study focused on the region’s hummingbird
diversity. His goal: to document the status and
distribution of all species in the region, to band
and catalog the birds’ conditions, and to deter-
mine if they are breeding in the area.
Sponsored and supported by West Texas
Avian Research Inc., the banding study has
revealed when and where most birds occur in
the area. Many of the banded birds are recap-
tured or encountered elsewhere. As an exam-
ple, one female Rufous Hummingbird banded
in the fall of 2012 was recaptured in the sum-
mer of 2013 and again in 2014 in Alaska!
Bryan banded 15 species in the Trans-Pecos
region, 13 of which occur as seasonal residents
during migration in the Jeff Davis County sky
island (see results in sidebar).
With Bryan’s study results confirmed, the
Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce realized
they had another tourism “golden-egg” and
thus launched an event touting the region’s
hummingbird diversity, known as the Davis
Mountains Hummingbird Celebration.
Now, each year in mid to late August, the
Celebration takes place next door to the town’s
hundred-year-old courthouse. This year the
Celebration has been expanded, adding more
programming which includes field trips to
Davis Mountains Preserve, McDonald
Observatory, Christmas Mountains, two pri-
vate ranches, and other unique habitats.
Additionally, participants are treated to well-
known guest speakers who bring to life their
experience with birds. Guests also enjoy work-
shops, garden tours, banding demonstrations
and an outdoor banquet.
Mark your calendars to attend this exciting
program–experience the fascinating geology,
flora and hummingbirds of the Davis
Mountains Sky Island complex at the next
Davis Mountains Hummingbird Celebration
scheduled for August 24th through August
27th, 2017. For registration details contact the
Jeff Davis County Chamber of Commerce at
Email: info@fortdavis.com or PH: 800-524-
3015 or 432-426-3015
tions and judgments about the people in front
of him.
For all his eccentricities and anthropomor-
phisms, Cap Barler was a kind-hearted man.
In Margaret Farley’s chapter on Cap Barler in
after his death for any work that was paid for
the Terrell County history book, she related
but left undone.
that during the war years
Barler was eccentric in
Cap Barler was the unmar-
his personal habits as well.
ried lady schoolteacher's best
At 5' 8” with light brown
friend. He was always ready
hair, fair complexion and
to chaperone them on trips
blue eyes, he was obsessive
and was always a gentleman.
about his appearance. He
Often he would invite the
always dressed in his “duck-
young ladies to go with him
ins,” overalls made of heavy
on a job out to area ranches,
linen fabric resistant to
and would prepare an
thorns and snaggy cat claw,
evening meal from his chuck
as well as his hat and boots.
box over a campfire to give
An extremely quiet man, he
them a taste of the cowboy
was hard to “read,” which
way of life.
made him very dangerous in
One of Cap's crowning
a confrontation. No one
achievements was to be fea-
knew what was going
tured on the cover of Life
through his mind. He hard-
Studio po rtrait o f W illiam Lee “C ap” Barler
Magazine for April 10, 1939.
ly spoke and he never made
He was always proud of that
comments about other men.
moment and talked about it often.
Barler was also compulsive about his driving
On November 16, 1951, Cap Barler passed
habits. He never raced or went anywhere in a
from this world to the next. No doubt Chico,
hurry, nor would he ride with men who liked
his mule, was waiting for him on the other side
to speed. Barler was well-suited to the life of
of the river, and even now they are tracking
law enforcement, and his powers of observa-
rustlers in the splendid wilderness of the Great
tion were legendary. He never liked to sit with
Beyond.
his back to a crowd or the door. One would
always find him at the back of the room, facing
the crowd and probably making keen observa-
Christina’s World
Folk Art • Jewelry from Around the World
Local Artisans • Fossils
Large Day of the Dead Collection
“Beauty is Critical”
The Boardwalk, Lajitas
Open daily 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
continued from page 21
A magical
oasis in the
Chihuahuan
Desert
of Texas
rustic lodging
camping
reservations
required
432.229.4165
Off the
Pinto Canyon Rd
near Ruidosa
chinatihotsprings.net
Dan and Dianna Burbach,
Managers
AYN FOUNDATION
(DAS MAXIMUM)
ANDY WARHOL MARIA ZERRES
“The Last Supper” “September Eleven”
Brite Building 107-109 N Highland, Marfa
Open weekends noon to 5 pm
For hours, please call: 432.729.3315
or visit www.aynfoundation.com
Cenizo
Third Quarter 2017
27