It’s that time of the year again. The time that most bird watchers observe our little feathered friends from the warmth of our houses.
It is amazing what might come to backyard feeders on any given day. It is also a great opportunity to photograph these backyard wanderers. Some of my best bird shots have been taken right out of my kitchen window. It was only yesterday that I photographed a tufted titmouse on my feeder.
This is one bird that I can’t recall ever seeing on my feeder before, but I’m glad he’s around. This should be a good year for all backyard birdwatchers from all the forecasts of it being a severe winter. Fortunately, or unfortunately for us humans, bad weathers brings out many more bird species to the feeder. You never know what new bird you can add to your life list by just looking out the window.
Speaking of life lists. I had quite a few new species added to my personal life list this year. I don’t consider myself to be an expert birdwatcher, but I do enjoy it.
I should be politically correct here by not calling myself or any other bird lover out there a birdwatcher. To those who take the art of observing birds very seriously, the correct term would be birders.
A serious birder, in my mind, is a hard fellow to figure out. For this amateur birder, my goal is to see as many species as possible, and also try to photograph them. This actually takes the pressure off me, because if I don’t get a picture, I still get the sighting. I can always laugh it off, but a really serious birder wouldn’t laugh. You see, a serious birder has a very limited sense of humor. No bird jokes, ever, and darn it. I have a million of them! When out in the field with birders, there is limited talking, just pointing. You always know where a bird may be by all the fingers you see.
Birders can be a real asset while you are out in the field and have trouble identifying a species. The experts can be very helpful to any amateur birder by quickly telling you what you just missed, and believe me, this happens often. I gained new respect for the pro birders on my spring trip to Magee Marsh in Ohio.
The birders went out of their way to help identify new species, and point us know-nothings in the right direction! I’m looking forward to next year’s trip to the marsh. I recently saw the movie, “The Big Year.”
This is a movie about birders trying to set the record for seeing the most species in one year, and the lengths they will go to too actually set this record.
Based on actual facts, this is an amazing movie. It follows three birders who are out to set the record at any cost, like losing their family, all their money, or the true meaning of their lives. The fact that it is based on actual events is proof that birding can be very addictive and all encompassing.
At least you probably won’t die from birding, but there is always the possibility of falling off a cliff while watching a bird!. It showed how they would leave on a moment’s notice, and fly to some out of the way location, just to get a glimpse of a rare bird to add to their lists. Have I ever done anything like that?
Last winter I did jump into my truck and drive to Lake Erie, in the middle of winter to get a shot at a snowy owl. Yes, I would do it again! I would be a bit more careful around some of these pro birders the next time around. When scouting for some owls I spotted four gentlemen with huge lenses and tripods standing in a row with a snowy owl right in front of them.
I crept slowly through the snow and joined them in line, without uttering a sound, or disturbing the bird. I thought I did well, until my phone went off with my Bon-Jovi ring tone getting louder and louder before I could get it out of my heavy clothing to answer it.
With dirty looks from the line of birders, I said, “oops,” and all the snow melted around me! I survived my winter trip to see and photograph my first snowy owl.
The birders seemed to be great people, and I enjoyed every minute with them. Keep watching those birds, and adding to your life list. It is really fun. The birders in the movie saw over 500 species in that year. My total list for my whole life is only 154! I have some work to do!
Until my next adventure…
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Questions or wildlife sightings, email Rocky at rocky.holland1@verizon.net
