joaquin, Tulelake, Thoreau desert sector. Raccoon, blackbird, horned lark, a rare hare killed on the road, ducks & coots on a pond or two. Only one red-tailed hawk. However, starting about 10 miles west of Azusa we get into much more life - 10 kestrels in just a few miles, a couple of red-tails, several rabbit tails. Big gangs of mourning dove was evident wherever there was cultivated land, irrespective of crop (cotton, alfalfa, grain etc.). When we reached Las Cruces Sanford Schermany showed us our apartment in the Puerta del Sol complex, 505 Gregg Ave. A green tree took us building. There are many long-tailed meadowlarks, some mourning doves and a few white-winged doves - one male of which court enthusiastically morning or evening. We just heard the mourning doves cooing. Subsequently we have seen flickers, English sparrows, Audubon warblers and of course European rock doves. Spent the week organizing our apartment and laying in groceries. Just a drive through the NMSU campus and explored the town of Las Cruces.