The Distracted Birders

BirdsEye for iPhone

2009-12-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

Apparently, we have a new iPhone app with birding in mind. There have actually been quite a few out of the 100k apple says are available on iTunes. Now, I haven't tried it out so this review of mine is pretty much completely uninformed. It combines GPS with a databases of what birds have been found in your area. I then ties into eBird for a field guide. There are some other little things in there like life list integration. I already have iBird Plus and LOVE it. BirdsEye is a compelling app to purchase for my phone, but not for $19.99. Get it down to $5 and I would try it.

God does it again...

2009-10-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

In what is being described by advance marketing materials as "the first divine creation in more than 6,000 years," God Almighty, Our Lord Most High, introduced a brand-new species of bird into existence Monday.

Ealges Hunting Dogs?

2009-10-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

Heard about this article from a co-worker, Cybil. It is of little value. But, the part about the Bald Eagle hunting dogs and then the residents outrage of it "snatching...baby swans" is interesting. I find the part about the dog hunting unlikely. Though the story reeks of urban legend, there could arise a situation where an eagle and a dog could have slugged it out.
But of all this, the best part is that Cybil, who lives in Annapolis, near Quiet Waters Park, said that her neighbors are now attributing vanishing cats to these Bald Eagles. Based on this article, no less.

Neighbors heard the barking but thought little of it. When Trubee got home, the racket was still going on. He went out back to find his dachshund Dicky in a rage, barking into the woods, and Moby, his Jack Russell, cowering on the ground, bleeding.

When Trubee probed the tree line to investigate, out hopped a young eagle that took flight for safety. The Jack Russell had more than 20 puncture wounds from repeated eagle attacks, Trubee said, and appears to owe its life to the brave dachshund that fought off the intruder.
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The eaglets weren't done marauding. A few weeks later, I'm told, folks down on the Heron Pond watched in horror as they snatched up a whole family of baby swans.

NRA Lobbyist Speaks Up On FL State Bird

2009-09-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

I love when people humanize the behavior of a non-human to rediculous levels.

NRA lobbyist shoots down rival birds

Whenever someone suggests changing the Florida state bird, the National Rifle Association takes aim at the new critter. Well, not really the NRA, but Marion Hammer, the group’s chief state lobbyist and a definite capital powerhouse.

This time the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asked schoolchildren to pick a new bird. More than 20,000 voted for the osprey, a raptor also known as the fish hawk.

That didn’t impress Hammer, who loves mockingbirds. And the fact that they are willing to fight larger birds that threaten their nests. “They are very protective of their family and of their territory,” she said. Hammer notes that in this dispute, she is talking for herself, not the NRA, even if she does use NRA-sounding arguments.

In 1999, more than 10,000 schoolchildren signed a petition to change the state bird to the Florida scrub jay. Supporters boasted about how it will eat peanuts right out of a person’s hand.

Hammer was unmoved. “Begging for food isn’t sweet,” she testified in a committee hearing. “It’s lazy, and it’s a welfare mentality.” Scrub jays had lots of other bad habits that disqualified them to represent Florida, she contended. “They eat the eggs of other birds,” she told lawmakers. “That’s robbery and murder.”
Posted by John Chamless at 04:54:52 PM on September 8, 2009
in | Permalink

Is Sibley Wrong?

2009-07-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Sibley Guide To Birds Has Clearly Misidentified The Dark-Eyed Junco
From The Onion

I don't understand it. How could it have happened a third time? They've had two opportunities to correct it. But there it is, once again. The Sibley Guide To Birds, third printing, page 488: "The dark-eyed junco, a familiar visitor to wintertime bird feeders throughout much of North America, is a species of the junco genus of American finches."

Birds of Britian

2009-06-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

found by Brent Burt

Warblers at work

2009-05-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

The weather today is chaotic. Thunder storms and showers with sporatic moments of sunshine.
At the same time, the birds outside of the office, in woods that surround, were full of song. I couldn't help but take a peak with the binocs. So I found Common Yellowthroat, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Redstart, lots of Grey Catbirds. Also heard Red-eyed Vireo and Ovenbird.

A New Way to Communicate

2009-05-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

Of coarse I've known about Twitter for over a year now. Only recently does it seem to have matured in the sense that its moving beyond the Tech community into mainstream. After all, Oprah is using it.
I've been thinking that it would make a great replacement for the old Listserve of bird sightings. Today, I was playing with it on my iPhone. (I apoligive if this is sounds i-snob, but things work so well on my iphone.) So you make a sighting, post a tweet with a picture and location and BAM! Those that follow you or are part of the community can get it. Now pair that with the Bird guide app and you got something.
Twitter is been a great way to find the local parties for a while. Maybe we can find a use for the older crowd.

Birding while Perking

2009-05-01T12:43:00.001-07:00

For those that don't know, my day job is with the AA County Health Department. This time of year we do most of the perk tests for septic systems. Aside of the normal oppurtunity to get out on a nice spring day (actually it is just as likely to be cold and a downpour of rain), there is the chance to catch a little birding when one waits for a long perk test.

4/24 Outside of the Jugbay area, Lothian
Coopers Hawk
Chipping Sparrow
Common Yellowthroat

4/27 Fairview on the water
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Towhee
Osprey
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Blue Jay
Great Blue Heron
Spotted Sandpiper
Northern Rough-winged Swallow

4/28 Brooks Woods Rd, Lothian, Farm
Song Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Chipping Sparrow
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
American Robin

Spring for the Herb home is finaly here

2009-04-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

At last. This weekend, I heard the summer staple of the Herb yard. The Ovenbird and Northern Parula. So I can now say (without really doing anything with binocs) that the warblers have arrived.
....yet another wasted winter.

Bird App Makes iPhone Commercial

2009-04-07T04:49:00.000-07:00

Birding Goes Late Night

2009-04-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

Just thank Willie

2009-03-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

So, I caught this quick article on comcast.net...

Parrot honored for warning that girl was choking

DENVER — A parrot whose cries of alarm alerted his owner when a little girl choked on her breakfast has been honored as a hero.

Willie, a Quaker parrot, has been given the local Red Cross chapter's Animal Lifesaver Award.

In November, Willie's owner, Megan Howard, was baby-sitting for a toddler. Howard left the room to use the bathroom and the little girl, Hannah, started to choke on her breakfast.

Willie repeatedly yelled "Mama, baby" and flapped his wings, and Howard returned in time to find the girl already turning blue.

Howard saved Hannah by performing the Heimlich maneuver but said Willie "is the real hero."

"The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops no matter how many times I've heard it," Hannah's mother, Samantha Kuusk, told KCNC-TV. "My heart drops in my stomach and I get all teary eyed."

Willie got his award during a "Breakfast of Champions" event Friday attended by Gov. Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper.

As I read, so many thoughts ran through my brain...

Wow, what a wonderful story... what a wonderful bird!

Would our dog, Allegra, provide the same life saving service or would she just wag her tail and knock the choking child to the floor with her tail's massive force?

I wonder what the child was eating?

Perhaps, we need a bird?

Can parents/caregivers not even go to the bathroom without fear of causing death? Must we all have a parrot to ensure the safety of the next generation?

Is it any wonder, I am the distracted birder?

Despite my somewhat irrational thought process, I am always delighted to see a positive avian story make a headline.

Go, Willie!!!!!

Winter Storm

2009-03-10T19:09:00.001-07:00

A Quick Look at Jug Bay

2009-03-09T12:19:00.000-07:00

I made a quick stop and walk at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. Among a few birds not worth mentioning (Titmouse, Crow, Vulture), I saw my first warbler of the season. A Yellow-rumped Warbler flittering through the trees. This is a good time mention my favorite bird nickname/alias: the Butterbutt.

Another wasted weekend

2009-02-17T07:59:00.000-08:00

In another example of the distracted birder:

I seriously planned on doing the backyard bird count. Here's what happened. Day 1, I worked and came home to my two children and 5 minuted later, 5 year old twins that we were to watch till Sunday. Day 2 and 3, try keeping up with all four kids. Since I'm used to two, four kids is more than I easily handle. With all that in mind, I figured there was day 4 since I had off work and the twins would be home. Alas, I got hit with a nasty stomach virus and spent nearly all day laying down or asleep. Damn.

When can a bird sighting be counted?

2009-01-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

Now, I've heard several people explain when you can count a bird sighting to your list. Life list or whatever. On a podcast, I've even heard a photographer, Scott Bourne, say that he doesn't count it unless photographed. So, does it require a certain amount of time in order that the bird can be clearly IDed?
I personally go with my own honor system. Though, I have been yelled at by others when I am driving and call out "Ptarmigan!" on the side of the road. Of coarse, I didn't stop driving and everyone was saying, "What", "Where", or "No you didn't". This is usually followed with a friendly name calling session.But, its with friends, so its OK.
I felt very certain that it was a White-tailed Ptarmigan from my quick look and considering we were in the alpine of the Rocky Mountain National Park.
I go back to my point of limited time / limited opportunity. At the time of this sighting, we were driving back to our cabin with a car full of 2 families. Including a 1 year old and two 4 year olds. In days past, it seemed less troublesome to quickly pull over and stalk back for the second look.
The "Distracted Birder" does the best he can with limited fuss.

Cedarhurst on the Bay

2009-01-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

Did a little drive-by birding in Cedarhurst on the Bay. There is a road in the community that has a good look over the Chesapeake. Clear views within the comfort of the car's side window. Saw a few Buffleheads, Red-breasted Mergansers, and a Hooded Merganser. Although the road viewing is convenient, I can see why the community did not fair well with hurricane Isabell.

The iPhone

2009-01-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

I know this isn't related to birding directly, but, I recently got an iphone. I'm still learning all the uses it can provide. Two things I found of use: iBird is an iphone app that gives a field guide on your phone. I'm very intrigued, but haven't shelled out the 20 bucks. They do have a regional version for less. But really, who wants to limit themselves to "Backyard". The other really cool thing is Google maps on the phone. Its has opened my awareness to what is over the patch of trees. Figuratively.
More to come.

NFL Birds

2009-01-11T15:38:00.000-08:00

A reason that football and birding should go hand-in-hand. This weekend, every team that was a bird (not including the Steelers. That will be our outlier) won. Eagles, Cardinals, and Ravens. Hmmm...

House vs Purple Finch

2009-01-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

A mildly exciting opportunity to compare the Purple Finch with the House Finch. Both were at my feeder today. Gave me and Karen a good chance to compare the two. The House Finch is so much more common that I usually assume thats what it is. This at least gives my hope for the indigenous finch.

The New Year

2009-01-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

As I read and hear of others discussing the beginning of 2009 with bird sightings, I feel that I need to post.

2009.1.1 OK, I glimpsed at the feeders and after seeing the crow and squirrels, thought how I need to cut off that branch from where the fuzzy tailed rodents drop from onto my main feeder.

As I write this, Karen tells me she saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

In a real effort to be "bird friendly", I bought some good bird seed from my favorite store (and former part-time employer) the Wild Bird Center.

Tomorrow. Cut that branch.

College work

2008-12-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

When I was going to Grad School at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas I was studying the Brown Headed Nuthatch. Long story short: I did my study on campus. We trapped them and marked them with colored leg bands and also tried painting in order to ID individuals. Let me tell you, trying to ID a small upper canopy bird in tall pine trees is a pain in the neck. Literally.
Anyway, I found a few pix from my work. Here they are.Here we are setting up the mist net.

I think that the blue paint made a nice fashion statement. I like to think that this bird was like the cool kid on the block with his new Jordan sneakers.

A sighting of my own.....

2008-12-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe my eyes... in the middle of my work day.... in the middle of Bowie...and yet, there it was, seeking it's prey.... A beautiful eagle.

Ok, it was a picture sent in an email I received at work. (One of those painfully funny emails full of heinous pictures of incredibly inappropriate things.) But this picture, this needle in a haystack snapshot, took me away from my desk, just for a minute. In my mind, I was atop the South Rim in Big Bend National Park, Texas. Thankfully, my memory blocked out the part about being insanely hot and sweaty and nearly out of water and I was just watching. Watching, as I had years ago, a Peregrine Falcon.... diving. For prey? Perhaps, but we were never quite sure. Whatever his goal, it was quite a site to see. A site I will likely never forget (baring the setting in of dementia) and it was truly refreshing to go back there today.... no matter what crazy thing conjured the memory.

A Reminiscent Sighting

2008-12-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

I was in the Pasadena area today. Actually, I wasn't that close. But, I was in the northern half of the county.
Anyway, I drove through my old neighborhood. The one I grew up in. There is a small pond or swamp so-to-speak in the neighborhood that I visited when home from college sometimes. Spotted the Hooded Merganser floating across the water as he did 15 years ago. Of coarse I realize it wasn't the same one... I also caught the Yellow bellied Sapsucker. Likely part of a mixed species flock. I saw and heard some chickadees and a few Juncos. But, I really didn't spend much time there. On the way out I also glimpsed a Bufflehead at the community pier.

So it begins

2008-12-09T12:32:00.001-08:00

As I sit here today I remember the care free effort of birding on my own time. There was the occasional early wake up to walk through a neighboring forest. Maybe quietly watch the bird in the back yard at the feeder. Perhaps a camping trip with birding in mind. A search for a Life Bird.
Alas, this is no longer the case. Enter two lovely children and all that goes with them.
I and wife, Karen, are now the distracted birders.