Panhandle Skies

Author's note: I know both John and Leah and am greatly saddened by this. John was a great guy and a terrific spotter. I'll miss his pearly whites. My prayers go out to their families and wish Leah a swift recovery - but I know from experience it is a long stormy road ahead. - Steve Douglass

WICHITA FALLS — An Amarillo man has died from injuries he suffered in a highway crash between Henrietta and Wichita Falls Monday. His wife is in critical condition in a Wichita Falls hospital.

Department of Public Safety Trooper Tony Fulton identified the man as Jonathan Park Wolfe, 57. He died at United Regional Hospital Monday.

His wife is Leah Ann Wolfe, also 57.

An Amarillo radio station reports Wolfe was a former broadcast engineer who currently operated a race track in the Panhandle city.

The accident happened on U.S. 287 near Boddy Road Monday afternoon.

Fulton said the Wolfes' pickup, pulling a box trailer, and a dump struck were side by side heading west on the four-lane highway. He said the trailer apparently struck the dump truck, causing the pickup to swerve, lose control and careen into the median where it rolled over a stopped DPS unit.

Fulton said the Wolfes were not wearing seatbelts and were thrown from their vehicle.

Neither Trooper Brice Blake nor dump truck driver Anthony Joseph Schreiver of Wichita Falls, was injured.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is renowned for its epic natural beauty and the outdoor musical TEXAS! - but did you know there is another show (of sorts) that takes place nightly at the southern end of the canyon? Local photographers call it "The Buzzard Air Show."

Each year thousands of tourists are drawn to Palo Duro Canyon State Park to take in its beauty - but a group of local photographers and bird watchers have discovered an amazing phenomenon that many never knew existed.

It's been nicknamed The Buzzard Air Show and takes place at sunset - every evening near the Cow Camp Cabins at the southern end of the park. Like a scene out of Hitchcock's "The Birds" - thousands of Turkey Vultures descend on a small group of trees to roost for the night.

For hours - vultures fly into the canyon from all over the Panhandle - filling the sky by the hundreds. The mature birds land first- seemingly acting like air-traffic-controllers - spreading their wings to signal to the orbiting vultures it's time to land.

Ugly and ungainly on the ground but beautiful in the air - these vultures ride the thermals over the mesas in graceful arcs until the last light of day is almost gone, then they descend in waves - all vying and squabbling over the best perches, much to the delight of local photographers.

The Buzzard Air Show begins every night about an hour before sundown with the last of the birds touching down just after dark. There is no charge for the Buzzard Air Show - but there is to enter the park - five dollars per person - well worth it to watch this amazing natural spectacle.

Viewers are advised to bring a camera, binoculars, lawn chairs and an umbrella - because some of the air show participants - uh - can become bombers.