PHAINOPEPLAS
Dr.
Walsberg,
August 9, 2011 10:18 AM Tom's Phainopepla Drawing Ugh.jpg This is Tom Cole speaking. I'm Jerry Cole's son, and I took your Natural History of Arizona class years ago. I've written a bird book about my 1063 trips to the corner of Elliot and Cooper Roads in Gilbert and the 13,318 birds I recorded there over 17 years. I had a question that I hoped you could be kind enough to help me with. It's quite simple. I recall in the class that when the Phainopepla left a mistletoe seed on the bark of a mesquite tree, the tree excreted sap to protect itself by raising the seed. The seed set forth a shoot, and the tree excreted more sap to raise the seed and the race was on. If it rained before the shoot rooted itself in the bark, the tree won. If not, the mistletoe would begin to grow on the limb. A couple of months ago, I threw out my notes. I wondered if my recollection of this curious drama was correct. Thanks very much, Tom Cole  From: Glenn Walsberg Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2011 2:23 PM To: Thomas Cole Subject: RE: Phainopepla and Mesquite Tree Hi Tom, Yep...you recall the story correctly. It's based upon observations by the late Raymond Cowles. My apologies for the delay in replying; I've been up in our place in the northern part of the state and e-mail - or anything relying upon Qwest - is fairly problematic. Cheers, glenn Glenn E. Walsberg Professor Emeritus School of Life Sciences Arizona State University |
August 25, 1989 Friday I did late testing and then corrected the tests. There were twenty students. I also walked over to the Varsity book store. I enrolled in Natural History of Arizona, a course which explores the plant and animal populations of Arizona. August 28, 1989 Monday First day of classes for both Steve and me. I got books for the class I'm taking (Natural History of Arizona). Mom and Dad both knew the authors of both texts. They are nice easy books -- popular field books more or less. August 29, 1989 Tuesday I took the bus again. I went to Dr. Walsberg's class. It was in the Life Sciences Building in a huge lecture hall. There were about 300 people in there and the acoustics were horrible. One of the students yelled, "Could you speak up, please?" Walsberg said, "No. I have a better idea: Why don't all of you be quiet?" He talked about the geography of the world climate-wise. This will give us a background in how deserts are formed and where they exist on the planet. After my 4:30 quitting time, I had to wait about forty minutes for the bus, so I stopped in at Tempe Center in that sandwich shop and had two beers. Then, I caught the bus home. Steve and I picked up the van from the repair shop where it had got its water pump replaced. The puppy had done some heavy shitting in my shower and elsewhere. The size of some of the turds was astonishing. Dad wired on a piece of screen to our gate so now we can let the bow wow out. September 12, 1989 Tuesday I had a curriculum meeting with Marie and April and Mary. They were real negative on the changes. Then I had another meeting with the asst. director and Jan and Lori. I went to Walsberg's class and we learned all about Kangaroo Rats and Antelope ground squirrels. I asked an older gentleman if I could take a look at his notes next Tuesday as I was going to miss the class Thursday because of the field trip. He had everything done on his Macintosh. All his notes, I mean. Then I went and taught my classes. When I got back to the office there was a letter for Dad in my box. The Department of Zoology had opened it because they said the name was not familiar. They must have some new office staff for them not to recognize the name of one of their professors emeriti. Inside was a letter from Bill Williams, zoology professor and ex Liverpudlian who knew the Beatles and dated Cynthia Lennon before John Lennon married her. I called Mom and Dad and told them. I went to the driver's license place and found that I have to take the test to get my license renewed. I forgot to do it before my birthday, as usual, and to punish me, I guess, they insist that I take the test. Goody. Now I have to study for it so I don't flunk and have to take it again. That should take about a half hour. I went to work and then went to my Natural History of Arizona class. I talked to Walsberg after the class and asked if we were going to study chuckwallas. He said no. tor |
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