A Review of Birding Ethics

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Richard

Several items in the last week — the baiting of the Great Gray Owl in Wisconsin and the possible harassment of the gyrfalcon in Hadley, MA, have again raised the issue of ethics of photographers and birders.  Our friends at MassBirds posted this thoughtful article on the need for all of us to remind ourselves and others of ethics and practice what we preach.

If you aren’t aware of it, or haven’t read it recently, please read the American Birding Association Code of Ethics
www.aba.org/about/ethics.html   (About ABA tab, Code of Ethics).

Our local clubs also have code of ethics that can be found on their websites and in their publications.  For example, the Brookline Bird Club Code of Ethics can be reached from a link from www.brooklinebirdclub.org (Code of Ethics).

Here’s what I ask.  To the leadership of local clubs, next time you meet, point out your organization’s code of ethics and discuss it, if only for a minute or two.  To trip leaders, talk about birding ethics briefly at the beginning of your walk.  To every birder, when you go birding with a novice, model good ethical behavior and let that novice know good behavior is expected and required.

Make no mistake about it, when birders or photographers behave unethically by disturbing birds or habitat, those actions make it much more likely that others will not see that bird or disclose that location.  By behaving unethically, you make it much more likely that rarities, sensitive habitats and sensitive situations will not be disclosed.  Not only do you cause disturbance and damage the current situation, you damage future opportunities for yourself and others.

Unfortunately, we don’t often discuss good birding behavior unless there’s a problem.  Let’s make a commitment to bird ethically, and to inform and educate those joining our ranks about why good birding ethics are the foundation of good birding.

Posted in Rare birds | 1 Comment

Don’t Look Up

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Richard

I have written about binocular stabilization and have several ideas for posts on places accessible to birders with disabilities, but I now find myself “disabled” and unable to actively bird.  I’ve waited a month to whine about it but with spring and warblers coming, I’m starting to get frustrated.

At the end of January, I apparently damaged a nerve in my neck as I did some exercises in our cellar.  I felt nothing at the time but the next day, my left arm, hand, and pinkie finger were tingling and burning – and have remained that way for 34 days, but who’s counting.  Several days into it, I realized that raising my eyes to look for birds lit off the sensations, and that by lowering my eyes, I could get it to subside.  Additionally, driving the truck is very tough — I just can’t find a relief position for my aching arm.

I won’t bother you with the litany of MRI, PT, traction, and pain meds but let’s just say that progress is not being made … yet.  We’ll figure it out but meanwhile, I’m trying to find ways to bird in this condition.

I need birds down low but virtually all our water is frozen so aside from a few hardy Mallards and mergansers, there’s not much to see.  Likewise, except for a few American Tree Sparrows, not much going on with sparrows yet.  I need to get out and look for male Red-winged Blackbirds which are starting to show up and soon, we’ll start getting warblers.  It’s going to be tough to see them high in the trees.

Black & White Warblers can come down to eye level. photo by dick mansfield

Black & White Warblers can come down to eye level. photo by dick mansfield

So, my non-whining strategy is this:

  • bird by ear more than eye right now,
  • find terrain where you are high enough to see birds level with you (I recall seeing Black & White warblers at eye level on our land)
  • find warbler areas with small trees and bushes — not towering White Pines and Soft Maples
  • Use the telescope, with its angled lens, to look above the horizon

I know that as painful as this situation is, it is temporary.  I just need to actively push the health care folks for action and answers — it’s easy to get lost in the system if you don’t make a few waves.  And I need to continue to develop the appreciation I have for people who deal with chronic pain every day – and still go on with their lives.  So, this will be my only post on my ailments – hold the applause – and we’ll focus on spring birding, our ongoing decisions about RV travel, and my County Big Year (which is pretty much on hold).  Spring will come, the snow will melt, my arm pain will become a bad memory.  Stay tuned.

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Foresters for the Birds wins national recognition

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Richard

The Foresters for the Birds project has won national recognition from the U.S. Forest Service Wings Across the Americas program for its collaborative approach to forest and bird habitat conservation in Vermont and along the Atlantic Flyway. Every year, the Forest Service recognizes outstanding work by Forest Service employees and their local, regional and international partners in conserving birds, bats, butterflies, dragonflies, and their habitats. The Foresters for the Birds project is an innovative partnership between Audubon Vermont and the Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks, and Recreation that started in 2008 with support from the U.S. Forest Service State and Private Forestry Program. It is being recognized for breaking down perceived barriers between tree-cutters and bird-lovers in order to achieve common goals of assisting private landowners with protecting and improving forest health, productivity, and habitat for birds of conservation concern.

The program is designed to improve timber and forest songbird habitat for species including wood thrush and black-throated blue warbler. photo by dick mansfield.

The program is designed to improve timber and forest songbird habitat for species including wood thrush and black-throated blue warbler. photo by dick mansfield.

As home to some of the highest diversities of breeding birds in the continental United States, Vermont’s northern forests are globally important for birds. However, forest fragmentation and conversion threaten birds, forest health, and Vermont’s local forest-based economy. Songbirds need forests, and in order to keep forested land available, “we need to make sure there is some economic benefit to landowners in keeping their land forested”, stated Michael Snyder, Commissioner of the Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation. ”The beauty of this project is that it is a way of connecting human needs with the needs of wildlife. Managing working forests provides economic benefits to landowners and assists them in keeping their land forested, which in turn provides important habitat for wildlife.”

“Vermonter’s overwhelmingly value our working landscape and treasure the birds breeding in our forests. This partnership builds on these complementary interests by giving woodlot owners and their foresters the skills and tools to create a great bird nursery and a vibrant forest industry,” added Jim Shallow, Audubon Vermont’s Conservation and Policy Director.

US Forest Service Forest Stewardship Representative, Roger Monthey, agrees. “The Foresters for the Birds project is a great example of a way forward that integrates Vermont’s working forests with migratory bird habitat management goals,” states Monthey. “Many woodland owners in Vermont are interested in nature, privacy, aesthetics, leaving a legacy, and we feel this project is an excellent fit for these landowners. It’s the strong partnership between foresters, biologists, and woodland owners that makes this project unique.”

The Wings Across the Americas awards will be presented as part of the 78th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference to be held in Arlington, VA, March 25-30, 2013.

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Alaskan Birding Trip – Anchorage and Denali

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Richard

We landed in Anchorage and guess what – no cars. Maybe because we didn’t create a fuss because we had come to expect these incidents and as if by magic four cars suddenly were available. We make it to Motel 6, have a well deserved dinner and  get a good night’s sleep for tomorrow it’s on the road to Denali.

North on Rte. 1 to Rte. 3 the four Subaru wagons head out on our final adventure. And we are on paved roads at last. Once outside the city limits the scenery changes rapidly. From an urban setting to wilderness is rapid indeed and I hope that urban sprawl has not overtaken this land in the last 24 years.

Denali (Mt. McKinley) means big one – an apt description. Rising 20,300 feet into the clouds it is the highest point in North America and stands guard over its domain. We were fortunate in our stay to have sunny skies so Denali was utterly breathtaking.

We stop at a shimmering lake as two Trumpeter Swans provide a genteel and serene moment. Cruising back and forth they swim as one; a study of beauty and grace. Like two dancers performing nature’s ballet. This picture is securely tucked away in my memory of the Alaskan experience.

Two Trumpeter Swans provided us an unforgettable ballet memory. photo by YellowstoneNPS

Two Trumpeter Swans provided us an unforgettable ballet memory. photo by YellowstoneNPS

Up the Parks Highway with Hawk Owl as our first objective. We weren’t successful but did find many “Evergreen Hawk Owls” , a hitherto unreported species, more then I care to remember. Eventually we found the real species and boy did we work for it.

We got to the park, purchased our tickets for tomorrow and took a ride out to Savage River. This is as far as you can go by car and gave us a glimpse of tomorrow. We had a herd of Dall Sheep come down to welcome us to their park.  We had two objectives for tomorrow and mapped out our strategy. We would be on school buses into the park and solicited good information regarding our targets. The point we would meet at was Marmot Rock taking the shuttle bus in two sections. We had a 6:30 AM bus to catch at the headquarters. Not a problem if someone else had been driving because I took my dumb decision-making pill that morning.

We left the motel with time to spare and as car four I was the last in line. On the way, our car and nobody else’s was stopped for the movement of construction equipment. As the minutes ticked away my common sense was disappearing as well and finally I could go. Off I went with a determination that blocked out intelligence as I sped right by the headquarters road. My passengers tactfully mentioned that we seemed to be driving longer than the practice run yesterday. No problem I said and then saw a mile marker that told me I missed the road. In the finest Boston tradition a U-turn on the highway was executed and I sped back. I pulled in an let my passengers off, parked the car and enjoyed the 200 yard dash with scope and backpack. We made it.

We were at Marmot Rock and began to spread out looking for our target. One of the group spotted a Gyrfalcon perched on a rock pinnacle. Then we discovered two , no three more. A family of Gyrs. Our excitement level was high. Then we found the Northern Wheatear foraging on the rocky hillside. That was the end of the birds so our attention switched to mammals. Moose, grizzly bear,and Dall sheep all had young they were tending to. Tomorrow’s stars of this wondrous place. Caribou, porcupines, marmots, and red foxes added to the menagerie. I especially enjoyed the fox as he nonchalantly strolled alongside the bus. A striking white-tipped tail on an otherwise rusty coloration. Then suddenly he pounced on something alongside the road. The kill was made and so continued the rhythm of life and death in Mother Nature’s realm.

The following day four of us decided to relocate the Gyrfalcon family. We found them quickly and scoped them for some time as they played. Soaring effortlessly then wheeling and turning knifing through the air with power and grace. Then play time was over and the young ones perched on a rock while the female began her hunt passing low over the terrain. The juveniles were watched over by the male and then they decide it was time to leave and off they went. Time to move on and get on a bus. We started walking and talking about our good fortune and little did we know the real excitement was about to begin.

As we were walking up the road we noticed the male high and off to our right. He suddenly banked and was in front headed our way. He then languidly flew over us inspecting these intruders on his land inspecting the trespassers and up he went behind a ridge. As he flew higher we then noticed the female had joined him. Then it happened. From out of nowhere a Golden Eagle was flying between the ridges. The two Gyrs rose as one and the male peeled off and headed for the eagle. With talons balled into a fist he hit the eagle like a lightning bolt. The eagle rolled right and in a split second the female now dove at the eagle’s head. Then a second eagle appeared and all they were trying to do now was escape. Flying as fast as their wings would allow.

Safe from intruders the Gyrs rose together as one. Masters of the sky, protectors of their domain. As a parting goodbye the female peeled off and repeated the male’s action by slowly flying over us not 10 feet above our heads. We had become accepted intruders this day in Polychrome Pass. Collectively we let out one gasp of breathless exhilaration. We had witnessed something that very few ever get to see. How fortunate we were indeed. This was our last day in Denali and what a day it was.

The Northern Three Toed Woodpecker breeds in North America, from northern Alaska, across Canada's boreal regions, through northern Saskatchewan, to north-central Labrador and Newfoundland. In Eurasia, south of tree line in Scandinavia and Siberia. Prefers coniferous forest and burntlands; less frequently mixed forest. Cavity nests generally placed in dead tree, usually conifer or aspen; sometimes nests in utility poles. photo by Superior National Forest
The Northern Three Toed Woodpecker breeds in North America, from northern Alaska, across Canada’s boreal regions, through northern Saskatchewan, to north-central Labrador and Newfoundland. In Eurasia, south of tree line in Scandinavia and Siberia. Prefers coniferous forest and burntlands; less frequently mixed forest. Cavity nests generally placed in dead tree, usually conifer or aspen; sometimes nests in utility poles. photo by Superior National Forest

The next day was overcast and with intermittent showers. We stopped at Carlo Creek birding in the mist and after an hour found our quarry: a Northern-three-toed Woodpecker, the quiet tapping denizen of the spruce woods. Seeing this bird made the day shine like the yellow crown that adorned his head. And on this note, our intrepid band of birders ended their Alaskan Adventure. 

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Birds: Making Ends Meet with a Crossed Bill

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Richard

One of the birds I have yet to see in Washington County, or anywhere, is a crossbill – either a Red Crossbill or a White-winged Crossbill.  This week’s Adirondack Almanac has a nice article on them by Steven Faccio of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies.  Here’s the first part of the piece:

Crossbills are one of our most specialized groups of birds, feeding almost exclusively on conifer seeds. These hardy, nomadic finches have evolved oddly-shaped bills that allow them to exploit a food source before it becomes available to most other birds. However, being so specialized and relying on a single primary source of food means that when that food is unavailable, they have to search far and wide to make ends meet.

Adult female White-winged Crossbill. photo by Wildreturn

Adult female White-winged Crossbill. photo by Wildreturn

North America has two species of crossbills – white-winged crossbills (Loxia leucoptera) and red crossbills (Loxia curvirostra). Both are widespread across boreal regions dominated by conifer trees, and populations extend south into mountainous areas, with red crossbills reaching as far south as Mexico. In the Northeast, the more slender-billed white-winged crossbill, which is more commonly observed, spends most of its time foraging on the relatively small cones of spruce, balsam fir, hemlock, and tamarack, while red crossbills are typically associated with large-coned white and red pines.

Based on their distinctive flight calls, ornithologists have identified 9 or 10 types, or “morphs,” of red crossbills. Although some researchers believe that many of these types deserve species status, taxonomists have yet to agree. Moreover, they can’t seem to agree on just what to call them – are they morphs, super-species, sibling species, or sub-species? What they do know is that six red crossbill types have evolved bills that are each adapted to feed on cones from a single species of conifer tree. Such specialization requires that crossbills depend on finding a particular species of conifer seed, because, compared to other finches, crossbills are rather inefficient at foraging on non-conifer seeds. For crossbills, the most important characteristic of a conifer tree is that its cones stay closed, or partially closed, through late winter and into spring. If cones open too early, less specialized species, such as pine siskins or nuthatches, will eat the seeds.

Read the whole article here.

So, I’m psyched to find some of these for my County Big Year, either pretty soon before they head north or this Fall.  Got to be at the right place at the right time.  Good birding.

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Red Birds at the Red Hen Bakery

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Richard

logoThe Red Hen Bakery here in Middlesex is known for its bread, pastries, coffee, and ambiance.  What I found today is that they can also be sort of a birding hotspot.

It was another cold, barren Vermont winter day but Penny and I took off in the truck for some errands and some birding.  We were up at the airport, checking the Luscombe’s tiedowns, when a landing corporate jet stirred up a gaggle of snow buntings.  I couldn’t go out on the taxiway, which I normally might do, since the jet was coming up our way and the birds swirled away.  No chance to look for horned larks or others.

I had a coffee date with Mary at Red Hen so I worked my way up the back dirt roads looking for hawks but all I found was clouds of dust from fast-moving pickups who had little time for a birder.  So, I was sort of discouraged since my arm was aching again and we were seeing nothing as I pulled into the busy parking lot.  As I maneuvered the big truck in tight space, I caught a flash of red out the passenger window and saw a male Northern Cardinal flying around a parked pickup.  I grabbed the camera and shot a few shots and then moved the truck so that I could get the window down as the guy preened in the pickup mirror.  It reminded me of state parks in Texas where we had to cover our mirrors with Walmart plastic bags to keep the cardinals away.  It also was a bird I needed for my County Big Year.

"Hey, I'm looking pretty good for a three year-old. Can't wait for the gals to get to town." photo by dickmfield

“Hey, I’m looking pretty good for a three year-old. Can’t wait for the gals to get to town.” photo by dickmfield

I was running late for coffee so I jumped out of the car and started toward the bakery when I heard bird song from some trees nearby — a rare sound this time of year in Vermont.  Back to the truck for the binoculars and camera — and I spotted a couple of finches singing away.  I got some shots in bad light and I thought they were House Finches but couldn’t confirm it until I go home and saw the photos.  We spotted a Dark-eyed Junco on the way out — it was a nice end to the outing, to say nothing about the coffee and scone that were the celebratory brunch.

A couple of House Finches serenaded us as we walked to the bakery. A nice sign of the possibility of springtime. photo by dickmfield

A couple of House Finches serenaded us as we walked to the bakery. A nice sign of the possibility of springtime. photo by dickmfield

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Why Not Draw Some Birds?

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Richard

Recently, in an email discussing technology, a birder friend of mine said that she had promised herself to get offline and watercoloring by 1:00 PM.  So, I asked her about her painting and got this for a response:

A couple of years ago the nature center had a Women’s Nature Retreat which I attended. Nona Estrin was one of the naturalist’s and taught a watercolor/sketching workshop.  A week later when hiking, I thought, why not sketch all the things I’m always photographing and checking about in my field guides?
For the last couple of years I’ve been sketching (pen and ink, sometimes colored pencils) almost daily and loving it.  I never knew I could draw.  Perhaps, I wouldn’t have been able to before this time.  This fall I decided to expand and learn to paint with watercolors.  So, although, I’ve had other work exhibited, I have a little ways to go before watercolors are hanging for the public.  Love being focused on nature. My artistic endeavors have helped me in birding, quickly being able to see field marks or GIS.
photo by jimmiehomeschoolmom

Drawing can help you focus on some of the details of the bird, and “cement” them in your memory.  photo by jimmiehomeschoolmom

That last comment about field marks and GIS got me thinking of a book I read a while back.  It’s a fine little book by David Sibley called Sibley’s Birding Basics.  In it, Sibley recommends field notes and sketching.  He says, “The act of doing that is enough to ‘cement’ the memory, even if the sketch or words are a very poor representation.”  Of course, Sibley is an accomplished artist but his point is well-taken as it forces us to look for details and get them on paper.  Cameras are great but there might be a lower-tech and satisfying way to describe that bird as well.

One of my favorite bird blogs is Red and the Peanut, written by a woman in Cincinnati, who is a fine photographer and very active illustrator as well.  Another blogger who is a great painter is Julie Zickefoose whose book, The Bluebird Effect, I reviewed here.  A third blogger/artist is Vickie Henderson who has a gallery of watercolors here.

So, we started out with an example of someone who discovered a talent and love for drawing and painting that she never knew she had.  Perhaps, as we slog through the rest of winter, it is a good time to think about whether that’s something that you might explore or rediscover.  It’s a good way to relax and refine those bird identification skills.  Good birding.

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What Will Be Our Birding Base?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Richard

We’ve had a stretch of cold, windy weather here in Vermont and along with questioning our sanity in staying here this winter, I have been battling a painful nerve situation in my neck, arm, and hand.  So I’ve had plenty of time to work on writing and reading projects. 


As you have noted in my blog posts, we do a lot of our birding in warmer places of the U.S.  We haul our ‘99 Airstream, set up in state parks, and see some wonderful birds and meet some fine people.  The Airstream is easy to pull and works pretty well for us but the truck-trailer rig can be tricky to drive so I do all the driving.  Mary would like to help with that chore. 

Last winter, I was intrigued with some of the Class B and larger RV rigs that we saw in various state parks, particularly because of their ease of handling and setup.  I never did anything about them but last week, facing the completion of repairs on the Airstream and dithering about upgrading and or upsizing, I came across a post from a guy about his success on buying RV’s unseen (except for photos, videos, etc).  He was from Vermont and wrote that he had a Chinook — a rig I’d never heard of.  In a brief exchange of emails, he raved about their reliability and quality, and scarceness.

A random email exchange introduced me to Chinook RVs


Diving in headfirst, I joined the Chinook Yahoo group, visited some Craigslist and RVtrader sites, and wrote to the Chinook RV Club.  Next thing I know I was learning the different models and their layouts and getting advice on possible rigs for sale.  Hey, I have a snow-covered Airstream that has a few weeks worth of work before I can even move it.  And we certainly don’t have a bank account that can handle two rigs at time  — especially a newer pricier RV.

But, after a few more days research, I’m getting hooked on getting a Chinook.  It may never come to pass but I’m planning a trip to Georgia in April for a rally to look one or two over.   Of course, Georgia birding will be in full operation and I’m outlining some sites we can visit while we are there.  

Seeing the many rigs that are sold because of health reasons of one or both of the owners makes one realize that fixing up old rigs is perhaps not to efficient a use of time.  Going in style to prime birding and tourist spots (note the priority) is why we are thinking of upgrading.  Stay tuned or better yet, sign up by RSS feed or via email  over at vtbirder.com to follow us in this “What’s Our Birding Support Base” decision.
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What Will Be Our Birding Base?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Richard

We’ve had a stretch of cold, windy weather here in Vermont and along with questioning our sanity in staying here this winter, I have been battling a painful nerve situation in my neck, arm, and hand.  So I’ve had plenty of time to work on writing and reading projects.  

As you have noted in my blog posts, we do a lot of our birding in warmer places of the U.S.  We haul our ‘99 Airstream, set up in state parks, and see some wonderful birds and meet some fine people.  The Airstream is easy to pull and works pretty well for us but the truck-trailer rig can be tricky to drive so I do all the driving.  Mary would like to help with that chore.  

Last winter, I was intrigued with some of the Class B and larger RV rigs that we saw in various state parks, particularly because of their ease of handling and setup.  I never did anything about them but last week, facing the completion of repairs on the Airstream and dithering about upgrading and or upsizing, I came across a post from a guy about his success on buying RV’s unseen (except for photos, videos, etc).  He was from Vermont and wrote that he had a Chinook — a rig I’d never heard of.  In a brief exchange of emails, he raved about their reliability and quality, and scarceness. 

An informal exchange of emails introduced me to the Chinook RVs.

An informal exchange of emails introduced me to the Chinook RVs.

Diving in headfirst, I joined the Chinook Yahoo group, visited some Craigslist and RVtrader sites, and wrote to the Chinook RV Club.  Next thing I know I was learning the different models and their layouts and getting advice on possible rigs for sale.  Hey, I have a snow-covered Airstream that has a few weeks worth of work before I can even move it.  And we certainly don’t have a bank account that can handle two rigs at time  — especially a newer pricier RV. 

But, after a few more days research, I’m getting hooked on getting a Chinook.  It may never come to pass but I’m planning a trip to Georgia in April for a rally to look one or two over.   Of course, Georgia birding will be in full operation and I’m outlining some sites we can visit while we are there.  

Seeing the many rigs that are sold because of health reasons of one or both of the owners makes one realize that fixing up old rigs is perhaps not to efficient a use of time.  Going in style to prime birding and tourist spots (note the priority) is why we are thinking of upgrading.  Stay tuned or better yet, sign up by RSS feed or via email  to follow us in this “What’s Our Birding Support Base?” decision.

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BIG YEAR COUNTING IN A COUNTY

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Richard

This article struck home as I go through a period of no new birds in my searches.  It’s mid-February, what do I expect in Vermont?  Hey, at least a Northern Hawk Owl, or a Snowy, or a Varied Thrush — all birds we’ve had in the past.  But this post, written by Lynn Barber on the ABA blog, gives me some comfort.  But not too much — she’s going to Honduras soon for a break.  I’m going out in the woods to cut more firewood but perhaps I’ll find some wandering bird — you never know.  Here’s Lynn’s fine post:

Surprise, surprise! Doing a county big year is a different thing than doing a state big year, and of course very different than an ABA big year. That is of course particularly true of a big year done in a county that is way up north, Pennington County in South Dakota. I’m not sure what the number of birds possible for a year is, because I do not have data on anyone else having done a big year in this county. I know, however, that the number of birds possible in one county, even a large county, in western South Dakota is much less than in all of the state, or in Texas, or in the ABA area.On January 1st this year, two of us doing a fairly intense big day in Pennington County found considerably more than half of the likely winter birds in the county. Most of the birds that may be somewhere in the county right now that I have not already seen this year are probably here year round. In other words, there seems to be very little need to go birding right now to try to find the birds that are around but that I have not yet seen.

The lure right now after finding most of the likely regular winter county birds is the hypothetical wandering bird. That’s what gets me out into the snow and wind, sometimes. The problem is that South Dakota is not likely to get many wandering birds in the winter. The wandering Pacific birds (Brambling for example) or wandering Atlantic birds (Northern Lapwing) or wandering Mexican birds (like Brown Jays or Crimson-collared Grosbeaks) are not likely going to wander as far as South Dakota. What I can hope for as winter hangs around for a few more months are winter birds that are sometimes found in nearby counties but not in this one. Examples include Gray-crowned Rosy-finches that are found in most winters one county to the west (on a mountain top) or Common Ravens that are rarely found in the state but one was found last year to the north and west of Pennington County, or Pinyon Jays that in theory could wander to this county from other Black Hills counties.

Or maybe I could do the unexpected and relax about birding. I find that staring out my home office window at our bird feeding areas, watching the over two dozen wintering American Tree Sparrows, and photographing them, including short videos, is very satisfying. Sometimes I even forget for days on end that I am doing a big year. In fact I’m beginning to suspect that there will be very little that will be big about this year. Oddly enough, that does not particularly bother me. Of course when spring migration approaches, all that may change. I just cannot imagine being non-frenetic during warbler time.

In the meantime, I’m heading for Honduras in a couple of weeks. This will be my first international birding trip since I got hooked on doing these big years. It’s not only that the big years drained all our funds away. They also did not allow me to look outside the U.S. Doing a county big year has given me freedom to expand my birding to non-big-year birding, and I can hardly wait!

American tree sparrow

One of the American Tree Sparrows in Lynn’s yard. photo by Lynn Barber

Note:  Lynn Barber is a noted birder who recently published Extreme Birder: One Woman’s Big Year

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