Unit 2’s nerdy neighbors (said with utmost affection) came to the March 14 Pi Day party recognizing the value of pi (≈3.1416…). After all, it stood prominently in both the date (3.14) and the start time (~16:00 hours) of this math-inspired mixer. Everyone else came recognizing the value of pi: pizza pi, apple pi, pot pi, shepherd’s pi, pi-neapple, pi-ckles, pi-erogies…it promised a profuse potpourri of possibilities!
Over two dozen Unit 2 attendees invoked their inner intellectuals and contributed creative, pi-themed appetizers to this afternoon event. Selections—both savory and sweet—included two types of shepherd’s pi, a salmon quiche (in a pi pan), various cheesy concoctions (also in pi pans), two different Dutch apple pies, two different Arizona lemon pies, a cherry pi, a chocolate crème pi, a pecan pi, and even Moon Pies (for those familiar with this tasty treat from Tennessee). Lest anyone forget the significance of the celebration, a long banner decorated the room displaying the actual number of pi to over 20 digits*!
Special guests Tom Dowell (SaddleBrooke naturalist) and Bob and Prudy Bowers (local amateur ornithologists) highlighted this celebration of all things round by giving a talk about Great Horned Owls, which happen to be nesting just ‘round the corner (also in Unit 2). Together, they shared a wealth of fascinating facts, photos, and stories of similar SaddleBrooke owls from years past, plus other curious desert creatures. In particular, partygoers learned these owls tend to devour one of the more perturbing neighborhood pests we commonly call “pack rats” (technically “white-throated wood rats,” or Neotoma albigula).
Ironically, they pointed out, attempts to rid our homes of these curious (and chew-happy) critters often have the opposite result, particularly if rat poison is used. Here’s just one reason why: Owls reproduce annually, whereas pack rats reproduce every two months. Poisoned pack rats can kill owls AND their babies when ingested. Sadly, this was the fate of a Great Horned Owl and her brood when they nested several years ago just outside the large window overlooking the Catalina mountains at The Vistas in HOA1. Further, they shared, Great Horned Owls can eat a pack rat per day, which means just one poisoned pack rat—when eaten by an owl—potentially leaves hundreds, if not thousands, of other pack rats to roam free! Even those partygoers who didn’t love math were quick to see the need for protecting these beloved owls from rat poison and using alternative pest control methods instead.
Tom volunteers as a naturalist both in SaddleBrooke and at Catalina State Park. As noted in the HOA1 Fitness Center, he can be reached at (520) 820-1997 in case of wildlife emergencies (such as injured or nuisance snakes, raptors, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, javelina, packrats, etc.). Bob and Prudy have traveled extensively for numerous birding trips and he writes monthly articles for the local SaddleBrooke papers, which you can also find at www.birdingthebrookeandbeyond.com. Unit 2 was definitely “hap-pi” to have them all stop by!
(*3.14159265358979323846…for the curious!)
