Topics for Ranger Talks are varied and cover a lot of ground.  Obvious topics like mountain lions, bats, birds of the area, a local water site restoration project, local animals on the extinct list (a certain kind of pupfish, some kind of mud turtle, and teeny tiny snails so small they look like a black speck) are all covered. We went to one talk with a title that sounded  bland—about the duties and uniform of the Park Ranger.  Turned out to be a history of the park ranger job (beginning with Buffalo Soldiers) and uniform changes, interspersed with a bizarre “sub-talk” about how to shine leather boots step by step.  (The guy demonstrated this with real boots, polish, rags and brushes.). I’ve  spent a lot of time thinking about what that Ranger’s point was.  I think he was using the boot shining  as an analogy for how some things like parklands need to be carefully cared for so that they last for future generations, just as one cleans, polishes, shines, and buffs a good leather boot to preserve it.This same talk had many references to how the park system began with a lot of white males in charge, but slowly included women, and now embraces a lot of diversity in rangers, plus includes the leaders of indigenous peoples as interpreters of culture and sacred locations and partners in decision-making about the lands in question.  Bizarre as it seemed, this has been one of the best talks so far.

Besides the presentations (always using a slide projector), some interesting things have happened while we were at the amphitheater.  This park borders the Barry Goldwater Proving Ground, which means that government jets fly over very low occasionally, sonic booms happen now and then, and guided missiles are tested.  One evening, the talk had just started and the edge of the surrounding hillsides were still rimmed with a faint bit of sunset.  Suddenly an audience member stood up pointing and shouted “Look, everyone, look over there!!”  At first I thought it was a comet because of the bright tail behind it, but it was way too close for that.  People started saying it was a rocket.  The vapor trail behind it was strongly lit by the bit of sunlight that was still on the other side of the hills.  It was spectacularly unusual.  We watched it for a long time, then it made a guided turn away from the hills and the lighting of the vapor trail faded.  It was amazing.  That same evening a Great Horned Owl swooped down and dramatically glided low over everyone’s head, then turned into the dark and presumably landed in a tree outside the light.  He was huge!  And so close!  There was a collective gasp of appreciation as he glided over us all.  Since then we have heard that this owl often attends the lectures, usually perched high atop a nearby saguaro cactus.  I hope we see him again.