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by Jean-Francois Podevin

Rare Birds of North America: The Cibola Rain Bird


Excerpt from: "Digging for Gold from Sea to Shining Sea" by Althea Mufflehorn. "My gold fever has risen up to a toasty 102 degrees Fahrenheit. In my delirium I could almost see the seven golden cities of Cibola. "Wake up!", said I... I was struck by the midsummer blistering sun and as I slowly opened my eyes I realized that I was contemplating the towers of Monument Valley turning into the gold of twilight. No, I didn’t find gold that day, but I knew that my prayers would soon be answered when I beheld the fabled "Cibola Rainbird," the undisputed sign that one is about to hit pay dirt!. The Cibola Rainbird is best found between mid-August and mid-September. If you happen to be somewhere between Kingman, Arizona and Santa Fe New, Mexico during this time, take a hike and a pick, enjoy the scenery, hope and wait for a summer rain-shower to fall and then, wait for it to stop. Let the sun peek through the clouds as it will, and with a good pair of binoculars and a little more than a little bit of luck, you might see perched on a tumbleweed, the herald of gold diggers, the Cibola Rainbird. Approach with stealth. Once you are within range, snap your fingers 3 times, the bird will fly away and trail in its wake a magnificent rainbow with the tip of its tail. Do mark the end of the rainbow with compass precision. There exactly, you will begin to dig. Have courage, have patience, persevere, be not afraid of hard work and may the ghost of Nunez de la Cabeza lead you to the mother-load.


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