The Ambassador of Spring

The desert of El Paso, Texas is never second best. Several species of feathered friends choose here to build a nest Hueco Tanks State Park is a great place to visit Birds and other animals make their homes right in it At sunrise one morning, I saw a wondrous thing, Perched on a cactus was a Gambel’s Quail, Like he was Ambassador of Spring. A plump belly and chestnut sides distinguished him from all the rest He wore a cinnamon-brown crown and comma-shaped, forward-facing crest Sixteen young Quail and their mother formed a covey I saw him bringing up the rear Looking for anything suspicious Never showing fear I saw Hummingbirds and White-Tailed Dove I heard a House Finch Sing. But no bird was like Gambel’s Quail Ambassador of Spring 02/23/2021 Written for Spring Birds Poetry Contest Sponsored by Constance La France