Tuesday was a busy day, and this is only the beginning of an accounting.

Part 1.

We headed out almost two hours before sunrise, headed out to check strutting grounds far across the desert in one of my favorite places. As is normal, the masked heeler slept most of the way, her head pressed against my thigh. Her nervous maskless sister paced and watched all the way, and at least once spotted some cattle on the road well before I did. Pretty handy warning device to have, like one of her predecessors.

It is late in the strutting season, and we have a full moon glowing in the nearly cloudless sky, so I wonder of we are making the trip for nothing.

But the first lek has grouse on it, barely countable in the moonlight and morning glow.

The second lek is also attended, and the sun rises as I make my counts. Already some cocks are quitting and wandering off.

At the third lek the strut is over. A couple cocks are staring each other down on the center, but the rest are meandering and feeding in the sage nearby.

We're on a low ridge overlooking the lek, and I take the time to get out, give the heelers a break, and check for something.

I'm checking for a can.

Actually it's a fuel can. A decrepit, rusted old fuel can.

It is right where it has been, in all the years I've checked this lek. It's a bit more crumpled now, and tipped over on a different side. Probably stepped on by a feral horse. Or maybe an elk.

On the one intact side, letters have been punched through with a nail. A square nail, probably meant for horseshoes.

9-4-1927

LEE DUrAN

TAOS NM

Lee printed the "N" in his name backwards.

Since Lee set it down, that can has been sitting on this lonely ridge for 73 years, 8 months and 4 days.

I have checked it every year for the past 19 of those 73 years.

In another year, 3 months and 27 days, it becomes a legally protected historic artifact.

Then maybe someone else will get to check on it.