Birding Laughs

Review: Shorebirds of North America

At a certain point in the journey of the birding addict, one gets serious about being able to distinguish the subtleties of sparrows, gulls, and shorebirds. Such seriousness demands great tools like the book "Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide".

Here is why I like this book:

1. The cover is card stock paper with a vinyl coating. Damp-proofness is essential when wanting to view birds in damp places.

2. The anatomy guide on pages 4 and 5 are perfect for novices like me.

3. Each species gets a thorough treatment ranging from one page to several pages.

4. The notes about shorebird behavior are particularly good. Behavior is often as good a characteristic to identify species as is their size and color pattern.

5. Good quality and quantity of photos of each species at various stages; juvenile, breeding, and non-breeding. The photos are taken from all over the country so regional variation is covered.

As a cartophile I am disappointed that there aren't a bunch of colorful range maps, but Dennis Paulson explains in his intro that all the other field guides out there already have accurate range maps. He wanted to dedicate more time to thorough text and leave room for as many photographs as possible. I concede his point. Well done!

Price: as low as $19 online

Mountain Bluebird by Anne Mortensen age 7

eBird Site Survey

eBird is taking another couple of steps to help citizen science contribute to the studies of full-time scientists. eBird is seeking birders who birdwatch at the same location(s) once a week or more. Do you fit that profile? Then please read more here and join the eBird Site Survey Team.

Red-tailed Hawk photo at Avimor's Spring Valley Creek by John Perry - 11/14/09

I have already signed myself up and my "Avimor - Spring Valley Creek - Greenbelt" location has already been confirmed by the eBird staff to be a part of the study. I bird this route almost every day on my walk to work. It has also been the location of many of our monthly Avimor Bird Walks. I have already submitted almost 100 checklists for this location alone. As time goes on, more and more patterns of bird activity will become apparent. I like knowing that my own birding fascination and hobby may also be able to contribute to science and the general understanding of bird distribution and migration.

Many birders believe strongly in conservation efforts. Financial contributions to such campaigns are important, and data about the status of birds is essential. You can donate to conservation by simply taking some time to log your bird sightings on eBird. Plus, eBird is a great free service that maintains your personal checklists and life lists in a very user friendly format.

I'm an eBirder! Are you?

Idaho Birder: Lew Ulrey

Lew Ulrey

Boise, Idaho

How and when did you get your start in birding?

I started about age 10, which was in the mid 1950’s.

Where did you grow up?

My childhood homes included Seattle, WA; El Paso, TX ; Nagoya, Japan, Topeka, KS; Peru, IN and Wiesbaden, Germany, all courtesy of the U.S. Air Force.

How long have you been birding in Idaho?

Since 1972 off and on, more seriously starting in 2002.

How often do you go birding? And where do you regularly go birding?

I bird my backyard every day.

What are your top five favorite back bird sightings?

My top five favorite backyard bird sightings are Northern Parula, White-throated Sparrow, Common Grackle, Blue Jay, and Lewis’s Woodpecker. I really enjoy all the birds that come around. Those five are just the most unusual for this area.

Where is your favorite place to bird in Idaho? In the U.S.?

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area has probably been the most productive.

The most lifers per day came when my wife and I went to the 2008 San Diego Bird Festival

How would you describe yourself as a birder? A “watcher”, a “lister”, both, or something else?

I keep lists, but they always contain information about when and where I found the birds and how many were present. Being an avid eBirder has really conditioned me to count the birds I find. I think records of numbers of birds have more potential for yielding better understanding of birds than records without.

What kind of birding equipment do you use?

I use Nikon 8x42 binoculars and a Kowa TSN- 663ED 66mm scope. I also carry with me it is not practical to have my binoculars a Vortex 8x25 monocular.

You are the top checklist contributor to eBird in the State of Idaho. What do you like about eBird and why do you feel it is important?

eBird is a good way to make bird findings amount to something more than just an entry on a list on the shelf or home computer. By entering sightings on eBird a person has a chance to help professional ornithologists with their work, and to contribute the pool of data about bird occurrences that is available on eBird to be explored by anyone.

I have designed an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of birds in my yard as to species, numbers of individuals, median number of individuals per month and maximum number of individuals I also love AviSys. Some have commented that a person can get the same information for free by using eBird. That is true only to the extent that the kind of information you want is what eBird offers. AyiSys offers much more flexibility in working with the sighting data you have acculmulated. AviSys is a relational database with a field for numbers of individuals seen, and a field for putting codes that are user defined. I have codes for which feeder the bird was at, what sex was the bird, did I photograph it,did I only hear it, etc. The possibilities are almost limitless.

Any special eBird tips or instructions for us?

Last May, Charles Swift agreed to let me take over managing eBird Hot Spots in southern Idaho for eBird. Charles still does that job for northern Idaho. The job involves checking out, hopefully approving requests for new Hot Spots. It is important to that suggested spots are not private spots, such as a birder’s own yard. Suggestions that duplicate already existing Hot Spots have to be declined. Suggested Hot Spots that are not properly plotted on the map have to be corrected. The job gives me the ability to move, merge, or rename existing Hot Spots. I really think Hot Spots are another way that eBird data can have greater significance. What has been posted on Hot Spots is viewable by anyone. If a birder is coming to our area and wants to know what to expect, the existence of a Hot Spot could give him some good information. There is a misconception that an eBird Hot Spot is a great place to bird. A Hot Spot is at just a place that anyone can bird and a shared eBird location for reporting his sightings. I think putting this information out is good for people who do not know about using Hot Spots, or have wondered about how to get corrections made on what they view as problems with existing Hot Spots.

What is your favorite bird sighting and what is the story behind it?

At the 2008 San Diego Bird Festival, the friend we stayed with wanted to take us to a certain beach to see Black Skimmers. When we got there we found about 100 skimmers. I did not see skimmers on any of the official festival trips. Looking at a range map I saw that skimmers are restricted to both coasts. The birds were there, seemingly unnoticed by the human bathers. What a commotion would arise if one of them showed up in Idaho! Location is everything!

Which birding publications, websites, blogs do you read and recommend?

IBLE, North American Birds Online, Cornell’s All About Birds website, Living Bird Magazine from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Birding Magazine from ABA.

Which is your favorite field guide and why?

At home I have always available Peterson Field Guide to Birds of NA and National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of NA. Having grown up with the Peterson guide it was good to see the updated edition that came out in 2008. In the field I like the Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western NA. It fits nicely in my pouch.

What do you have in your home library birding reference set?

Most of the popular field guides, The Idaho Bird Guide, Idaho Birding Trail, some of the specialized Peterson guides, i.e. gull, hummingbirds, hawks, advanced birding.

Do you have any formal bird-related education background?

In 2006 I completed the Cornell Home Study Course in Bird Biology. I can highly recommend that course. The Handbook of Bird Biology, which is the text for the course was written by professional ornithologists, who not only are masters of their subject matter, but also write very well.

If a fellow birder had a question about a bird, do you consider yourself an expert (or at least proficient) on any specific family of birds?

I feel proficient in identifying the common birds. Songbirds are probably where I am strongest. I really believe in the power that comes from knowing bird calls. I also believe that learning bird calls is a quest that is never over.

What future birding plans do you have?

2010 San Diego Bird Festival!

You are the Big List compiler for Ada County. How long have you been doing this? And How can Ada County birders better help you?

I have had this job since 2006. It is great when people call me or email me with additions to the list. RL Rowland and Mark Collie are especially good doing this. I can still get information without direct communication by watching postings on IBLE, eBird and the IBO Blog.

What is your nemesis bird?

Shorebirds

What is/was your career?

Banking

By a chance discovery I found your name listed as a trumpet player for the Meridian Orchestra. What is your musical background?

I started playing trumpet at age nine. At age 50, after being laid off at work, I went to BSU and earned a Bachelor degree in Music Education. Going through music school was fine; going through student teaching, however, did not go so well. This will be my last season in the Meridian Orchestra. After that I will just play in the All Campus Concert Band at BSU.

Anything about your family you’d like to share with us?

My grandparents were interested birds and sparked my interest. My mother was a rock hound. When I was about 12 she took take me to an Audubon meeting. She explained to them she was interested in rocks. They replied that they preferred living things.

Your mission in life as birder?

The goal is always to get a better understanding of birds. The lists are a tool used to work toward understanding.

Thanks for the interview Lew. I will always have you in my record book as one of most amiable people I've encountered. Thanks for your work in the birding community!

Winter Birding the Boise Area - Part II

Here are my recommendations for some great winter birding locations around the Boise area:

Hyatt Wetlands

Located on Maple Grove, between Chinden and McMillan in Boise, the Hyatt Wetlands is an old gravel pit turned riparian oasis. Watch for various types of grebes and ducks. Also watch for Virginia Rails, even in the dead of winter. I've seen them there on New Year's day.

View Hyatt Wetlands, Boise Idaho in a larger map

Kathryn Albertson & Ann Morrison Parks

Two adjacent parks near downtown Boise near the Boise River. Wood Ducks are normally abundant at Kathryn Albertson Park, along with Mergansers, and all the other ducks. Varied Thrushes have also been known to winter here. After you've exhausted all the winter birds here, cross the street to Ann Morrison Park. Here you can see a variety of gulls too, but pay special attention to the flocks of American Wigeons feeding on the grass. If one sticks out having red heads you've found yourself a Eurasian Wigeon.

View Kathryn Alberston Park in a larger map


View Ann Morrison Park, Boise Idaho in a larger map

Two Rivers community, Eagle

This neighborhood has 23 huge ponds surrounded by wonderful dense landscaping. I like to drive to the westernmost sections to look for Hooded Mergansers, Tundra Swans, Goldeneye, and Ring-necked Ducks.

View Two Rivers, Eagle ID in a larger map

Dry Lakes, South of Nampa

This is where I had my first lessons in Tundra & Trumpeter Swan identification. There are also lots of Pintail, Lesser Scaup, and a dozen others.

View Dry Lake Area, Nampa ID in a larger map

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge - Lake Lowell, Nampa

Look for Loons and all of the other waterfowl. One New Year's day we saw two dozen Bald Eagles feeding on ducks out on the ice.

View Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge - Lake Lowell in a larger map

Hidden Hollow Landfill (Ada Co) and Pickle Butte (Canyon County)

The dump is actually a great place to hone your gull identification skills. Last winter I believe eight or more species of gulls were identified at local landfills, including some rarities.

View Hidden Hollow Landfill in a larger map


View Pickle Butte Landfill in a larger map

Where are your favorite places for winter birdwatching?

November Bird Walk Report

A beautiful wintery morning greeted eight of us this morning for the monthly Avimor Bird Walk. A couple of inches of snow had fallen during the night and the sun was shining. The white coating of snow brought a sense of peace and tranquilty that was very enjoyable. We observed 11 species total. Most surprising were the enormous quantities of Dark-eyed Juncos (Oregon race)...they were everywhere frolicking in the snow! A flock Pine Siskins was also an unexpected treat. We had a few great views of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a cooperative Red-tailed Hawk, and cute Black-capped Chickadees.

Below are just a few of the amazing photos taken by Avimor Bird Walk guest, John Perry of Eagle, ID:

Black-capped Chickadee along Spring Valley Creek Trail

Hawthorne Berries and Snow

Grove of Trees along Spring Valley Creek Trail where the Juncos abounded.
Magpie and Mule Deer (look closely)

Fall foliage with a winter backdrop

Winter Birding the Boise Area - Part I

The wonderful thing about birding is that seasonal changes bring bird changes which keeps my birding blood pumped with adrenaline. Starting about this time of year I give extra attention to ponds and lakes for returning waterfowl. Ducks, geese, and swans come to the Treasure Valley to spend the winter wherever there is open water that doesn't completely freeze over. Birders should also be on the lookout for Scooters and Loons which tend to pop in unexpectedly. These winter visitors can be some of the most beautiful one can see. Below are some of my favorites:

The photos are by Greg Gillson, the Pacific Northwest Backyard Birder. Check out his site for more great bird photography and follow his awesome birding blog too.

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Wood Duck

American Wigeon

Ring-necked Duck

Barrow's Goldeneye

Tomorrow, I'll post my recommendations for some great winter birding locations around the Boise area where you are likely to see some of the above mentioned beauties. Stay tuned!

From my office window...

This is the view out of my office window. Do you see the tall cottonwood trees out there along Spring Valley Creek and the rolling foothills there on the west side of Highway 55? There is one really tall almost dead snag that towers above the rest (better seen in the picture below). That snag has been the location of many of my favorite Avimor bird sightings. You may recall the post about Turkey Vultures on it a few weeks ago. This snag has had all kinds of guests from Swainson's Hawks, a Red-naped Sapsucker, Lazuli Buntings, Bullock's Orioles, Red-tailed Hawks, Great Horned Owls, European Starlings, House Finches, Goldfinches, and dozens more. Anyway, it can be very distracting during work, especially when I have an office visitor, and I see bird-action out on this tree. You can guess where I store my spotting scope...yep, right on my desk!
Just minutes ago I watched an American Kestrel dive bombing the tree over and over again. A lareg flock of American Goldfinch took off from the tree, but the Kestrel kept up his attack. I could see a darker bird-like object on the snag. I put the scope on it and it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk. The Sharpie didn't even seem to notice the taunting and the Kestrel finally gave up after about five minutes. Seconds later, a trio of brutish Black-billed Magpies decided to take over the fight and finally harrassed the Sharpie out of the tree. Once the fight was over, the Magpies nonchalantly wafted off and now a Northern Flicker has taken over the coveted roost. Hearkening back to my boyhood days of playing King of the Mountain, I think I'll call this almost daily event...King of the Cottonwood.

CJ Strike & Bruneau Sand Dunes

The Mortensen kids attend a year-round school and are currently on a three week track-break. During these breaks we try to get out and have some family adventures to keep the kids from destroying the house and each other. When planning these family adventures, I'll admit that I ask myself, "Where can I go birding where there is something fun for the kids to do?" I took the afternoon off yesterday and we made a fairly short cruise down to CJ Strike Reservoir and the Bruneau Sand Dunes.

I was was really hoping to see Scooters and Loons, but not seeing them and dealing with a little bit of kid-whining were the only disappointments of the day. We had a blast! I managed to see a few great birds including three Barrow's Goldeneye, lots of Buffleheads, and Idaho's State Bird the Mountain Bluebird.

Here are some family photos of our adventure I wanted to share...

Sure...Jessica and Claire are cute, but do you see that raft of ducks on Dune Lake in the background?

If I only had the energy of Kyle. He was up and down that dune a dozen times. I was terribly winded after only a short climb to the top.

I thought this was a cute wind-blown picture of Anne dumping sand out of her shoe. I also want her to remember this picture of her elementary school teeth, especially after I pay for braces.

Victoria was a bit terrified with the steepness and slipping of the sand. Using the bear-walk to go up and sliding on her bum to go down, she overcame her fear.

Just to prove I was there.

Late Fall Avimor Birding

Photo borrowed from Rose Cottage Garden Blog

It's that time of year that the quantities and varieties of birds really start to decline...in other words, the birding is slow. Seeing ten species at Avimor in an hour is impressive this time of year compared to spring when it is easy to chalk up 25 or more.

Another interesting phenomenon is the lack of birds at feeders right now. I am getting occasional House Finches and Dark-eyed Juncos, but that is about it. The thistle seed feeder that usually always hosts American Goldfinch has sat untouched for a few weeks now. There must be plenty of natural forage still in the riparian draws and hills. Once they have gleaned all the seeds they can and the bugs disappear with the oncoming cold and frost, I'm sure a greater variety of birds will be taking advantage of the nutrient-rich and easily accessible food at feeders.

Brown Pelicans

I noted with special interest in the news that Brown Pelicans have been removed from the Federal Endangered Species list. Brown Pelicans were hit hard by the pesticides of the 1950's and 1960's, as were so many other bird species. Most of the affected species are well on their way to recovery. I don't blame the farmers of generations past as I give them the benefit of the doubt that they didn't intentionally poison wildlife. Farmers, ranchers, and developers are a huge part of conservation efforts world-wide.

It is also interesting to note that while Brown Pelicans were struggling, American White Pelicans have become to populous and eating all the fish in the rivers and reservoirs. Idaho Fish & Game officials are looking at ways to slow them down.

My only sightings to date of Brown Pelicans comes from a pair of visits my family made to Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco), Mexico when we lived in Arizona. I took the picture above from the beach at sunset. Brown Pelicans can range from being very ugly to being very beautiful depending on the season. I particularly like how they fly so majestically.

Murder of Crows Contest - Special Recognition

My entry to Celebrate Urban Birds' Murder of Crows and other Spooky Bird Tales received "special recognition" and shows up this site under the "Great Poems" section:

If you missed reading my spooky birding experience before, here is a link to my submission.

Review: Birding for Everyone

The good folks at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology sent me a copy of the book "Birding for Everyone" for participating in the Celebrate Urban Birds event earlier this year. Its an inspirational quick-read that I recommend to all people everywhere, birder or not.

John C. Robinson is a black man and he is a birder. He wrote this book to encourage people of color to become birdwatchers and includes some humorously written personal anecdotes. Part of his argument is that as minorities in the United States continue to grow, their political voices or political apathy will have a direct impact on the ecosystem. The book also includes well written basic tips on how to be a birder. In conclusion, John invites non-birders, especially minorities to give birding a chance. By highlighting personal annecdotes of minority birders, he proves his point of the importance of minorities being involved in birding. He also challenges those of us in the birding community to reach out to minorities and invite them into our world.

I have accepted John's challenge. Being able to speak Spanish fairly well, I am finding ways to invite the Spanish-speaking community to the Avimor Bird Walks (Paseo de Aves). I've already added the invite in Spanish to my blog and I've e-mailed the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce asking them for some guidance. I've even printed off "Principios en la Observacion de Aves" from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to bone up on my Spanish as it relates to birding.

Thanks John for reminding me that birding really is for everyone.

Screech Owl - Kestrel Box

My eight year old son, Kyle, is a Cub Scout. He had a couple of requirements to complete to earn his Wolf badge which included learning about and using some tools and building a bird house. I myself have been itching to make a few bird houses of various types to put up around Avimor to see what would nest in them...simply to satisfy my curiosity.

This last Saturday morning, Kyle and I went over to Grandpa Mortensen's home in Meridian, to get the help of a woodworking pro and the use of his cornucopia of tools. We built a Western Screech Owl / American Kestrel box using plans from this website.

My dad had some left-over hickory wood that he joined to give us enough material. It is only 3/4" rather than the 1-1/2" material the plans called for, but I think the hardwood should be durable enough.Here are photos of three generations of Mortensen's having a great time working together:

Avimor co-worker and friendly neighbor, Shon Parks, joined me in risking life and limb to hang the nest box in the tree. It was far more precarious that I had planned on and my knees are still shaking from doing it, but here are photos of Shon and I installing the box:

We placed it in the tall cottonwoods at the southwest corner of Foothills Heritage Park with the hopes of having a nesting Western Screech Owl. Kestrels prefer to have the box on a pole out in the open. Doesn't it look inviting?

We hope to make several more nest boxes of all types during the winter...again, just to satisfy my curiosity.

Idaho Birder: Cheryl Huizinga

Cheryl Huizinga

South of Caldwell, Idaho

Cheryl on right with Peggy Williams at Chiricahua National Monument, AZ

How and when did you get your start in birding?

I got my official start in birding in May of 2002 by buying “A Day of Birding” with Fred Hill that he donated to our church’s camp auction. The trip was to Leslie Gulch in the Owyhees. When he pointed out a Western Kingbird to me (and I never knew that bird even existed before) I was hooked. Fred paid for my first year in the SIBA club and the rest is history.

How often do you go birding?

Through the years I’ve gotten more and more into birding. At present I’d rather be outside birding (or even doing yard work) than indoors doing more “homemaker” things like cleaning and re-decorating. Suffice to say that I’m out there 2-3 days a week if possible. And no matter where I go or who I’m with, I’m always looking. At the end of my life, I won’t be known for how clean my house is. I go birding in Canyon Co. mostly, but will go wherever I know birds are hanging out.

Where is your favorite place to bird in Idaho? In the U.S.? in the world?

My own back yard is my favorite place. I’ve planted for birds and have bird feeders and water for them. It’s amazing what comes along. The problem is that I spend too much time looking out my back windows!

Anywhere in Canyon Co. (the Deer Flat NWR is just a mile from my house) would be my next favorite place and Owyhee Co. after that. The Owyhees is one place I can get my hubby to go.

In US, I’m very fortunate to have a daughter that lives in the Phoenix, AZ. area and visit her and my grandkids several times a year which has given me lots of opportunity to bird there. Also very fortunate to have spent two weeks in May in ’08 and ‘09 in Portal, AZ, birding in the Chiricahua Mtns. Birding in AZ has been very special. (Southeast Arizona Birding Trail info here) Have yet to go beyond the US borders but hopefully someday!

What kids of plant have in put in to attract birds?

I plant a lot for hummingbirds – Agastache, different Salvias, Zinnias, Cannas, and Fuchsia. We also planted Mountain Ash, Washington Hawthorn, and Serviceberry trees for Waxwings, Robins and others.

Any special tips on feed and feeder types that you have found work well for you? And what are your favorite birds to see in your yard?

I buy a ground mix at Bird House & Habitat in Boise called Desert Delight. All the ground feeders love it. I have a hanging tray feeder for Black-oil Sunflowers seeds, a couple of thistle socks for finches, and suet in cages. There are 4 bird baths and three of them are heated for the winter birds. Our yard list stands at 70 species – not too bad for 1/3 acre.

I love to watch the birds change with the seasons – tracking the first sightings of the hummers in spring, the first Juncos in fall and the special surprise birds that come in once in a while. They’re all good except for the large and getting larger flock of House Sparrows that eat up everything in sight. I quit feeding this summer to hopefully get them going somewhere else, but they came back when I started feeding again. Wouldn’t mind a small flock, but this large flock (60+) is too much. But birds draw birds so I put up with them and hopefully the resident Sharpie takes a House Sparrow for its lunch once in a while.

Do you have any secret birding hotspots that may be yet unknown to Idaho birders that you would finally be willing to share with us?

I have a friend who lets me bird her extensive “forest” over in the Sunnyslope area. It has all kinds of different trees – deciduous and evergreen- with a lot of bushes and undergrowth which attracts all sorts of birds. I only take people there when I call and ask permission from her first, but I go often on my own. I saw my first Varied Thrush there several years ago on a Christmas Bird Count and on another CBC, we found Bushtits.

How would you describe yourself as a birder? A “watcher”, a “lister”, both, or something else?

I would say both. I love to watch them, and also like to list them, but don’t want to become a “ticker” about listing. I keep a yard list, a Canyon Co. list, a monthly list, an Idaho list and a year list. I like to collect things so it’s just my way of “collecting” birds.

What kind of birding equipment do you use?

I use 8x42 Kahles binoculars and my super special hubby bought me a Zeiss Victory Diascope Spotting Scope 20-60x85 mm with a lightweight Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod and floating head that will serve as a present for many birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas’s in the future. He’s a smart guy. I also carry an iPod that’s loaded with bird calls to help with ID in the field. When I’m in the car I listen to bird calls on CD’s instead of the radio, which has helped tremendously with ‘birding by ear' instead of just by sight. My grandsons like listening to those when they’re with me and getting good at remembering them!

How do you keep track of your bird observations? And why?

I’m a bit “old school” and do it mostly on paper but do keep some of it on the computer. There’s just something special about coming home and taking out my Birding Journal and writing down a new bird and the story about seeing it. I like going back and adding to my observations and reading about the first time I saw that species.

What is your favorite bird sighting and what is the story behind it?

My favorite sighting has to be the Broad-billed Hummingbird which I saw at my hummingbird feeder on my patio in May 2004. I knew it was different, looked it up in Sibley’s, called Fred Hill (my birding mentor) and he came over and agreed with my ID. I had no idea that it would generate the interest that it did. After calling a few people and posting it on IBLE, I soon had a backyard full of birders and other interested parties. Stacy Peterson, master hummingbird bander, packed up his two kids and came from Mountain Home to band it, and Harry Krueger came to add it to his Big Year list. Cliff Weisse and several other birders came from Eastern Idaho to add it to their Idaho list. Someone told me to keep a list of the people that came and I did. The hummer only stayed for 4 days, but I sure learned a lot about birders and what they will do to add a bird to their Idaho list!! It was the first recorded sighting of one in Idaho. Not sure that one has been recorded since!

Which birding publications, websites, blogs do you read and recommend?

I subscribe to several publications: Birder’s World, Wild Bird and Audubon magazines. I check with SWIBA and IBLE on a daily basis and often check into the New Mexico-Arizona list serve (birdingonthe.net) when I’m headed there and also when I want to drive myself a little nuts about what is being seen in the spots I like to visit when I go there. Some of the blogs – like yours! - and others – IBO and such are fun and informative. Really enjoying Birdfellow also.

Which is your favorite field guide and why?

I started with Sibley's – a gift from one of my daughters who didn’t know what her mother was becoming – and it is tattered and beat up from hauling it everywhere, but it’s still the one I use the most. Also have the 5th edition Natl. Geographic and the latest Peterson’s field guide.

What do you have in your home library birding reference set?

I’ve gotten several reference guides: Sparrows, Hawks, Hummingbirds, Shorebirds and other Bird Life books. They are slowly filling up the bookshelves. I got “The Complete Birder” by Jack Connor several years ago and re-read that occasionally. Also have several reference books on Arizona birds. The “Birds of Malheur NWR” By CD Littlefield is a special one because I got to meet him in the Peloncillo Mountains of New Mexico while visiting the Bio-research Ranch and he signed the book for me. A recent buy was “Birds of Idaho” by Thomas Burleigh that someone said I should have. Haven’t had a chance to get into yet, but that stuff never gets dated.

Do you have any formal bird-related education background?

Have none whatsoever unless you can call classes taken in the Valley offered by fellow birders “formal”. Only wish I would have stayed in school at C of I and eventually would have taken an ornithology class while getting a biology degree. But, alas, I fell in love and dropped out of school to get that Mrs. Degree. Not that I regret that decision!!

If a fellow birder had a question about a bird, do you consider yourself an expert (or at least proficient) on any specific family of birds?

No way! I defer to the likes of Jim Holcomb, Fred Hill, and many other experts. I'm still learning every time I go out.

Any other thoughts on the past-time of birding? What do your foresee in the future of birding?

From listening to long-time birders, I realize that I’m not going to see the species or numbers of a certain species like in the “old days”. It’s my desire to see what I can see now and help the environment so that my grandkids will some day get to see what I see now.

Are you involved with any local or national birding organizations? If so, which ones?

I belong to Southwestern Idaho Birders Association – SIBA – and currently hold the title of Field Trip Chairman. Also belong to the Golden Eagle Audubon Society but don’t get a chance to be involved with them as much as I like. I keep the Canyon Co. Bird List for Idahobirds.net which keeps me out there looking for more species to top the last year’s list. I will get more involved with the Deer Flat NWR as time allows.

What is your nemesis bird?

For Idaho it was the Common Poorwill but got it this past summer (eBird map). Right now, it's the Stilt Sandpiper (eBird map). I’ve had several chances to see it, but it’s stayed just out of sight for me. For Arizona, it’s the Montezuma Quail (eBird map). I keep trying and when I finally get it – it will be very much earned and collected! There are so many birds in Idaho that I have yet to see: Sharp-tailed Grouse (eBird map), Pine Grosbeaks (eBird map), Barred Owl (eBird map), Flamulated Owl (eBird map), Mountain Quail (eBird map), Harlequin Duck (eBird map)– the list goes on and on, but really can’t say they are nemesis birds, just haven’t tried that hard to get them yet.

What is/was your career?

I have a wallpapering business that kept me very busy in the 80’s and 90’s and early 00’s, but is slow now. I’ve taught Aerobic Fitness and Strength training classes at Idaho Athletic Club for over 25 years. It’s great to get paid to work out. My motto is “Keep Moving!”

Anything about your family you’d like to share with us?

Hubby Bob is a real treasure in that he lets me go off on birding trips without too much complaining. The scope acquisition just fueled that fire! My two daughters keep saying that they might have to put beaks on their kids so I pay them more attention. I’m trying to get the Gkids into birding. The two older ones – 8 and 6 – show some promise and interest, and the other two could care less at this stage. Gma will keep working on them!

Any tips on birding with children?

Keep it very simple. The first time I led a pre-school trip with my oldest grandson’s class, I wanted to tell them about every bird we saw, but they were at the Magpies, Robins and Geese level. Since then I’ve kept it very simple with lots of action. They make “binoculars” out of 2 toilet paper tubes connected with yarn and hung around their necks. Works great! I think just getting kids outside with nature and help them notice all kind of things along with the birds is good stuff.

Any funny birding stories you can share with us?

My friend and hiking buddy, Bobbi Cross, and I got into birding together and had good times hiking and watching birds. I remember once early on trying to figure out which sparrow this bird was. It sang and sang and we looked and looked and finally decided it was a Song Sparrow. Did the same thing with Nashville Warblers another time. But we never forgot them after that! We saw so many first sightings together – Varied Thrush, Bittern, Pileated Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, and on and on. Great times.

Your mission in life as birder?

I certainly can’t say I’m in the league of the expert birders you’ve already had on your blog, but I’m enthusiastic about birding and will talk to anyone about it if I see a glimmer of interest. I’ve gotten to know some very special people in the birding world and it’s added a tremendous amount of joy and fulfillment in my life just when I needed it the most. I can see myself doing it for a very long time. Remember my motto is “Keep Moving” and guess I should add “and seeing birds” to that! Also, birding has gotten me out in places in Idaho that I had never been to before, and there are so many places in Idaho I still want to see – not just for the birds but for the beautiful areas we have here. The activity of birding just gets me up and out and doing no matter I go. Can’t get much better than that!! Thanks for the opportunity to share!

Idaho Gull ID Tips

On one of my first birding trips with my father-in-law, Lynn Davenport, to Mahleur NWR in Oregon, we came upon a mud puddle filled with gulls.

"What do you see out there?" he asked.

"Oh...Just a bunch of seagulls," I replied unenthusiastically recalling all the seagulls at West Park in Nampa that I chased as a kid.

"A gull is not just a gull. Look closer!" he demanded. You know, he sounded disgusted that I didn't yet appreciate the finer joys of challenging bird identification. He busted out the field guide and showed me page after page of gulls.

I started to see. There are both major and subtle differences between varities of gulls. It takes a lot patience to learn what to focus on...patience that I am only just now beginning to develop.

A couple of days ago I had to haul an old broken down freezer to the dump. I've never been so excited to go to a smelly ol' landfill before, knowing I would be attending a self-given seminar on gulls. Class started early as I drove along Hill Road. The Optimist Youth Sports Comple fields and parking lot were covered in gulls. I pulled off, broke out the spotting scope and field guides and started studying. By the time I actually made it to the dump I felt pretty proficient on the three types of gulls shown below.

I also learned that I can quickly narrow down in my field guide which gulls I am seeing with just a couple of steps. These may not be new to you, but I feel like I just discovered them myself:

1. Look at the bill color - Is it solid yellow, solid black, or does it have black or red or both on the tip? Is it pink or reddish?

2. Look at the leg color - yellow? pink? black? greenish?

3. Look at the eye color - pale? dark? reddish? Is there an eye/orbital ring? If so, what color?

4. Look at the wing-tip color - dark? light? spotted? plain?

The combination of these characteristics will help you to successfully and rapidly find your gull in a field guide, or a least substantially narrow down the possibilities. Now you can focus on color pattern of the wings and head to finalize your identification. Color pattern of the feathers varies greatly with the age of the bird, and so does the color of the bill, legs, and even the eyes. Most field guides emphasize these differences very well.

To prove my point, here are some ID tips focusing on bill color, leg color, and eye color for three gulls common to my region of Idaho:

Ring-billed Gull

California Gull

Herring Gull

Okay. Now you're an expert at gull identification. Are you ready for your quiz? Please get out your favorite field guide, use my three steps, and identify this mystery gull:

Feel free to post a comment when you figure it out. Did my steps work for you?

Pete Dunne: Birder at Large

I have an evening part-time job that occasionally affords me some good readin' time. Having forgotten my usual novel or history book, I read all my favorite birding blogs until every recent update had been gleaned. I determined to delve deeper into the Birder's World magazine's online archives.

I've always enjoyed the articles by Pete Dunne in the section entitled "Birder at Large". Pete Dunne is not only one of the greatest birders of our time, he is a great writer. I hold him at the same level as I do David McCullough, James Michener, Patrick McManus, Ken Blanchard, and Jane Austen...just a different subject matter. There's just something about his story-telling style that appeals to me. Although a "celebrity birder", Pete's perpetual-new-birder-enthusiasm is contagious. He has a reverence for the history of birdwatching, both for the birds as well as the people that have lead us to where we are at today. You feel this when you read. He has a guileless passion for birding that inspires me and a hope for the future that gives me hope.

Kick back with me and relax into Pete Dunne's world for a few hours. You can read his Birder at Large articles here. Many of his columns are only available to subscribers of Birder's World, but I won't apologize for that, because his articles alone are worth the subscription price.

Birding Laughs #4

Going back to my Saturday morning adventures at the Granite Reef Recreation Area near Mesa, Arizona when I was first getting into birding...

As I walked along the Salt River enjoying the Vermilion Flycatchers in the tops of the trees, the Northern Cardinals, and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, with binoculars glued to my eyes; I unknowing walked right into a herd of javelinas (wild boars sometimes called peccaries). The javelinas had been nestled down in the shade under the low bushes and taller grasses. I stood there paralyzed as the females and their young rushed off to a safe distance to turn and stare back at me.

The leader of the harem however, stood his ground and bared his terrible teeth and stamped his terrible feet and flashed his terrible eyes, and growled his terrible growl. Then he charged at me! I sprung with superhuman agility to the nearest tree and shimmied up as high as the puny branches would support me. I was really only a about four feet up, but it was high enough. Then the boar and I had a waiting game. He circled below me for a few minutes and finally trotted off to join his herd. I slipped back down the tree and still running high on adrenaline I booked it out of there.

You know, that incident was pretty scary, but imagining myself running up a tree like a scaredy-cat is kind of funny...isn't it.

Hearing birds

Black-billed Magpie.

Song Sparrow.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Downy Woodpecker.

American Goldfinch.

House Finch.

Dark-eyed Junco.

Black-capped Chickadee.

All birds I heard this morning, before I saw them.

A couple of them I never even saw, but I am 100% certain they there because I heard them and I recognize their voices. I realized this morning that for the birds seen regularly in my neighborhood, I depend more on my hearing them than I do in seeing them.

Now, I'm not a master bird listener who has spent hours studying my Stokes CD's of bird songs. Having gone birding almost everyday for the last five years, I have simply grown accustomed to what the common birds sound like. I have also come to recognize when I hear something different, which really perks my interest.