Where Are All the Birds?
September 15, 2009
Article in: Birding
The weather we’ve been having, while not unique to others around the country, has been weird. Our summer was not that hot but of late it has been extra warm. Birds seem scarce every time we go out birding. Sure, the common stuff is there, but migration has been pretty… lame.
Castle Rock where the only birds were Turkey Vultures and a lonely Swainson’s Thrush
That said, we also haven’t been able to get out and bird as much. But this coming Saturday should help quench the birdless drought. Birdfreak is leading a hike along the Jane Addams Trail near Freeport, Illinois. (Not to be confused with a much more birdy Freeport located 1300 miles south.)
This is a North Central Illinois Ornithological Society (NCIOS) sanctioned field trip and it will be awesome. We will find birds, no matter what.
And despite the lackluster performance of birds even in the backyard, we had a brand new sighting of a Red-Shouldered Hawk which is yard bird #110.
Birding Milwaukee County Parks
September 14, 2009
Article in: Birding
The first Rockford bird club meeting of the new season was Thursday. The speaker was Brian Russert, a conservationist closer in age to the Birdfreak Team and a person with a passion for all things natural. He presented about Milwaukee County’s park system and some of the better locations to bird. Most of the info here is from his talk.
With some 150 parks and 15,000 acres to explore, there are numerous opportunities for traveling birders to one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country (over 900,000 people in the county). Some of the parks stand out more from a birding point of view but judging from our personal lack of birding there, it is definitely a place worthy of further exploration.
Some of the “top” picks from Brian included: Doctors (which borders the property of the popular Schlitz Audubon Center), Lake, Warnimont, Grant, Bender, and Falk. These are just the tip of the iceberg and all offer wonderful birding. The best time to go is mid to late May for migration and woodland wildflowers. But birders have found some really cool birds at all times of the year.
Most of the bigger and “better” parks have downloadable maps that are clear and easy to interpret.
Beyond the individual maps is the large and amazing “Oak Leaf Birding Trail” guide. This large foldout brochure has a detailed map, oversized checklist, and individual descriptions of the main parks on the map. This is a must have when it comes to birding the county and finding the best spots (and not getting lost).
You can download the map to view or request one free map be mailed to you.
Milwaukee County is easier to get to for us than Chicago and after hearing Brian’s presentation, we plan on making a trip up there as soon as we get a chance.
Bird Photography Weekly #55
September 13, 2009
Article in: Bird Photography Weekly
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Phriday Photo – Cedar Waxwings Are Everywhere!
September 11, 2009
Article in: Photography
Nearly every time we go birding these days, the most photogenic bird we find are Cedar Waxwings. They provide a lot of opportunity for digiscoping since they tend to be in groups and perch out in the open.
New Birder Experience – Shorebirds and Wading Birds
September 8, 2009
Article in: The New Birder Experience
This past weekend Stacia and I headed out to one of DeKalb County’s best forest preserves and one of the better ones in northern Illinois: Afton Forest Preserve.
Despite getting a later start due to heavy fog and being stopped by a train, the bird activity was excellent. We discovered several Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons and discussed the differences between “shore” birds and “wading” birds.
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
We also found several shorebirds including a Wilson’s Snipe, Short-billed Dowitcher, and a Greater Yellowlegs. Much of the birds were far off but I demonstrated how to use the Swarovski spotting scope (which of course is super easy) and also did a bit of digiscoping.
Wilson’s Snipe
Unfortunately, I am not the best teacher when it comes to those pesky sandpipers so we did not identify them all but Stacia’s life list grew by 10 species. Every time is fun because we purposely try to enjoy each sighting to the fullest instead of checking off large numbers of birds.
Without a doubt, showing new birds to Stacia is improving the way I look at birds and increasing my joy of learning about each species and their behaviors.
Bird Photography Weekly #54
September 6, 2009
Article in: Bird Photography Weekly
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Phriday Photo – Digiscoped American Goldfinch
September 4, 2009
Article in: Photography
Lately I’ve been trying to get out with just the digiscoping rig to get photos. Unfortunately, the birds have been hard to find and non-cooperating. This weekend will hopefully be full of shorebirds and a long digiscoping session which will be part of the New Birder Experience!
Did manage this average shot of an American Goldfinch
Birding Missouri – Searching for a Painted Bunting and Finding Citizen Scientists
September 2, 2009
Article in: Birding
Veery and her son Dakota have temporarily moved! The Birdfreak Team is partially split for the summer/fall as Veery spends six months working in Jefferson City, Missouri. Join them as they answer the question: How’s the birding in Mid Missouri?
Painted Buntings occur in Missouri based on reports I have found. Two weeks ago, one was spotted in Jefferson City. This week, another sighting reported in St. Charles County. Will Dakota or I see one this year? We are hopeful, but it hasn’t happened yet.
While doing a bit of internet research, I came across a team of citizen scientists who are all about this gorgeous bird. Their goal is to develop ways to help sustain the population of Painted Buntings in their eastern ranges. Painted Buntings are not endangered but their numbers are declining.
The Painted Bunting Observation Team (PBOT) is a “group of citizen scientists who aid in developing strategies to sustain the Eastern Painted Bunting population throughout the Carolinas and Florida”. The project does not cover any found in Missouri.
This group records and catalogs sightings (anyone can sign up and join this effort) and then publish and discuss the data. By tracking and monitoring their numbers, a possible answer to why they are declining could then lead to helping their numbers improve.
To join the group: http://paintedbuntings.org/users/signup
Learn more about Painted Buntings from Cornell’s All About Birds.
