Babieora waterfall area Village Nicolas Bravo, 150 (?) mi NW of Chihuahua Mar. 15, 1979 Jose Wm. R. Hunt ranch Drove west as then north of Chihuahua, passing through the big Mennonite colony that lies South Sierra del Nudo. Bought some of their distinctive cheese (like cottage cheese consolidated) and some rock and beer. Had lunch along the road under a live-oak grove. A vermillion flycatcher I was catching bugs around our lunch site. Lots of mourning doves and some Apalozana jays. Arrived at Nicolas Bravo (a few mi. S of Gomez Darias) and picked up Enrique Dominguez as a guide. Left the Chew and all piled into Jose's little safari car, top down. Drove as far as we could out across the enormous flats of Babieora, then scattered and walked. Absolutely no emergent cover, all grazed to the ground. Shallow shrubs meandering over the grassland. Most of the waterfall that winter here have left. Enrique says there were 2000 sandhill cranes here recently but now only their tracks are left. One bunch of 300 snow geese. Several thousand ducks, mostly shovelers, gadwall, and green-winged teal, but at least 100 Mexican Ducks and 100 or more Mallards. The latter surprised me. A golden eagle made a magnificent story over a flock of flying ducks and came within inches of catching a big shrike gadwall. But the duck could turn to the right faster than the eagle and eluded him. Also saw a bald eagle. Saw sprigs, ruddy, and canvasback.