Birding! A Growing Obsession!

Starting Off Right in 2012. Texas, Part 1.

2012-01-21T11:47:00.012-05:00

Salineno, TX. Mexico on the left, U.S. on the right.

I guess I can call it a tradition now, making my yearly birding adventure an adventure that starts in Texas. Last year, I started the new year birding such places as Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and South Padre Island. Some of my first birds of 2011 included: Clapper Rail, Royal Tern, and Brown Pelican. By January 2, I had added Whooping Crane and Snow Goose among many others.

This year, I was invited by my friends Rob and Eric Ripma to join them on an aggressive birding adventure that would begin in San Antonio and follow the border of Mexico to Brownsville, then north to South Padre Island, even farther north to Corpus Christi and ultimately back to San Antonio. During the week long excursion we birded some outstanding destinations including Falcon Dam SP, Frontera Audubon, Bentsen SP, Santa Ana NWR, Salineno, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Estero Llano Grande SP, the World Birding Center at South Padre Island and Mustang Island. Each of these destinations alone could easily be rated as one of the best birding destinations in the world!

Our first goal was to get what I would consider the golden bird of the trip - the Brown Jay! This particular bird had been making daily appearances at the feeders at Salineno, smack on the U.S./Mexico border so the feeders at Salineno become our first destination. Unfortunately, the Brown Jay did not show up during our first four hour wait but, the feeders did not disappoint. They were full of Great Kiskadees, Altamira Orioles, Hooded Orioles, Audubon's Orioles, and many other gorgeous birds including the Green Jay - which has to be one of the most beautiful birds in the United States.

Since we missed the Brown Jay the first day, we headed back to Salineno again the next morning. Fortunately, this awesome bird made an early morning appearance for us with some great looks. So, we immediatly headed out to get some other great Texas commoners including: Pyrrhuloxia, Verdin, Inca Dove, Ladder-backed Woodpecker and some breathtaking views of a Zone-tailed Hawk.

Brown Jay... the Golden Bird! Salineno, Texas.

White-winged Dove... Salineno, TX

Altamira Oriole... Salineno, TX

And this was just the first two days...

La República Dominicana

2011-12-28T21:23:00.025-05:00

Dominican Cloud Forest

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Yet, another late post from Chad. To not be late would be a post by someone other than myself.

Hispaniolan Woodpecker and Antillian Palm Swift... this is one my favorite pictures!

Narrow-billed Tody (endemic)... Ebano Verde Reserve

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This past September, my best friend John and I went to the Dominican Republic for our annual birding trip. More specifically, we went to the Santo Domingo and Boca Chica area. As with all of our trips, we were excited to go and could not wait for the plane to land! I mean, we were heading to hot weather and sunshine in the tropics! Not to mention an island that has 31 endemic species. Yeap, 31! I wonder how come you don't hear much about the Dominican Republic or the island as a whole - Hispaniola? Not a clue.

Nutmeg Manikan... a common bird but always fun to stop and watch.

Boca de Nigua... gorgeous grounds of trash.

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John and I, along with a very willing and anxious Dominican resident, Steve Brauning birded three primary areas: Santo Domingo National Botanical Gardens, Ebano Verde (Science Reserve), and Boca de Nigua. All three places, full of great birds! The botanical gardens (as with most botanical gardens) was easy to bird and in addition, provided some great scenery of a very well kept garden. Highlights were Red-legged Thrush, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Antillian Mango, and Black-whiskered Vireo.

Our next stop was Boca de Nigua, a wetland area that hugs the coastline just outside of Santo Domingo. This place is nothing short of a success story that will continue to improve and flourish so long as the restoration continues. Prior to the restoration, the area served as a garbage dump. Finding this large reserve was no easy task as nobody in the very nearby vicinity seemed to know anything about it. We finally found one local taxi driver that knew exactly where we needed to go.

As we approached I became quickly in awe at the beauty of the large marshland which included a pristine blue ocean acting as the backdrop. Instantly, we saw Great Egrets, Cattle Egrets, and Green Herons all birds that signify the beauty of a wetland. I knew right away we were in a great place. As we left the car and started to bird the marsh edge, it was obvious that the area used to be a garbage dump. Everywhere we went, we walked on trash - none of which you could see unless you looked straight down. The plant growth covered most of the unsightliness. But, the birds didn't seem to care what the area used to be, they seemed to be very content with what it now was. Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons, Smooth-billed Anis, Black-necked Stilts, and Lesser Yellowlegs all seemed to forage in harmony. One very cool highlight for us was the White-cheeked Pintail. The area is apparently a very reliable spot to find this species of duck. Actually, we thought we were skunked until the very end. And then, they appeared - seven I think.

West Indian Whistling Duck... Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens. Gorgeous!

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Our last destination was Ebano Verde. A mountain reserve west of Santo Domingo about 2 hours away. We left at about 4:30a and arrived just before light. At our arrival, we were welcomed by the tiny sound of multiple Black-faced Grassquits. The original plan was to walk down the mountain about two miles and have a car bring us back up. This plan changed when the gate was locked at the top of the trail. Guess what this means? Yeap, you guessed it, we had to start at the bottom. Now, I am not complaining but, walking up a mountain is tough for anyone, especially if you are 60 pounds overweight. The strenuous journey up began, complete with an armed security guard (a first).

The reserve was gorgeous. Lush and green, just as you would expect it to be in the tropics. The exception to this would have been about another 3 hours west in the land of Haiti where (from what I am told) the tree line ends. Very sad. Anyway, we weren't in Haiti, we were in the DR so I'll keep it lush. One of our first birds was the Hispaniolan Trogan and endemic Trogan that like most others is as gorgeous as any parrot or parakeet. It would seem all down hill after starting with this bird but thankfully it was just the opposite. Like magic, birds such as the Narrow-billed Tody (endemic), Hispaniolan Spindalis (endemic), Antillian Piculet (endemic), and Hispaniolan Pewee (endemic) all appeared to ensure excitement throughout the hike and to make this big man forget all about the strain of walking uphill.

Black-crowned Palm Tanager (endemic)

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The everyday birding location was our hotel grounds. We stayed at the Bellvue Dominican Bay in Boca Chica. All I can say is it was a good thing that we were there for the birds because the hotel itself was NASTY! The two most abundant birds that were almost everywhere you looked were the Antillian Palm Swift and Hispaniolan Woodpecker. I could have watched either species for hours. The Antillian Palm Swifts were very active around the hotel and were most likely feasting on the bugs flying in and around the luxury hotel grounds. Other highlights on the hotel grounds inlcuded: Palmchat (endemic), Gray Kingbird, and the very awesome Hispaniolan Lizard-cuckoo!

Hispaniolan Emerald (endemic)... Boca de Nigua Reserve

Hispaniolan Trogan (endemic)... Ebano Verde Reserve. Beautiful!!!

Hispaniolan Parakeet (endemic)... Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens

Bananaquit... very common but always cool!

Boca Chica Beach... as sad as it looks!

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Probably the worst part of the trip was the cleanliness of the Santo Domingo and Boca Chica area. To the locals, trash either goes on the street or on the beach - yes, I said the beach. I was so upset at the conditions of the beach that I had to drink just to make the trash disappear! The area is also a haven for prostitution which is legal in the area. Everywhere you look you will see men and women in their 50's and 60's with young men and women who are probably no older than 21. So, while most visitors in the area were focused on their prostitution needs, John and I remained focused on the birds. The safe, moral, and much cleaner alternative.

In all, I ended the trip with 27 new birds. Only 11 of which were of the endemics. And, although I would have loved to have gotten more of endemics, I left the island mostly perturbed that I did not get the Vervain Hummingbird. This hummingbird, the second smallest in the world, is allegedly very common. John saw it and Steve could not believe I hadn't seen it. He assured me if I sat next to some flowers long enough that it would show. But for me, it never did.

In the end, I left the island Vervainless and with 20 endemics to go so I guess I will have to put on my prostitute repellent and go back someday very soon!

OYBC Annual Conference - Columbus, OH

2011-11-19T21:46:00.010-05:00

Grange Audubon Center... Columbus, Ohio. The location of the coolest birding event of 2011.

Young birders... looking through Kenn's scope at a Pied-billed Grebe.

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I am embarrassed that it took so long to write about such a great event but it had to be done, no matter how irresponsibly tardy. The event, the 2011 Ohio Young Birders Club Conference in Columbus, OH was without a doubt, the highlight of my birding year! I repeat, the HIGHLIGHT of MY birding year! I would not consider myself a hardcore birder but would say that I am an intense birder to the very extent of my abilities – in 2011 I officially birded Indiana, Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. I say this to say that I had many great birding experiences over the past year and many individual highlights that could easily qualify as the “best” of 2011 but none of these events remotely compared to the one single event that I attended in Columbus, Ohio on November 5, 2011.

A great group of young birders... from the left (Kathleen Seeley, Lukas Padegimas, Robert Reynard, Rachael Butek, and Jessie Barry). Jessie represented the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with a very cool presentation about careers in the world of birding.

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It is honestly quite difficult to sum up such an awesome event in just a few short paragraphs but I am going to try my best. The event is inspirational and touching in a way that cannot really be described. Kim Kaufman, along with her team of staff and volunteers were able to wrap this event in a package that would surprise and impress the Grinch himself. From logistics to door prizes and bird banding to presentations – the event rocked! Seamless and smooth in every way, it was obvious the event was something more than just an event; it was more like a gem that had been polished with a lot of obvious care. As Kim stated at the event, the OYBC is her “baby” and it was evident she was telling the truth!

Hermit Thrush... being shown during a morning bird banding demonstration.

Rachael Butek (ABA Young Birder of the Year)... This young lady gave to date what I would consider the best overall birding presentation that I have ever seen! I wanted to jump up for an encore.

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The highlights of the event were the presentations given by the young birders – each outstanding and very professional. Presentation topics included Artic Shorebirds, Lake Erie Water Snake recovery, Bird Banding, and Service Learning. The keynote presentation was: No Scope, No Car, No Problem! The Keynote Speaker, Rachael Butek (ABA Young Birder of the Year) gave a flawless presentation that had the entire audience almost speechless and picking their jaws up off the floor. From her first words to her amazing presentation layout, Rachael showed an entire room that seniority in the world of birding is no longer necessary and that the number of years birding DOES NOT make you the top dog. I am not sure Rachael came to Ohio to prove anything but she definitely did, whether she intended to or not. She instantly became my newest mentor – she just does not know it.

Kim Kaufman and friends... giving out some great door prizes. Nobody leaves the OYBC Conference empty handed.

Emerging Monarch... a bonus on the grounds of the Grange Audubon Center.

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I could go on and on but I won’t. Anyone that knows me knows that I do not please nor impress easily but when I am impressed or excited I have to make sure the world knows about it. If you are reading this and you attended the event, I know you are on my page and agree with everything I have said. If you have not attended and you call yourself a birder you have to make the conference a priority next year. Trust me, if you don’t you will be left behind by a generation of birders that will be ruling the birding world very soon and will sadly regret that you had a chance to meet them and did not – don’t do this to yourself!

Midwest Birding Symposium 2011

2011-09-20T19:40:00.008-04:00

Bald Eagle... I took this picture of a captive eagle that was injured to the extent it will never be returned to the wild. I love how the picture turned out! What a great symbol of our nation!

Lake Erie... the gorgeous shoreline across from Magee Marsh.

Its been a while since I have posted anything here as I have simply not spent much time birding this year. In fact, I haven't had much time to do anything outside of keeping up with the requirements of life. Although I do believe birding to be a requirement in life, the others such as work, family, school, and bills always tend to trump the birds. But, all of the hard work has paid off and finally, I was able to get some time to bird and spend some time with others who enjoy birding as much as I do.

This past weekend I was able to attend the Midwest Birding Symposium - an event sponsored primarily by Birdwatcher Digest. The event is a place for birders across the nation to come together and attend workshops, talks, etc. all to feed our love of birding and to raise money for bird conservation. In addition to a ton of great information, the symposium is loaded with vendors that cater to birders. From birding trips and spotting scopes to t-shirts and field guides, you can buy almost anything you can think of as it related to birding.

Great Egrets... what would a marsh be without egrets? This picture was taken at Ottawa NWR.

The Birders of the IAS... doing what we do!

A major incentive to the event is having a chance to see the famous people in the world of birding. Authors, speakers, field trip leaders, etc. are always present mingling among the crowd sharing their stories and knowledge freely and leaving all of us bird people star struck to have shared their presence. Kenn and Kim Kaufman are the best examples of this. Kenn is one of the most well known birders in world and is the author of an entire series of popular field guides along with other great works of writing. Kim and Kenn both have many regular writing gigs that now also include Birds and Blooms. They are always present and always willing to share their stories! Other great speakers and guests included: Bridget Stutchbury (speaker, author and overall advocate for birds), Al Batt (very funny nature comedian), Julie Zickefoose (author, artist, and nature lover), and Wyatt Miller and Sarah Winnicki (future conservation leaders and members of the Ohio Young Birders Club. In one way or another, all of these presenters fight to conserve the birds we love each and every day!

Speaking of the birds we love, if you haven't been birding to Magee Marsh or Ottawa NWR on the shoreline of Lake Erie, you are missing one of the best birding destination in the Eastern United States. Although fall doesn't remotely compare to spring, the birding is without question, simply phenomenal. Warblers, swans, egrets, and ducks along with a backdrop of pristine wetlands and an ocean-like shoreline - it's hard to beat. Am I painting a picture here?

Trumpeter Swan... we saw a number of while birding Ottawa. We also saw some Mute Swans. Both - very gorgeous!

Me posing with the SUPERSTARS of the birding world - Kenn and Kim Kaufman. Yeap, I was cheesin'!

The fine folks of IAS... tired after a long weekend but always happy for family time!

Just like any event, this one too had to come to a close. I was sad to leave but very happy to have attended not only for the birding or great events but mostly because I was able to spend time with the great people and friends of the Indiana Audubon Society, Inc. They are a small group in an overall small birding circuit where I can always talk about the the things that make me nerdy without the fear of ever feeling like a nerd.

I'm ready to go back in 2013!

It's All About the Kids!

2011-05-15T17:05:00.007-04:00

A group of Indianapolis teenagers from the group "Can We Help?" came out to help the Indiana Audubon Society install Bluebird boxes during the annual Spring Festival. They were a HUGE help and did a fantastic job!!! Thanks girls!

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It feels like forever since I last posted. Actually, it has been forever - since February anyway. So much has been going on that making any time for anything other than day to day life has been almost impossible. To catch up... I have survived yet another job restructure, took a short birding trip to Florida, finally - FINALLY graduated with my Master's Degree, and just recently watched my daughters' take their first communion. In between all of this I have been working, working, and guess what else? Working. The story of our lives, right?

Amongst all that has been going on, I have not been able to do much birding. In fact, I have only been able to see a handful of Warbler's this spring, which in itself could cause any birder to go into a spiraling depression. But, I have been able to avoid this type of health condition the only way that I know how and that is that on the few days that I have been able to get out - I celebrated nature with kids!

Over the past few weeks, I have been able to take a group of kids birding and on another occasion been able to coordinate a project with a group of awesome teenagers to install some new bluebird boxes at the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. Both events were nothing short of absolutely wonderful. Being able to see kids in a setting other than a movie theater, in front of a TV, or even playing structured sports is so rare nowadays that to experience it feels like IT should require an admission fee.

I could go on and on about the importance of us as adults ensuring that our kids have adequate time in nature but I will save my many random thoughts and opinions for other posts. For now, I am just happy that the few times I have been able to be in nature this spring has been times when I could do it with kids - the ones that will ensure its protection when I am long gone.

Barred Owl... not the best picture but not bad for being in the woods. An awesome bird on any day of birding, this bird made itself present right after the kids were given a presentation of a captive bird of the same species - as seen below.

Posing with Kevin Carlson at the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center after learning all about the Barred Owl.

An unknown woodland fungus - gorgeous in its own right!

The victim of a child curiosity. We released this frog shortly after giving everyone a chance to experience its uniqueness.

Studying the frog. This is what its all about. Who needs a TV?

Santa Cruz Island, California

2011-02-26T22:21:00.007-05:00

I can't wait to go back to California! In my short time in the state, the weather was sunny and warm and the birds were plentiful. When I left the snow-covered state of Indiana I had no idea what to expect. As mentioned in a previous post, my thoughts of California were very stereotypical. My head was filled with images of traffic, smog, and frivolous behavior - the exact opposite of the images I left with.

My favorite spot was Santa Cruz Island - one of a string Islands known as the Channel Islands. Santa Cruz Island is about 20 miles off the coast of California just west of Ventura. We decided to take the trip to the Island with the specific intent to see the Island Scrub Jay - a bird endemic to this one Island. So, we booked a trip with Island Packers and before we knew it we were on a boat in the Pacific Ocean. A BEAUTIFUL Pacific Ocean I might add. Thank goodness for the little miracle patch behind my ear!

On our way out to the island, we were entertained by some breathtaking fauna, including: Dolphins, Whales, Seals, Gulls, Cormorants, Grebes, and Ducks. And... as exciting as all of these animals were, the star of the show was none other than the Island Scrub Jay.

Lilacs... everywhere you looked were breathtaking reminders of God's creations!

Santa Cruz Island... gorgeous!

Santa Cruz Island... home of the Island Scrub Jay. Could you live here?

Island Scrub Jay... the star of the show in an Oscar winning pose! These Jays NEVER leave Santa Cruz Island.

Island Scrub Jays... a pair actually picking up twigs, etc. working on a home for the next generation. Notice the bands on their legs? This helps scientists identify them as individuals.

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Once we arrived to the Island, we were orientated by an Island Packers Naturalist about the Island. He gave us a short history and then gave us the option of going on our own on the National Park side of the island or with him to the Nature Conservancy side of the island. We opted to go with him as the Island Scrub Jays are reportedly more reliable on the TNC side. So off we went UPHILL to find the Island Scrub Jay! The bad news is that I quickly realized once again how out of shape I was but determined, I lifted this 260 pound body up the hill to see the Jay! The good news is that the Jay made a presence known pretty quick once we got up the hill. I was instantly in love with this bird and the island. The even better news is that not only did we see two Jays rather instantly, we saw several more - at least 6-7 in total.

Hillside Lupine... the beauty of Santa Cruz Island.

Bewick's Wren... relatively plain as compared to the Island Scrub Jay but this bird was singing with such passion that I had to make sure I gave him credit. He was loving life one Santa Cruz Island!!!

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I spent most of the remainder of my time on the Island watching the Jays and simply enjoying the views from all directions. We were only on the island about 3 hours before our ferry was back to pick us up but our short visit was definitely worth every moment. To see a bird such as the Island Scrub Jay in the setting of Santa Cruz Island is memory that I never want to forget!

Pismo Beach, California. Monarchs, Monarchs, Monarchs!

2011-02-19T17:15:00.008-05:00

Until now, I had never been to California. In fact, anytime the word "California" came up, the image that I had of the state was nothing more than a land of complete chaos and corruption - something I had no desire to be a part. I was invited by my two friends, Amy and Sally to join them on their already planned birding trip. I instantly (and probably imposingly) accepted the invitation and met them about mid-week into their vacation just two weeks ago. I arrived on a late flight so it wasn't until the next morning that I knew I had a made a mistake. Instantly, I knew that I had messed up - I should have come sooner! The mountains that surrounded the hotel said, "Welcome to California" in a way that I never expected. The state is absolutely beautiful!

Our first stop was a park in Pismo Beach, just north of Santa Barbara - a location known for its magnet attraction to Monarch butterflies. It was only a matter of seconds after our arrival before we knew were someplace special. Monarch's by the thousands were coming to life as the sun warmed the air. They seemed to be dripping from the trees, mostly Eucalyptus, from all directions. If you are a butterfly lover, you would feel as though you were in heaven. If you have yet to come to appreciate butterflies, I am certain that this amazing place would be your changing point. If not, well... we have some work to do!

Oh, and the birding at this park? Fantastic! But, I will talk about that more another day!

A low-light picture but I think you get the idea!

At times, they seem to become a permanent part of the tree.

Enjoying the sun!

Not for innocent eyes! I was extremely uncomfortable with the amount of frivolous activity going on!

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge - 2011

2011-01-31T21:29:00.008-05:00

Aransas NWR... How gorgeous is this? Waaaayyy out in this picture was actually two Whooping Cranes!

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This is the last of my posts from my recent trip to Texas. It has been a depressing day so I figured a little reminiscing of this trip would do me some good! Just a short drive from Corpus Christi, TX, Aransas NWR is just one of many places in the area that require much more than just a few hours to bird properly. It is, in short, one of many Texas birding locations that I would consider my favorite. Well, actually, every stop we made in Texas was my favorite. So, what made this stop so special? Birds, of course!

The target bird for the day was the Whooping Crane and the Whooping Crane was the first priority. After a quick stop to the visitors center, we made a trip to a location where two Cranes had been reliably seen. Thankfully, they were on location as I had hoped. Next, it was anything and everything. Highlights were everywhere you looked. They included: Northern Pintails (tons), Snow Geese (tons and a life bird), Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Redhead's, Crested Caracara's, American Kestrals, Sandhill Cranes, Eastern Phoebe's, and Bufflehead's to name just a few. We even saw three more Whoopers!

My time at this location was short but it just gives me one more reason to go back. Perhaps this November for the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival!

Great Egret... if this bird wasn't present, the experience would not be complete.

Pine Warbler

Ducks and Geese... Mostly Snow Geese and Northern Pintails... this raft of ducks stretched forever!

Alligator Pond... actually one of the best stops. A fantastic diversity of ducks were present in a very small area... as you can see for yourself!

Alligator... at Alligator Pond!

Royal Terns... this was not taken at Aransas. It was actually taken in South Padre but since I had to get my 250 pound body on the the ground to take this picture I wanted to be sure and share it! The sun was almost down but for the lighting I had, I like the picture!

Turkey Run State Park

2011-01-23T18:50:00.010-05:00

Blue Jay... my all-time favorite. I have come across some awesome birds over the years but this one continues to stay in the number one position! The entire family of Jay's are my favorite group of birds so I might occasional allow another Jay to tie for first place - but, this one will always be a tiny notch closer to the top!

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This weekend was all about the birds but with little time to actually go and "bird". This past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I, along with the other wonderful Board of Directors for the Indiana Audubon Society came together to kick off another great year of educating the public about birds. We covered allot of ground. I am especially excited about what we will continue to do in support of Indiana's Young Birders via the Indiana Young Birders Club. The IYBC year will kick off with the Great Backyard Bird Count at Eagle Creek in February. From this point, we will be having "Let's Go Birding!" hikes all over the state.

As far as birding goes, Saturday night we spent a little time listening for owls. Just as we thought we were skunked, a Barred Owl began to call. Unfortunately, it never came into view, but, it was close, and its presence was all we needed.

On Sunday, after our meeting adjourned I was finally about to spend a few hours watching the feeding stations at the nature center. I was very pleased with the assortment of feeder birds present which included: Purple Finch, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinches, Tree Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, and my favorite - Blue Jay.

I spent most of my time photographing Blue Jay's with little success. They seemed to know that I was targeting them because the refused to hold still long enough for a picture. In the process, I was able to snap a few shot of some of the others species and did capture some decent pics. After a few hours of fun frustration it was time to head home. Now that I am here, I am ready to go back to Turkey Run. I don't want to go to work tomorrow!

Red-headed Woodpecker... this is THE true Red-headed. Many people think some of the other woodpeckers are Red-headed Woodpecker because so many have read markings on their heads but as you can see - this is the real deal!

Red-bellied Woodpecker... another awesome bird. See why some may think they have a Red-headed here? Once you see them both, you will never forget which is which.

American Goldfinch... even in the winter they are cute. I appears that this one may already be on his slow road to having all of his bright yellow feathers back in time for the season of love.

South Padre Island Birding Center, TX 2011

2011-01-16T20:34:00.005-05:00

I'm getting there, my second to last blog on my late 2010, early 2011 birding trip to south Texas. I wasn't planning on blogging tonight but once again, the stress of life has overcome me so I decided I would take the best medicine out there for me - to talk about birds!

The South Padre Birding and Nature Center is yet another location that is a must see for anyone who enjoys the outdoors - especially birds! Situated on the Laguna Madre Bay just a jump across the street from the Gulf of Mexico, this birding center is absolutely spectacular. The center itself is an interpretive center that not only teaches you about the birds and natural surroundings, but also has a outlook 5 stories in the air that offers a very scenic view of the island. Unfortunately, I never had time to make the climb. There is also a nice gift shop in the center.

After you pay admission, $5 - you are able to walk outside into a world of coastal birding. There is a 4800 ft boardwalk that carves its way through the marsh and seaside habitat allowing visitors an up close look at the wildlife that make the area home. Tricolored, Little Blue, and Great Blue Herons were visible from all directions. Western Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers, Willet's and Greater Yellowlegs worked the muddy sidelines foraging for critters and Yellow-rumped Warblers kept your peripheral vision working non-stop!

For those of you that really like challenges both Gulls and Terns will keep you looking at the sky in mind boggling confusion as you try to figure out each species. Caspian and Royal Terns along with Laughing Gulls made up a bulk of my observations. Brown Pelicans also put on a great show of fantastic fishing displays. Some great ducks were also present including Red-head's (in numbers), Northern Pintails, American Wigeons, and Blue-winged Teal.

Tricolored Heron...one of my favorites for obvious reasons but also because like many herons, this bird is very sleuthy and is a blast to watch hunt!

Aside from the birds, it is just great to be in an area that seems to have an overall awareness of birds and wildlife throughout. Although South Padre is definitely a very modern area full of hotels that in no way can be compared to an untouched environment - it is clear that the island recognizes birders and the birds as having some value.

If you have yet to make your way to South Padre or the Rio Grande Valley, I would suggest that you make this must see spot a definite part of your agenda. You will be glad you did!

I love this sign! Love it! A great sign that birds dominate the area!

Brown Pelican... one of several during the trip. Another bird that is so much fun to watch. Also, the icon birding the shoreline.

Willets and Greater Yellowlegs... basking in the afternoon sun.

Clapper Rail... a lifer for me. I saw two of these along the boardwalks. A cool bird!

Black-bellied Plover.... yet another gorgeous shorebird.

Tricolored Heron... plumage fluffed and by the look on his face, excited about his next meal.

The Brutal Buff-bellied!

2011-01-11T22:23:00.004-05:00

The more I look at my pictures of this Buff-bellied Hummingbird, the more I realized I wanted to write something more about them. After all, such a cute bird deserves to be acknowledged.

A little over a year ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Kenn Kaufman describe the reality of a cute little chickadee and I thought the same thing applies to this cute little hummingbird.

As you look at these pictures, what do you see? Probably exactly what I do – a gorgeous little bird full of color and cute personality, doing nothing more than bathing in the sprinkler and enjoying his little hummingbird life. I was amazed actually at how long this little bird allowed me to photograph him. He stayed in place at least 5-10 minutes and was seemingly okay with me watching him bathe. As I look at these pictures, I wonder what this tiny creature was really thinking. What was going through his tiny little brain as he enjoyed the rays of sun shining through his personal rain shower?

The reality is he is likely thinking about how he can completely dismantle the next cute little hummer that makes his way into the area. You don’t see them in these pictures but there were three feeders within just a few feet of where he was bathing and this hummer believed that they are all his property and can’t be shared. You see, in the hummingbird world sharing is not permitted. Cuteness is nothing more than a disguise of complete selfishness. If and when another hummer approaches the area, this bird will readily and and viciously dive bomb him hoping to inflict enough damage that he will never try again. When you do witness harmony, it is likely more a result of temporary exhaustion. It will only be a matter of moments before the acts of attempted murder resume. And they will continue! Day after day and fight after fight the ruthlessness will never cease.

So, the next time that you see a hummingbird just know that although he may be cute, his thoughts are something entirely different. I’m not trying to de-glorify these jewels of the sky I am merely making a point that looks can be deceiving.

Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas, 2010

2011-01-06T22:18:00.004-05:00

Buff-bellied Hummingbird... bathing under the sprinkler!

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I guarantee you that Estero Llano Grande State Park is one birding spot that you will immediately fall in love with. It was very hard to leave! I am not sure exactly what made me fall in love with this outstanding state park so instantly. Perhaps it was my first Black-chinned or Buff-bellied Hummingbird, or possibly my first Common Pauraque or maybe it was the copious number of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks that were resting throughout the park. Whatever it was, I want to go back.

No matter where you went, there were birds. The morning started with a gorgeous Altamira Oriole. It then faded into a large number of Great Kiskadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Plain Chachalacas. Late morning brought on Paraque's, Hummingbirds, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, and a Bewick's Wren. The remainder of the day brought such highlights as Green Kingfisher, Anhinga, and Curve-billed Thrasher. The last highlight was an unusual Buff-bellied Hummingbird complete with a substantial amount of rufous in the wings. All I'm trying to say is this place is the bomb! I must visit birding destination at least once in anybody's lifetime!

Common Pauraque... this is one of the most amazing birds I have ever seen. It doesn't move and blends in so well that you are likely to never see it. This particular one was alongside one of the trails.

A cute but nameless lizard

Plain Chachalaca... these birds are everywhere and can be compared to chickens. Very wild, but very common.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks... all over the place!

Softshell Turtle alongside the trail... not really in a good location.

Snowy Egret... one of the most beautiful sights in the south. Not many birds are so picturesque against the water.

Laguna Atascosa - Texas 2010

2011-01-03T20:31:00.003-05:00

I just returned home from my first birding trip to Texas. Finally, I was able to spend a few days birding locations such Corpus Christi, South Padre, and the Rio Grande Valley. To see as much as I could in just a few short days, the trip had to be in fast motion but it was still very much worth every moment. I will be dividing the trip up into several parts because there is just too much to say at one time.

The first stop was Laguna Atascosa NWR, an outstanding refuge just northwest of South Padre Island. This would be one of those places that words really can't describe. Simply wonderful! Whether you want a great experience just birding the area around the visitor's center or you want to bird the 15 mile auto-tour, it is impossible to be disappointed. From Green Jays to White-tailed Kites, birds are everywhere - plentiful enough that you won't know what direction to look at times.

Below are a few pictures from the day!

And the winner is... Green Jay. By far my favorite bird of the trip. I saw my first one in my first 5 minutes of birding. This is now my second favorite bird next to the Blue Jay.

Bathing, this Yellow-rumped Warbler was just too cute to not credit!

Olive Sparrow... another new bird for me!

Great Kiskadee and Northern Cardinal... a colorful couple.

Orange-crowned Warbler... and an annoying piece of grass! I wanted to include this picture because it shows why this bird is called "orange-crowned" - a part of the bird seldom seen.

Crested Caracaras... and I think a torn up snake. Great birds!

Long-billed Thrasher... one of my new favorites! Doesn't this bird just look like he is full of happiness? Gotta love the grouch look!

Long-billed Curlew... yet another new bird. Check out the beak!

The Meaning of a Tree Sparrow (Rest in Peace Shelly Shepherd)

2010-12-27T21:47:00.004-05:00

At first, I thought I'd be content taking a few pictures this weekend through my parent's family room window. After all, it was much warmer in the house and I wasn't at all eager to stand outside in the cold just to take a few photographs. But, as normal, the excitement of the bird activity at the feeders overtook me. I had to get outside to take some better pictures but first, I had to select a location that was more presentable than the feeder itself. About 20 feet from the feeder, my mom has a cement bench and on it sits a cement angel. The spot seemed perfect so I baited it with seed and almost instantly, the angel became a hub of bird activity. At the time, I had no clue why this spot would be so special.

After about 20 minutes, I went outside and sat near the angel in hopes that any bird would find my presence a non-issue. A few stopped briefly but the only bird willing to do any type of pose for me was a Tree Sparrow. I was shunned by most others so I decided I would take advantage of this particular bird's willingness to be photographed and took several shots. I then waited a little longer only to find myself staring contently at the angel on the bench. The angel was sad and so was I. I took a picture of the angel not knowing what I would ever do with the picture. The picture had a purpose.

I received the news later that night from my friend Derek that our friend from High School, Shelly Shepherd died earlier in the day after a short battle - I, unfortunately, had not clue she was sick.

Shelly was one of few people on earth that could make you laugh with the least effort. She was outspoken, funny, and a great spirit. Just knowing that I can call her a friend is a gift that I will never forfeit. Our paths didn't cross as often as I now wish they had but when they did, I always walked away smiling and was always glad we were friends. I always knew, always had faith that if I needed Shelly, she would be there.

Now I know. I know why I picked the area I did for the pictures, I know why the Tree Sparrow posed, and I know for sure why the angel was sad. Shelly, "his eye is on the sparrow" and I will never look at a Tree Sparrow the same. This bird now holds the memory of one the greatest people I have ever know. Rest in Peace my friend.

Shelly Shepherd, June 1976 - December 2010.

His Eye is on the Sparrow

2010-12-16T21:58:00.004-05:00

Savannah Sparrow

I have been thinking all day about what I could write about. I wanted it to be something wonderful, something joyful, and something to describe how great life has been lately. Yet, I can't come up with anything. The day started out as most days normally would - great! I was happy to be blessed with the breath of life and as always thankful for those sharing it with me! Unfortunately, today progressed a little differently than I had imagined, it took a turn, and without my permission, it veered in the direction of disappointment.

As I think about my trip to Goose Pond yesterday, I can't help but to think about the copious numbers of Tree and Savannah Sparrows that graced us with their presence. By the hundreds, these sparrows seemed to follow us everywhere we went, as if their mission was to keep an eye on us! With every step we took, the flocks flew just far enough away to land in the grasses and commence their post of staring back at us. At times, I wondered who was counting who!

One of my favorite songs is "His Eye is on the Sparrow". It become on my favorites many years ago at the funeral of one of my dearest friends, Laverna. Although the song has a special memory to me, I believe it is just recently that I realize the importance of its words. It made me realize, once again, of how important it is to know that when things aren't going right and it seems as nobody cares - God is always around.

Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for Heav'n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
A constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches over me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

So even though I can’t seem to reach the world right now, I know that things will be better because his eye is on the sparrow and I KNOW, I BELIEVE he watches over me!

A Harris's Sparrow in Indiana! An Awesome Lunch Break!

2010-12-11T20:49:00.004-05:00

Harris's Sparrow... Paynetown SRA, IN. In the company of two GORGEOUS Cardinals, this was my 539th bird.

On December 9th, I was fortunate enough to be in the vicinity of Paynetown SRA on Lake Monroe in Bloomington, IN. This being the case, I decided to detour from my usual route back to Indianapolis and spend my lunch hour birding vs. gaining more unnecessary weight by sitting in a Taco Bell. So, I went through the drive-thru first and then headed down to Paynetown!

Forty minutes later along with a coat completely smeared with sour cream I was able to spot the Harris's Sparrow immediately near a brush pile where seed is tossed daily. The bird was extremely handsome and stood out in a crowd of Junco's, Chickadees, Titmice, Tree Sparrows, and a lovely Gray Squirrel. A bonus visitor was a very talkative Red-bellied Woodpecker.

My visit was short and sweet. I had to sit on a snow covered picnic table and it was extremely cold - not to mention the snow was soaking through my pants! But, wet pants or not, I got a Harris's Sparrow! Not a bad trade!

Tufted Titmouse... a forever favorite!

Eastern Gray Squirrel... we tend to get mad at these animals for dominating our feeders but I couldn't imagine a world without them.

Northern Cardinal... in the bird world, one of the most beautiful females.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Why Birds?

2010-12-05T10:44:00.008-05:00

Fox Sparrow... two of these GORGEOUS sparrows showed up in my backyard this past weekend. Who could not feel a connection to this bird? If only for a second.

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It goes without saying that life has its ups and downs. I personally don’t know anyone who has gone through life without at least a few occasions of frustration, hurt, or disappointment. In fact, most people I know have unfortunately had more than just a few points of unhappiness. I for one have had more than I could ever care to try and recall. From tragic events, death, sudden losses of friendships and just days where hurt and confusion run so deep that life feels all but almost over. Life is great, but sometimes, life hurts.

As I look back over the years, I can’t help but wonder sometimes, what has kept me going? What prevents me from falling into a rut so deep that I can’t get out? Where do I go and where can I turn when things aren’t moving in my direction? What brings me back into the world of reality?

Naturally, like most people, I have my family and a few good friends that are always willing to help me when I’m in a troubled state of mind. Unfortunately though, sometimes, this doesn’t work. This is where the birds come in. Yes, selfishly, I sometimes use birds for personal gain.

It’s only been recently that I’ve realized why I have been so eager to get to such places as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Florida, etc. to see the creatures I love so much. I’m going because these creatures, the birds, mean something to me. Just like a stranger is able to wash away a problem with nothing more than a smile or the way that one of my children can make me feel like the most important person on earth just by saying the words “daddy” – birds take me away. Their beauty, their song, their simple presence can all be compared to that of the presence of God. I believe that they are MY connection to God – the line that he has given me to “let it go”.

So, while I know that there are many people out there that may laugh at me, talk about me, or disregard my passion for birds as a complete and ignorant waste of time, I personally don’t care. Sometimes life hurts and when it does I need my connection to something greater than me – I need my birds!

Carolina Wren... I took this picture this past summer. I remember spending a good deal of time trying to get this bird out in the open enough to get the picture. It never stopped singing.

Vermilion Flycatcher! Marshall County, IN

2010-12-02T20:16:00.014-05:00

Vermilion Flycatcher.... Marshall County, IN. Northern, IN.

I spent Thursday, December 2, on road trip to Northern Indiana in hopes of getting a look at a bird that has only been confirmed in Indiana 2x prior to this recent sighting. This bird, the Vermilion Flycatcher, is slightly out of place in Indiana. Its normal range is Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and south into Latin America - a warm weather bird, it's normally associated with hot days and sunshine. This particular bird must have been tired of the desert heat!

My friend Rob and I arrived to the site at approximately 9:30a

and was lucky to spot the bird within about 30 minutes. It's color against the snow was a huge plus! The bird seemed in good shape and was very active. It wasn't long before we found out its food source. The property had several holes dug for the purpose of discarding carcases of livestock. It was in these open pits of death that the flycatcher was feeding on insects (probably dead maggots) that had died on the rotting flesh as the weather turned cold! I must admit, this wasn't the most attractive site to find such a beautiful bird but I was VERY happy to see the bird had figured out a way to survive - at least for now.

The bird was taking a "bath" in the snow.

Ring-billed Gull... tagged.

After the Vermilion Flycatcher, we decided to head north to Lake Michigan to see what was happening on the lake front. Unfortunately, there wasn't alot of activity but, the few birds that we did see were good ones - Peregrine Falcon, Common Loon, Belted Kingfisher, Horned Grebe, and Pied-billed Grebe. The BIG deal was a new life bird for me that we saw on our way to the Indiana Dunes State Park - Northern Shrike!!!! Congrats to me!

Sand sculpture... Lake Michigan.

Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, AZ, October, 2010.

2010-11-25T14:08:00.011-05:00

Catalina Highway... entering the ascent up Mt. Lemmon

Prior to my last day in Arizona this past October, 2010, I was struggling to figure out what to do. There were so many options; I was challenged with making the right decision. Two birds I desperately wanted to see before leaving the state was the Mexican Jay and the Stellar's Jay. However, to see these birds I would have to travel upward into the oak and pine forest to have any chance whatsoever - I wasn't going to find them in the desert. I asked two birder friends for advice and both (ironically enough) suggested Mt. Lemmon.

Mt. Lemmon is one of many mountains in the Tucson area but it's slightly unique among its neighbors. The mountain is part of the Coronado National Forest and reaches more than 9,000 feet into the sky. As you near the top you'll fine a ski resort and the town of Summerhaven.

What makes Mt. Lemmon even more special is that you can start at the base of the mountain in a world of Saguaro Cactus and then wind your way up the Catalina Highway 27 miles through various flora zones ending up in crisp pine forest. This can be compared to a trip from Mexico to Canada except that this trip only takes about 1 hour.

The Catalina Highway is well-maintained and easy to drive - although if you are afraid of heights you might be a little nervous... I was. However, even if your a little nervous you will soon be engulfed in the gorgeous scenery and will quickly forget that you had any fear at all. By the way, be prepared to pay a slight fee at 5,000 feet of $5 if you plan to exit your vehicle even for a short walk and some pictures.

Even though the scenery was beautiful and the air was perfect I was on a mission and that was to see a Mexican and Stellar's Jay. My first stop in the General Hitchcock area at 5900 ft looked promising but, unfortunately produced nothing more than a healthy walk. My next stop was the Rose Canyon Campground. Sadly, the road into the campground and back to Rose Canyon Lake was closed - so I had to do my most favorite thing... walk!

The area was beautiful. The temperature was about 15-20 degrees cooler than the desert where I started and the sunlight through the pine trees were extremely picturesque. I knew the area was going to produce some birds. And, produce it did. About five minutes into my hike I approached a flock of Jays, Mexican Jays! A few minutes later some Wild Turkey's strolled by and then another new bird showed up, in numbers - Pygmy Nuthatches everywhere. Bonus! Another 10 minutes and I got another unexpected new bird - Yellow-eyed Junco! Bonus #2! This was a very cool bird I might add.

I continued to walk and walk and walk and walk toward the lake. One kid I passed by said it would take me about 10 minutes to reach my destination but I am now certain that he must of had something against overweight old people because it took me far longer than 10 minutes. Exhausted I couldn't help but think I was going to be supper for a family of Black Bears for the winter. Of course, the Black Bear signs didn't help to slow down my imagination either.

I finally made it to the lake, took a few pictures and then headed back toward the car. After a looonnnggg walk back, even though I felt as if I had walked 100 miles, it was worth 3 life birds! The Stellar's Jay is still outstanding.

Molino Basin area, 4300 ft.

Molino Basin

General Hitchcock area, 5,920 ft.

Windy Point Vista, 6,200 ft.

Nixon Rock... a little more than 6,200 ft.

Rose Canyon area... 7,200 ft. This was the area that made me realize I might be bear food.

Mexican Jay... Rose Canyon. One of my favorites of the trip!

Yellow-eyed Junco... Rose Canyon. Check out the eyes on this bird. Very cool.

Rose Canyon Lake...

The Best November Bird Weekend Ever!

2010-11-21T18:03:00.012-05:00

My son and THE Kenn Kaufman! Ceth won first place this year in Kenn's I.D. Quiz, I am so proud of my boy and very thankful to Mr. Kaufman for signing the ENTIRE set of Kaufman Field Guides that he won! He was a happy kid!

Have you ever had one of those weekends that you don't want to end? A few days off spending time doing what you love in the presence of people that also love doing the same thing? I have. In fact, this past weekend was one of these very wonderful weekends. My son, daughter, best friend and I were able to attend the Ohio Young Birder's Conference in Dayton, Ohio.

This conference was put together to bring bird and nature lovers together in a forum that promotes youth birding. Almost the entire event was composed of young birders sharing exciting stories of their passion and experiences with birds. This years keynote speaker was the ABA's 2009 Young Birder of the Year - Harold Eyster.

Kenn and Kim Kaufman were also present along with a team of other great people from the Black Swamp Bird Observatory and as you would expect, their presence made the event all the more exciting. To be a birder and be in the presence of Kenn is no different that being next to a movie star. The only difference is that Kenn treats everyone that approaches him with the utmost respect and is always willing to talk as he has known you for years.

And then there is Kim. Kim has a way of making everyone feel important from the moment you say hello. She is an environmental angel that embraces everyone who is willing to defend things that are for the betterment of birds and nature. She also makes you feel like any "little" deed you have done is far bigger than what it really is. I always feel like a better person when I leave her presence.

From bird banding to guided birding. From I.D. Quizzes to door prizes, the conference was nothing short of absolutely outstanding. As a leader with the Indiana Young Birders Club along with continuing to see the OYBC become bigger and better, I am hopeful for our future. There ARE young nature lovers out there - we just have to find them and give them the support they need to protect our natural world in the future.

Thank you OYBC and BSBO for all that you have done, are doing, and will continue to do. For what it's worth, I got your back!

My son working on the Kaufman I.D. Quiz!

My very beautiful daughter and a Carolina Chickadee that was anxiously awaiting its release.

Of course this Chickadee deserves a close-up!

White-throated Sparrow... the best way to appreciate these small birds is to put them up against something VERY large! In this case, ME!

Northern Cardinal... my son worried be very careful not to get nipped! Cardinals aren't birds known to be very friendly.

Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker... I love this picture. What a great comparison.

After spending time with the OYBC - can you believe the weekend got better? Me either, but, it did! My son and I decided to stop at Southwestway park in Indianapolis on the way home just to see what was going on in our neck of the woods. Let me say, I am SO glad we made the stop!

What do you get when you have a stream, trees with lots of berries, a cool fall day, sunshine, and nothing more than a subtle breeze in an area that spanned no more than 100 feet? Today, this formula gave us a flock of Cedar Waxwings and American Robins, Pileated Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-crowned Sparrows, and Northern Cardinals. I am certain there was more but there were so many birds that I could hardly separate them out at times!

We spent at least an hour in this one spot. Most of the time I was creeping through the brush on my knees (very painful I might add) trying to photograph the Robins that were having a blast bathing in the stream. I was able to get a few decent pictures of the event as you can see below but they really don't do it much justice.

We left the area after about an hour but didn't see much more. There was one spot to be at Southwestway Park today and we were there!

American Robins... Southwestway Park, Indianapolis, IN. I was able to sneak up on these birds (on my knees by the way) and was able to get this picture. I am not sure what the one was complaining about but he didn't seem to pleased.

Cedar Waxwing... Southwestway Park, Indianpolis, IN. A flock of these birds always put on a good show!

Cedar Waxwing... Southwestway, Indianapolis, IN.

Carolina Chickadee... Southwestway Park, Indianapolis, IN.

Southeast Arizona, October 2010

2010-11-09T21:28:00.011-05:00

Clay-colored Sparrow, Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ, October 28, 2010

Since the first day I began my search for birds, there has probably not been a major birding conversation go by that somehow Southeast Arizona does not come up. I have never heard a bad story about the area and have always heard - "you have got to go birding in Southeast Arizona". I had researched the area multiple times over the past few years hoping that I would be able to get down there to experience what everyone was talking about. Well, the time finally came.

I was able to spend three days birding Tucson and vicinity on October 28, 29, and 30th. Although the time period of October is not known as the best time to bird the area, with it being my first visit, it promised to be a success - and a success it was! In total, I gained 40 life birds! A pretty respectable number if I do say so myself.

There were so many highlights on the trip; it is hard to narrow the visit down to just one or two. I will definitely have to post more than one blog to document the trip. A great place to gather information when planning your trip to S.E. Arizona is the Tucson Audubon Society. I highly recommend purchasing the book "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona". You will not regret the purchase!

I visited several locations during my quick three days: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park, Sweetwater Wetlands, Patagonia (and vicinity), and Mt. Lemmon. Each of these areas was awesome in their own right!

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was my very first destination. What a great place to start if you have never been to Southeast Arizona! Aside from being a very informative area, I was able to see my first Gila Woodpecker and Cactus Wren.

Saguaro National Park was my second stop. The park entrance is located just down the road from the Desert Museum. A cool spot to stop and bird is just down the road from the visitor’s center. About ½ - 1 mile down the road on the left is a parking area. Once you get out and walk the trail about 50 yards, there will be a small water hole on the right. This area should naturally have a concentration of birds that are staying close to the water to withstand the desert heat. My highlight at this location was a Clay-colored Sparrow – my first official “uncommon” bird. Others in the area included Curve-billed Thrasher, House Finch, Black-throated Sparrow, Brewers Sparrow, and Gila Woodpecker.

Sweetwater Wetlands, stop 3. What a place, what a place, what a place. Here, I had the privilege to do some birding with John Yeager of Adventure Birding! John was pleasure to bird with and was a great resource of bird knowledge. It took all but about 5 minutes to figure out why Sweetwater is such a great place to birders in the area. Some of the highlights included: Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Abert’s Towhee, Sora, Eared Grebe, and Harris’s Hawk. Birds, birds, everywhere! Thanks John!

I spent day two in the Patagonia area with Cliff Cathers of Economy Birding. Cliff too was a great birding guide and worked very hard to maximize my bird sightings. We visited multiple locations along the Mexico-U.S. Border. We ended the day at Patton’s feeders that unfortunately did not have the activity it had just the day before, however, a fantastic Violet-crowned and Rufous Hummingbird were still present. Other highlights included: Canyon Towhee, Bridled Titmouse, Western Tanager, Scott’s Oriole, Red-naped Sapsucker, Least Grebe, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Phainopepla, Lesser Goldfinch, and Brewers Blackbird. I was able to end the day in Cliff’s front yard with a Costa’s Hummingbird. Thanks Cliff!

More to come on Mt. Lemmon in my next post!

Curve-billed Thrasher... Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ

Vermillion Flycatcher... Pena Blanca Lake, AZ

Phainopepla... Tubac, AZ

Lark Sparrow, Tubac, AZ

Costa's Hummingbird, Vail, AZ

Orange-crowned Warbler... Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ

Ladder-backed Woodpecker... Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ

Great Egret... Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ

Cactus Wren... Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum... Tucson, AZ

Gila Woodpecker... Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

Cassin's Kingbird... Tubac, Arizona

An Early Fall Walk!

2010-10-20T22:51:00.003-04:00

Praying Mantis... who could not love this insect? I mean, look at the lovely eyes!

Whew, it has been busy, busy, busy! So little time to get out an enjoy what I enjoy most - nature! It has been about a month since I have been out on a trail for any length of time. Anyway, this most recent adventure was at Eagle Creek Park and as always it produced some excitement!

Lesser Yellowlegs

A common but picturesque Whitetail.

Common Buckeye's... this has been one of the best butterfly years I can remember! A wet spring and a dry summer. The butterflies loved it!

Carolina Wren... I never get tired of this social little bird. Always ready for a picture!

Next week I am off to Arizona for the first time. I am certain I will have some good pictures to post when I get back!

Mexico 2010

2010-08-12T21:05:00.010-04:00

Elegant Trogon

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Finally I am able to write a little bit about my birding trip (along with my best friend John) to Mexico in 2010. Literally, I could write small book about our week if I wanted to but for the sake of valuable time, I am going to summarize the trip in just a few short paragraphs.

We birded three primary areas during or week in Mexico - El Tuito (south of Puerto Vallarta), Mountains East of Puerto Vallarta, and San Pancho/ Sayulita in the state of Nayarit. Each of the areas were great in their own right. Even for being July, the birding was very good, if you can tolerate heat that is. I am not going to lie - it was HOT!

We birded the El Tuito and Puerto Vallarta area with Alejandro of "Birding Mexico". Alejandro was a great birder and we enjoyed are time with him.

Rancho Primavera... El Tuito, MX. This ranch is a fairly common birding destination these days and rightfully so. The owners Bonnie and Pat are very courteous to birders and will make you feel very welcome. Do you like Mango's? Well, if so, the ranch is full of Mango trees and you are welcome to eat at will!

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The grounds of Rancho Primavera provide some very good birding. Some of our highlights from the property include: Blue Mockingbird, Green Kingfisher, and Vermillion Flycatcher. The accommodations are very nice and well kept. You will encounter some vicious looking insects but most are harmless. I am still dreaming about the Short-tailed Whip Scorpion in the closet!

The town of El Tuito is nice but very small so don't expect too much excitement. Since we weren't looking for any so it worked out well for us. As far as the birding around the town and in the mountains... there is much to be excited about. Highlights include Berylline Hummingbird, Grace's Warbler, Golden Vireo, Acorn Woodpecker, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, and Hepatic Tanager.

West Mexican Chachalaca

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We briefly birded the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens. It rained most of the time but we had some great birds on a very beautiful property. Some of these birds were Mexican Hermit, San Blas Jay, Stripe-headed Sparrow, and Black Pheobe.

Other parts of Puerto Vallarta included birds such as the absolutely gorgeous Military Macaw, Yellow-winged Cacique, Gray Hawk, Golden-crowned Emerald, Citreoline Trogon, and Rosy-thrush Tanager.

Military Macaws

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Our last area of birding were Sayulita and San Pancho. We met up with a great birder by the name of Luis with "Birding San Pancho". We had a good time birding the area with Luis! We first birded the San Pancho area and then headed north to Sayulita. Although the day was hot and the heat felt as if it were cooking me to my certain death, we had some great birds including Black-throated Magpie Jay, Military Macaw, Rose-throated Becard, Lineated Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Zone-tailed Hawk, Magnificant Frigatebird, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Sinaloa Wren, Happy Wren, and Blue Bunting.

Broad-billed Hummingbird

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We stayed at a place called Roberto's Bungalow's in San Pancho. What a great place! Small, clean, and very cozy. We each got our own Bungalow both complete with an outdoor kitchen and sitting area. The enclosed "backyard" was completely hidden from the outside world allowing for compete relaxation after a long day of birding. The owners and son were great hosts and made you feel very much at home. I would highly recommend you staying at Roberto's if you are ever in the area. I would definitely go back.

In all, I saw 95 species of birds on the trip. Not as many as I would have like but a good number nonetheless. I am very excited to report that I got 46 life birds while on the trip bring my total life list to 496! Four more to go this year, just four more to go!

Gotta Love Goose Pond!

2010-08-08T08:00:00.012-04:00

Mississippi Kite... patiently waiting to feed her young a Cicada.

I was FINALLY able to get out and bird in my own state. It has been an extremely busy summer that has left little time for birds so I was more than ready. I decided to head down to Goose Pond since there there was a chance for me to see an active Mississippi Kite nest, something I had never seen. To make the occasion even more special, this particular species would be a life bird for me.

So, off I went. My first stop was the nest. I was so anxious to see it that I was unable to read my directions correctly and passed the bird by about a mile while looking for it. I finally had to call for some help and afterward quickly found the nest. I was a little nervous approaching the area because I knew the young were getting pretty big and were probably getting close to leaving home. I lucked out, they were still in the nest! I was even more pleased to see the parent patiently overlooking her nest waiting to feed the young a fresh Cicada that she had in her beak. What a great bird!

Mississippi Kites... the youngens'.

I left the site of the Kites and headed to Main Pond West. As with most visits to Goose Pond, I am instantly smiling as there are usually birds everywhere. I was instantly greeted by Song Sparrows, Indigo Buntings, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Yellowthroats. In fact, these four species were everywhere the entire visit. What a great problem to have!

Great Egrets were everywhere! In my short time I counted about 48 Egrets. It didn't matter where you looked, there were Great Egrets. Some of the other fantastic birds that made their way into my view were Black-necked Stilt, Northern Harrier, Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, Mallard, Eastern Kingbird, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, and Canada Goose.

It was only about an hour and a half before I sweat out my last drop of energy so I ended my trip a little short of plan but I was extremely pleased with what I had saw on just a short stretch of land which covered about a 1/2 mile in total.

There are allot of good places to bird in Indiana and Goose Pond is one of them. This project has to be one of the best things to have ever happened in our state. If you have not been, I would strongly encourage you to go. If you want more information just click here.

Indigo Bunting and Common Yellowthroat... two of my favorites. Not sure how anyone could get tired of these two birds.

Great Egrets! Holy smokes, I count 14 in this picture... there are many more surrounding me. This place is wonderful.

Black Swallowtail

Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows... there were actually 13 additional Tree Swallows sitting in the grass but I could not get them all in the picture. They were flying everywhere. A family reunion I think.

Little (Big) Day!

2010-06-20T20:00:00.005-04:00

Team Walmart... my wonderful Walmart Team that braved the heat to help raise money for bird conservation. We had a such great time!

On June 5, myself along with a great group of Walmart associates got together to participate in the Amos W. Butler Audubon Society's annual Birdathon. This was our third year doing the event. Despite many setbacks on a date, we were finally able to get together.

Our primary destination was Brown County State Park. An absolutely gorgeous park in Southern, IN. Although migrant season was mostly over, we were still treated to some great birds - mostly in one tree! Don't we love Mulberries? Some of the birds we saw were Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, and Eastern Wood Pewee.

Scarlet Tanager... does it get more beautiful? One of many colorful birds taking advantage of the ripening Mulberries.

After we had lunch, we spent a few more hours in the park. A couple of us then headed back toward Indianapolis. We decided to stop at Southwestway Park and I was sure glad we did! We found the park to be bouncing with Indigo Buntings, Red-eyed Vireo's, Yellow-breasted Chats, Song Sparrows, and Common Yellow-throats! What a great combination of birds in just the short distance we covered.

Indigo Bunting... this gorgeous female posed for several minutes at Southwestway park. Now, if I can just get a male to do the same!

Cedar Waxwing... one bird I can never get enough of. Find fruit, find Waxwings. Gotta love em'.

In all we saw more than 40 species of birds. A small number for a big day but we had a great time finding the ones we did and this is what the day was all about! We had fun and spotted some fantastic birds!

Salamonie Reservoir

2010-06-03T21:45:00.002-04:00

Memorial Day weekend did not bring much as far as rare or uncommon birds into the view of my binoculars but, as expected, the weekend did bring a good time looking at some very overly dramatic birds... well at least two of them...

House Wren... I love Wren's, I mean, who couldn't? They are always nearby announcing their presence by scolding you for yours. The are cute, eat lots of bugs an are full of attitude. A cool bird!

Killdeer... another bird I think we often take for granite. They are not at all uncommon but go out of their way to make themselves known and when you take the time to look at them they are absolutely gorgeous!

Spotted Sandpiper... the most uncommon bird of the weekend. I had to chase this critter back and forth several times before getting a good enough look to identify. A nice spot!

Memories from Magee!

2010-05-23T21:22:00.009-04:00

Trumpeter Swan with Kiddos!

Have you been to Magee Marsh? If not, I do hope you consider making it a priority place to go, Wow! This was the third time I have been to the area and this time was by far the best! Last fall I had the opportunity to walk the boardwalk in Magee Marsh to witness a ton of migrating birds within arm's length of the path. They were everywhere BUT they were in fall plumage. So a few days ago I had the same excitement (x10) as last fall and now added in a ton of spring plumage and BAM I was in heaven! My son and I were only able to spend 1 1/2 days in the area but the drive was well worth the reward! I was even able to pick up a couple of life birds - Black-billed Cuckoo and Ruddy Turnstone. My son (just starting his list) picked up more than 40 life birds! Below are some photo highlights of the trip for my son and I.

Yellow Warbler... one of the more cooperative Warblers to photograph. They like to hop out in the open in the tangles above the water.

Watersnake... just friendly neighborhood snake. These reptiles were everywhere. Pretty cool to see. I don't think many others on the boardwalk were as impressed with the snakes willingness to stay close to the action.

Canada Warbler... another common site this past weekend.

Magnolia Warbler... as common as House Sparrows in the city. Gorgeous!

My boy... taking a break near the lake to be a 9 year old. He skips rocks at every moment he gets!

Bay-breasted Warbler... hiding his face but the best part is out for all to see. Amazing colors!

Ruddy Turnstone! Lifer... here on the edge of Lake Erie in the presence of a Dunlin and Semi-palmated Sandpiper.

Yellow Warbler on nest... waiting patiently for the big day!

Green Heron... who could ever get tired of watching these slick birds pick off critters near the water's edge?
Common Nighthawk... this was a cool suprise to see. I have never scene one not flying.

Baltimore Oriole... a flash of orange to end the afternoon. Doesn't get any better.

If you want more information on this amazing area click on this link:

http://www.bsbobird.org/

Panic Attack?

2010-05-09T20:31:00.010-04:00

Had a chance to go birding at a local park today in Mooresville in an effort to figure out some options on my new camera (as you can see it is not coming along very fast) when I came upon a beautiful Eastern Bluebird. Although not in the most natural position, I thought this would be a good bird to photograph. As I was walking toward the bird though, the strangest thing (or behavior) occurred. The Bluebird literally seemed to freak out at our presence!

Eastern Bluebird (crappy picture, I know)... preparing to hop into the grass as Bluebirds commonly do to find food.

Into the grass... as I approached the bird, I thought it was "listening" for food like a Robin would do and then...

Flat on his face! I could not believe it, I thought I literally scared the shit out of this Bluebird and gave it a Heart Attack! It remained in the position for at least 30 seconds.

I continued to approach slowly wondering what the heck happened when it finally lifted its head up, in an obvious daze!

Continuing to snap out of it?

Then it flew back up to its original position on the fence! One of the oddest things I have yet to witness in the bird world! From this point, all seemed to be good. Is this normal Bluebird behavior? Do they act dead? If so, this Bluebird deserves and Oscar for an outstanding performance!

Where Does the Time Go?

2010-05-05T19:22:00.010-04:00

Pileated Woodpecker... Pokagon State Park. What a privilege to see a Pileated nesting! Here is the male and female exchanging affection!

Is it May already? I can't believe the last time I posted was April 6! My how time flies these days. Between work, school, baseball games, etc., I have been busier than ever trying to keep up with the everyday things that life presents us with. I haven't been able to spend near as much time outside as I would like but I have been able to squeeze in a few days here and there. Recently, I was able to spend the entire weekend at the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary in Connersville, IN. The Indiana Audubon Society had their annual spring festival and despite some rain, we had a great time! Lots of great people to spend some time with and to talk about what we love the most - BIRDS!

A few weeks ago, my family and I were able to get up to Pokagon State Park to celebrate my Godson and his sister's 2nd birthday. What a great place to celebrate a birthday party. Again, we had some rain but it did not stop us from having fun! Below are just a few pictures from our two most recent outings.

Wood Frog... Pokagon. This is the first time I have ever seen this species. How cool!

Tufted Titmouse... Pokagon State Park.

Red-bellied Woodpecker... Pokagon State Park.

Red-backed Salamander... Pokagon State Park. My son was on a mission to find a Salamander and his wish was granted. He actually found several. Awesome amphibians!

Bufflehead... Pokagon State Park. Distant shots but a beautiful duck nonetheless. This is probably my favorite duck.

Tiger Swallowtail... Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary

Bat... Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. I wish I knew the species. I don't know much about bats. Anyone know?

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher... Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. I here people all the time say, "oh another Gnatcatcher" - I could smack them! What do you mean another Gnatcatcher idiot?!

Eastern Towhee... Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary

Greater Prairie Chicken, Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, Illinois

2010-04-06T20:39:00.010-04:00

Northern Harrier chasing a Greater Prairie Chicken

On March 27, I was able to join the Indiana Audubon Society for a field trip to Prairie Ridge State Natural Area to witness the rare Greater Prairie Chicken. This particular property is in the State of Illinois just 2 1/2 hours from my house. I could not believe it!

Greater Prairie Chickens... doing what they do. Although I wanted to see a much more aggressive display of land ownership, the short disputes were still cool!

We arrived to the property about 5:00a in the morning where we were escorted by a great property associate to two blinds that were set up just for the opportunity to witness these great birds displaying. It was important to get in the blinds prior to the displays starting so not to disturb the birds. After about 30 minutes of our arrival to the blinds, we began to hear the birds calling and could see their faint shadows moving closer to us. By the time light arrived, their were Greater Prairie Chickens everywhere no more than 25 - 50 yards away. Some moved as close as about 20 feet from the blinds. It was absolutely amazing watching the males strut their stuff to the few rather non-caring females. Periodically the males would squabble with each other but the fights were normally short and non-violent.

In all, I believe we counted 17 males. I can't remember the female count but I believe there were no more that 3 or 4.

As a bonus, we were able to witness the birds being disturbed by a very rude Norther Harrier that seemed to be having a great time stirring up the chickens.

Other highlights during the day were Short-eared Owl, Great Horned Owl, and Loggerhead Shrike. Not too bad!

Our hotel rooms the night before the big event! Thank goodness for Walmart. I did not bring a sleeping bag and it got cold but inside the sleeping bag it was great.

Greater Prairie Chicken in full display

STA - 5, A Florida Birding Hotspot!

2010-03-20T14:52:00.007-04:00

As a birder, every once in a while you come across a place that leaves you almost speechless. A place that leaves you looking in all directions and an excited stressed mess because you don't know where to focus your attention. A place that drives you absolutely nuts and gives you the feeling that you never want to leave. You want time to stop for just a little while. STA-5 is one of those places.

American White Pelicans... lots to be seen, a very picturesque bird.

Roseatte Spoonbill... who could get enough of this?

STA-5 is not open to the public so you have to pre-register with the local audubon society that sponsor's auto tours of the property about 1 time per month. The representatives from the local Audubon are great people and take the tour very serious. As you arrive, you will check in at the gate and then line-up behind a caravan of other cars. Carpooling is encouraged. Walkie talkies are shared so that the caravan can share sightings. If you wish to move a little slower around the tour, you are encouraged to stay at the back of the line.

Osprey with a HUGE fish!

Woodstork... a highlight for me. They were everywhere.

From the moment you start, you will be thankful you're there. White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Roseatte Spoonbills, White Pelicans, American Coots, and Fulvous Whistling Ducks fill the waters on all sides. Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures filled the sky and Norther Harriers hovered all over the place!

A Snail Kite... not a great picture but an awesome bird nonetheless. Lifer.

Turkey Vulture... with a 6ft wingspan, the picture doesn't do this bird much justice. This has been one of my favorite species since I was in middle school.

Fulvous Whistling Ducks... In this particular spot there were at least 500! Lifer.

Cattle Egret... this bird was everywhere. Not a bad problem to have in my opinion. A gorgeous bird.

All birds were highlights but the biggest highlight species for me were Limpkin, Snail Kite, Bald Eagle, Purple Gallinule, Eurasion Wigeon, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Western Kingbird, Tropical Kingbird, and Black Skimmers.

Black-necked Stilt... they were everywhere. Very nice.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Again, all over. Amazing!

Black Vultures... the dominated the sky. This was a gathering of the minds I think.

Black Skimmer.... I really liked this picture because this particular bird seemed to be playing with fire tormenting this Alligator. It went back and forth inches away from becoming supper.

American Alligator... What would Florida be without this site? STA-5 was full of these lovely creatures. Big ones too!

If you haven't been, GO! All three of our destinations, Corkscrew Swamp, Ding Darling NWR, and STA-5 are highly recommended and are must go's for anyone that loves nature - especially birders. If you go to STA-5, be sure to take your camera, sunscreen, insect repellent, scope, binoculars, and a full tank of gas. Do not get to close to the water's edge as Alligators are everywhere!

STA-5 blessed me with 6 wonderful life birds! The entire trip blessed me with 14! Can't beat the reward for going. However, lifers or not, I would definitely go back to this birders paradise.

For more information on STA-5, go to www.tropicalaudubon.org

Ding Darling NWR and Corkscrew Swamp

2010-03-16T21:18:00.012-04:00

Painted Bunting.... Corkscrew Swamp. This bird was no doubt one of my top highlights of the trip. There was two pair in and out of the shrubs near the feeders behind the visitors center and unfortunately, they did not make picture taking very easy. This was the best out of many. It doesn't get much more gorgeous than this.

Anole? I think?? Corkscrew Swamp

My best friend John and I were able to spend some time birding the first week of March in South Florida. We made "Ding" Darling NWR and Corkscrew Swamp two of our three primary destinations. Both were winning destinations that I would highly recommend to anyone, especially birders.

Our first day was at Ding Darling NWR. From the moment you step foot into this refuge you know you are in a good spot. It just feels birdy! The main attraction is the auto tour through the refuge. The drive winds you through mangrove waters that are connected to the Gulf of Mexico so as you tour you are able to witness the tide and the change of landscape throughout the day. Everywhere you look there are Great Egrets, Tri-colored Herons, Snowy Egrets, White Pelicans, and Anhingas. The list goes on and on.

Barred Owl... Corkscrew Swamp. This lovely creature was a great daylight surprise! Not only were we able to get some great looks but we were also able to get some good looks at its dinner. Can you see its prize?

Ovenbird... Corkscrew Swamp

Our second day was spent at Corkscrew Swamp. A property owned by the National Audubon Society, Corkscrew Swamp in nothing short of absolutely amazing. I mean, how can it not be, I got two lifers in my first 10 minutes! Shiny Cowbird and Painted Bunting. Could it get any better? Yes! We spent about 4 hours on a two mile boardwalk soaking up of the atmosphere as possible. The boardwalk takes you through several eco-systems that are each unique and all beautiful. Some of the amazing birds we saw during the visit were Black and White Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, Yellow-throated Warbler, White Ibis, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Anhinga, and many, many more.

If you haven't been here, you have GOT to go!

Cattle Egret... near Corkscrew Swamp. There was no shortage of this species especially along the roads, in the fields, ditches, etc. I was excited every time I saw one.

Red-shouldered Hawk... Corkscrew Swamp. This was one of several Red-shouldered Hawks I saw during our visit. Each one of them seemed to be more unique than the previous. They made a ton of racket!

Osprey with prey... Ding Darling NWR. A day or two in the area and this was one of the most common sights. What a pity, right? This particular one is enjoying a rather large fish.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron... Ding Darling NWR. This was the first close encounter we had in the refuge. I couldn't believe it. The bird was so focused on food that it could have cared less about our presence.

Tri-colored Heron... Ding Darling NWR. This is one of my favorite birds to watch hunt in the shallow waters. Very sleek and very good at catching food. Awesome!

Snowy Egret... Ding Darling NWR. There were hundreds of these beauties throughout the property making all kinds of racket. They (like most of the birds) weren't at all concerned about our presence and displayed themselves like movie stars!

To learn more about these two awesome properties please visit their websites.

http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/

http://www.fws.gov/dingdarling/

Great Backyard Bird Count!

2010-02-17T18:29:00.005-05:00

The Indiana Young Birders Club had their first official event on February 13 promoting the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center in Indianapolis, IN. I am happy to report that the event was a huge success! We (volunteers from the IAS, AWBAS, and IYBC) along with 13 young nature lovers joined forces to count species around the Ornithology Center for 3 hours. The count produced a 18 species that included, Carolina Wren, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Woodpecker, and White-breasted Nuthatch just to name a few. One lucky participant will receive a Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America!

White-breasted Nuthatch... this particular bird provided us all with some additional entertainment as it did not want to share the peanuts with any other bird. It put on an interesting intimidation display that you can see in this picture! Very funny!

I guess these White-tailed Deer made 19 species... well, I guess they are not birds. The kids enjoyed them nonetheless.

Downy Woodpecker... a common but always welcomed sight during any birding adventure.

IAS Meeting at Turkey Run State Park!

2010-01-25T23:00:00.003-05:00

Gorgeous scenery at the park. This is directly behind the lodge. Awesome!

Last Saturday and Sunday (23/ 24) the Indiana Audubon Society, Inc. has their annual board meeting at Turkey Run State Park in Marshall, IN. It was my first board meeting since joining the board and WOW was it a great time. We have some fantastic board members and with the leadership of Amy, our president, we really got some things accomplished! There are a ton of great things going on in the IAS (the oldest conservation organization in the state) including... the Indiana Young Birders Club, Field Trips, Events... the list goes on and on!

I would recommend that anyone who loves birds in the State of Indiana (or anywhere) check us out at www.indianaaudubon.org and become involved in something great!

Blue Jay... I love this bird!

Hairy Woodpecker... just a cool bird.

Don't forget to check us out!

Birding with the Kids!

2010-01-19T21:16:00.003-05:00

It's been pretty dreary here in Indianapolis for the past several days. A constant overcast complete with fog has all but sapped most of the happy energy clean out of me. However, my zest for life was reinstalled this past Sunday when me and 3 of my kids went birding at the nearby Southwestway Park. Birds always cheer up a nasty day but when I am able to add my kids to the experience - it becomes quickly apparent of what its all about!

MY Young Birders! Lovin' nature!

Birds seemed all but extinct for the first part of our walk. The snow had just melted and it was fairly warm so I wasn't really sure what we would end up seeing. But, as good birders would, we kept moving forward. We arrived near the bank of the river to be welcomed by a Belted Kingfisher. Shortly nearby we were welcome by a honeypot of birds! Carolina Wrens, Song Sparrows, Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and American Goldfinches. For the most part, this whole gang of birds was within a circle of 4 trees. I am not sure what food was there, but they were all taking turns going to the ground to take their share.

Song Sparrow... even in drab lighting, its striking details are awesome!

Carolina Wren... not the best pic but he made such racket, it deserved a picture!

We birded for about two hours. Along the way we found some cool leaves, some good walking sticks, and I listened to my kids share some pretty amazing stories... very exaggerated I might add! A few lat minute birds included a Red-tailed Hawk and some American Crows! We had a great time! I can't wait to go again!

Reflections of 2009!

2010-01-05T21:47:00.012-05:00

Although in 2009 I did not hit my birding goals, the year still turned out to be nothing short of absolutely fantastic! This was a big year in my world of birding! I was blessed to bird in both Florida and Ecuador as well as attend several birding events for the first time.

I wrapped up the year with 330 species total - 173 Life Birds! This brings my World List to 425, my ABA List to 230, and my Indiana List to 199. Indiana brought me 165 birds in 2009, 1 more than 2008. Not much of an increase but, an increase nonetheless.

2010 is going to be another awesome year! I can feel it! So far, I have planned trips to Florida, Denver, Lake Erie, San Blas, MX, and hopefully the Outer Banks. I am hoping that these trips will help me achieve my year goal this year of reaching 525 World Species - 100 new birds!

So... in no particular order, here are some memories from 2009 - a year that...

brought Indiana's first official Young Birders Club!

gave me the opportunity to take my family to Mammoth Cave, KY.

allowed me to see my first Florida Scrub Jay.

gave me a glimpse of these Roseate Spoonbills in Florida!

took me took Ecuador to see more than 20 species of Hummingbirds, including this Purple-bibbed White-tip...

a Booted Racket-tail, and and Purple-throated Woodstar.

gave me the best picture of a Blue Jay I have taken to date.

let me and the family see more that 7,000 Sandhill Cranes at Jasper Pulaski in Indiana.

has given me a record low backyard bird count thanks to our neighborhood Coopers Hawk.

gave my son and I a chance to bird Lake Erie with the Kaufman's and other fine birders!

my kids took turns looking through the scope at Eagle Creek, Indianapolis.

I witnessed a murder before my very eyes!

my neighbors had a Golden-crowned Kinglet in their garage that did not want to leave.

introduced me to the experience of trampling around in a wet mess in the rain to see a LeConte's and Nelson's Sparrow... and to get a chance to bird with some very good birders!

gave my nephew a chance to experience how nuts birders can be at Lake Michigan, IN.

miraculously gave me an opportunity to see a Kirtland's Warbler while at the Midwest Birding Symposium along the coast of Lake Erie!

let me bird with the team from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology... OMG!

gave me another lifer... a Philadelphia Vireo at Magee Marsh.

gave me a chance to see this gorgeous sunrise at Ottawa NWR.

let me get a picture with THE Kenn Kaufman! Yeap, THE Kenn Kaufman!

made me appreciate those who spend their time to saving wild birds. This gorgeous Peregrine Falcon was a patient.

made me appreciate the ugly beauty of this baby Indigo Bunting.

brought a good number of Caspian Terns to Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis.

I realized how photogenic a birder can be!

I saw a copycat of the Hummingbird.

I saw my first Dickcissel at Goose Pond, IN.

my House Finches drank more sugar water than the Hummingbirds did.

my insect-eating plants bloomed as if they were normal innocent flowers.

my kids continued to learn that being outside is always more fun than sitting behind a TV.

I come to appreciate even more that there is nothing more relaxing or peaceful than being able to spend time outside watching birds!

Now, I am off to 2010!

Nature's Ornaments!

2009-12-26T21:00:00.012-05:00

Pileated Woodpecker... Salamonie. I LOVE this picture! To see one of these amazing birds is one thing, to get a good picture is another - especially with my camera.

We wait all year for the most colorful event of the season - Christmas. We wake up the next day when things are seemingly back to normal willing to wait another year for a repeat event. Not me, not this year. Christmas lasts longer. Not just the 25th. The below pictures represent nature's natural ornaments that we are blessed to enjoy anytime we wish as long as we take care of them! Why wait until Christmas to enjoy our gifts?

Northern Cardinal... Salamonie... Wow! Who could not love this bird?

This past Saturday, I was able to spend some time birding with my best friend John and his wife Megan at the Salamonie Reservoir and State Forest for what turned out to be a terrific morning of birding. Species count was minimal but we did have some good birds - bright birds, including: Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Eastern Bluebird, and Northern Cardinal. Some other highlights included: Bald Eagle and Wild Turkey.

Blue Jay... Salamonie. I have wanted a nice Blue Jay pic for a while now and I would now say that I got one. Can you believe that this was taken through a window? As much as I love all birds, I am becoming very partial to Jays. I love their personality and how they demand attention!

Northern Cardinal... Salamonie. With a drab background, even a female Cardinal shines like a star! Very nice!

On top of spending some time with John and Megan I was also able to spend some time visiting with my very good friend Marvin McNew, Head Interpreter for the Upper Wabash Reservoirs. I worked for Marvin several years ago and loved every minute of my employment. There are very few genuinely nice people in this world and he is definitely one of the rarities! A great guy!

Winter Waterfall... Salamonie State Forest. Just another reason to appreciate God's touch! All you really have to do to appreciate the natural world is to open your eyes!

Tree Sparrow... Salamonie. Perching proud!

Wild Turkey... Salamonie. I can remember about 13 years ago when seeing this bird was very rare in the area. Now, fortunately, they are everywhere.

American Goldfinch... Salamonie. Even in the winter when these birds lose most of their yellow, they are still very striking, especially on a cloudy day.

Saturday was a great day. Good friends, beautiful birds, and fantastic scenery! I love birding!

Don't Forget the Reason's for the Season!

2009-12-21T18:32:00.012-05:00

Eastern Bluebird... Marion, IN

It is so hard to believe that we are only a few days away from Christmas. I remember when I was a kid, Christmas could not get here fast enough. The days moved so slow, especially after Thanksgiving. Each day was more boring than the next just waiting for the day of opening presents to arrive. It always did. We opened our presents and were generally dissatisfied with the overall outcome. Hundreds of days of waiting for only a few minutes of material pleasure. Never any real fulfillment.

Fox Squirrel... Marion, IN

So, with these thoughts in mind, I set out to do a little birding in a local park near my parents house this past weekend in my hometown of Marion, IN. Matter Park. Overall, its a nice park. Small. The Mississinewa River runs alongside the park and there's a good number of mature trees throughout with some new landscaping. Much of which is very good for birds.

Northern Cardinal... Marion, IN

It was a bit chilly outside and the ground was covered with about two inches of fresh snow. It was quite and calm. The very first sound I heard when I got out of the van was that of the White-breasted Nuthatch. A sound that makes a winter walk official.

Red-tailed Hawk... Marion, IN

As I walked through the park and started seeing so many of the common birds that we all love such as the Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, and Downy Woodpecker I began to think about how blessed we are to have these birds in our life and how much joy they have personally brought to me over the years. Each bird that I have ever had the privilege to see has always instantly erased any negative tension that I was holding onto at the time. Birds are a natural remedy from anything materialistic and negative. They provide endless enjoyment, give instant gratification, and cost absolutely nothing. Not a dime. These were gifts that were given to us as flying decorations for the Earth that we live on.

Eastern Bluebird... Marion, IN

So as I continued to wonder about the blessings that surrounded me, I thought about all the hustle and bustle that was going on outside of the park. The craziness that so many of us (me too) live for in order to prove our appreciation for somebody else by buying them something that they probably don't really need. Have I, have we forgotten what the season is supposed to be about? We buy, buy, buy for our family and friends to say thanks for being a part of our lives but are we forgetting about the things that are there for us no matter what?

Cedar Waxwing... Marion, IN

Christmas time is the time of year that we are to give thanks not only to our family and friends but to everything around us that is precious. For me, I think of the birds and what I can do to pay them back for all they have done for me. Birds fight the odds each and every day of their lives. The heat in the summer, the cold in the winter, and the predators under the bushes. It can't be easy being a bird!

So what can you do for the birds this Christmas? How about...

Planting a tree (http://www.plantabillion.org/)

Joining a conservation group that protects birds...

Indiana Audubon (http://www.indianaaudubon.org/)

Nature Conservancy (http://www.nature.org/)

National Audubon Society (http://www.audubon.org/)

Put out some Suet and/ or Peanuts

Warm your birdbath

Buy a bird feeder for a friend

Buy a child a field guide and a pair of binoculars...

The list goes on and on....

Cedar Waxwing... Marion, IN

So what are you going to give back to the natural world this Christmas? What are you willing to do to say thanks for everything that you have enjoyed this year? What can you do to alleviate a little stress from a struggling bird this winter? Something? Anything?

And last but certainly not least...

Please give thanks for all that we have to the real reason for the season. The origin that makes all the nature that we enjoy possible.

Happy Holidays My Friends!

CBC, December 16, Goose Pond, Greene Sullivan State Forest

2009-12-18T19:35:00.006-05:00

Short-eared Owl.... Hawthorne Mine, Indiana. This bird was no doubt the star of the day. Although several great birds showed up for the counts, the healthy population of this bird in the Hawthorne Mine area is always a Crowd Pleaser!

Northern Flicker... Greene Sullivan State Forest

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 was my second time participating in the Goose Pond CBC and just as with last year, I am happy I did. I could go on an on about not only this property but also the habitats that surround the property. This place is a bird lovers paradise! You have the Wetlands of Goose Pond, the nearby forest of Greene Sullivan, and the local Hawthorne Mines that host a variety of raptors including large populations of Short-eared Owl and Northern Harrier.

Red-headed Woodpecker... Greene Sullivan State Forest

Greene Sullivan State Forest

The day started out a chilling 15 degrees but quickly warmed up to just below freezing. Once my friends and I were assigned our area, we were off to count the birds. Our particular area did not produce many species at first, in fact there were times I wondered if any birds existed at all in our section of the property. They finally did show up and we were blessed with such species as Whooping Crane, Wilson's Snipe (lifer), Swamp Sparrow, American Kestral, Northern Harrier, Belted Kingfisher and a copious quantity of Tree Sparrows. At least 150 in our section alone!

The work of a local Beaver... Goose Pond, Linton, IN.

Goose Pond FWA... Linton, IN. If you were a bird, wouldn't you want to be here?

We birded from about 8am to noon and then met the group to recap the days findings with the rest of the CBC participants. At lunch the tally was about 100 species. Not too bad. Missing species were discussed and then we were off to find some of our missing birds. One bird missing, the Brown Thrasher was spotted by our group at the State Forest about an hour later. Several other of the missing species were also found throughout the remainder of the afternoon. The day end count, I believe ended between 104 and 106 species!

Tufted Titmouse... this bird, along with about 5 others were a blast to watch flipping up leaves for food. My presence didn't seem to bother them at all.

Once we left the State Forest, we were off to the Hawthorne Mine area in search of Northern Shrike, Short-eared Owls, and any other present raptors. Unfortunately, we did not find any Northern Shrikes but did witness an amazing show of Short-eared Owls as well as some other cool raptors like Red-tailed Hawk, Coopers Hawk, and Rough-legged Hawk.

We ended our day at dark and headed home. We were all very tired but extremely pleased with our day. Next CBC for me will be at the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary in Connersville, IN on December 27. I can't wait.

For more information on the Christmas Bird Count, please click the link on the right side of the page.

Happy Hour in Northern Indiana!

2009-12-08T21:37:00.004-05:00

You have to see it to believe it! I have heard about about the amazing Sandhill Crane gatherings at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville, IN for many years but never (for unknown reasons) made the 2 hour drive to see exactly what it was all about. That is until Saturday, December 5 a day that can best be describes as a "Happy Hour" for Cranes.

This unique place is a resting spot for spring and fall migrating Sandhill Cranes each and every year. Like clockwork, the Cranes show up during their migration to rest and feed at the property and in the nearby cornfields. The biggest part of the daily spectacle is in the early morning at sunrise and about 1 hour before sunset. It is at these times that the cranes fly in to this one area to greet each other by the thousands. Literally, thousands! They fly in from all directions and at times there are so many on the ground, in the sky, and coming in for landings that it becomes overwhelming - in a good way!

Peak numbers of Cranes are typically in November. This year the Cranes peaked on November 24 at 14,500! During our visit, I would guess there were between 7 - 10,000 Cranes! Along with these amazing numbers, you also get the fantastic sound effects! These birds are so noisy is almost comical. It is definitely a great social event. Check out the below video.

Sandhill Cranes can be found throughout North America and are between 41-46" tall with a wingspan between 73-77". They usually weigh between 7-10 pounds. They are a large, gorgeous, noisy bird that is extremely social and is typically seen in large flocks.

Making the trip to see this amazing congregation of Cranes was well worth it. The only thing I regret was that we had not made the trip much sooner. My family and I had a great time seeing these birds and I know it may a positive impact on each of my kids. There isn't a movie or video game out there that could replace what we seen at Jasper Pulaski on

December 5, 2009!

To find out more about Sandhill Cranes please check out the following links!

Jasper Pulaski

International Crane Foundation

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

News from My Windowsill! They Keep Me Tropical!

2009-12-02T03:45:00.009-05:00

I haven't had much time to get out and bird lately so I thought I would post some pictures of some Orchids that are currently blooming in my windowsills. As the weather gets more and more winter like, these awesome plants keep in the tropical mindset. They keep me dreaming about my next trip to South America - hopefully sooner than later. I took these pictures on 12/1.

SLC. Love Castle 'Kurenai'

Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)... Unknown name

Phalaenopsis 'Fortune Beauty' Cordova Fortune Bubba x Golden Bee

BLC. Sanyung Ruby 'Kuang Lung' AM-AOS

Sakura Angel 'Nana'... A few more that should bless me toward the end of December

A Bad Day Birding! Never!

2009-11-29T16:42:00.003-05:00

I had a very late start this morning but after a LONG last week preparing for the busy holiday season at work, I was ready to get out do at least a little birding. I needed it! Between work and the seemingly never-ending challenges that my teenager continues to put me through - stress relief couldn't come fast enough. As always, birding was just what the doctor ordered. At least for a little while.

American Goldfinch... Southwestway Park, Indianapolis, IN. If this was the only bird you saw during a day of birding... how could you be upset?

I don't believe there is a such things as a bad day of birding. To me, just having the ability to get outside to "bird" is wonderful! Birding allows me to get outside and forget about everything else that is going on in life. Most importantly, the stressful things in life that need to be released.

Today was one of those days that many would consider a bad day of birding. I saw a whole 10 species. Only 10. I was told by a couple of friends upon entering my first location that I wouldn't see anything and they absolutely correct - not a thing. I arrived at my next location to find the exact same thing. Hmm. From there, I went to Southwestway, a park very close to my home. I walked an entire trail and did not see one bird?? Finally, I came upon a spot near the mouth of the trail - a honey hole! At this one spot, after a morning of nothing, I found the birds. At this one spot there were 10 species that included: Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Rock Pigeon, and American Goldfinch.

Jackpot!... Southwestway, Indianapolis, IN. The highlight of my morning was this flock of American Goldfinches. This may not seem like a highlight to many or even a bird worth seeing but to me, a flock of this beautiful bird is like hitting a gold mine! There could always be an alternative... somebody could decide to tear this shrub down and this flock of Goldfinches could have never landed in it!?!!

There is really no such thing as a bad day of birding! Unless your not really a birder!

One Great Weekend, Bonus - 6 Lifers!

2009-11-18T21:21:00.008-05:00

It all started on November 14, 2009. We woke up in our hotel room after a late night's drive excited to attend the Ohio Young Birders Conference that was being held at the Ottawa NWR Visitors Center and hosted by the Ohio Young Birders Club. The conference was unique in that all presenters were actually young birders. From the first words of the first presenter, I was amazed at the enthusiasm for birds that these young birders possessed. Each spoke on a different topic - California Condors, Piping Plovers, and even a story of a Big Year by bicycle - a young birder and his parents birded more miles by bike in one year than I think I have travelled by car! All presentations were absolutely amazing!

Tundra Swans... Ottawa NWR. My day immediately started with a Lifer - Tundra Swan. As you can see there was not only a Swan but many gorgeous Swans decorating the wetland. I would estimate about 300 Swans visible throughout the property this particular day. There were also Mallards and Canada Geese in this picture.

The Young Birders... these four were the primary components of the conference. All were very cool kids and represented the club with class. I am still amazed!

Kim Kaufman... the Visionary behind the OYBC seen here giving away 1 of many prizes throughout the morning. This lady is nothing less than absolutely amazing - a true definition of genuine!

Kenn Kaufman... yeap, THE Kenn! Kenn was also on-site to support his wife and the OYBC. Here he was reviewing answers to the Bird Quiz that was part of the day. Members I.D.'d birds from pictures and then entered their answers for a chance to win a set of field guides based on their accuracy!

Snow Buntings... Ottawa NWR. Although it was sad for the conference to end, we were all very delighted when Kim announced that the Ottawa Auto-tour was being opened just for us. These Buntings were a few of the very cool birds we seen during the tour.

My son... as always having a great time outside. This time, rock skipping!

Me and one of my 5 birding buddies (I have 5 children) out doing a Pelagic Birding Trip on Lake Erie hosted by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

This Pelagic trip on the lake was on November 15 and was worth every penny paid to attend. Several awesome birders were on board including Kenn Kaufman. I picked up 4 lifers on the lake this day - Black Scoter, Pomarine Jaeger, and Peregrine Falcon.

My boy enjoying the Gulls!

Merlin... Cleveland, Ohio. Lifer #6. This particular bird was definitely a bonus since we found it in a spot we had never planned on coming upon. There was an issue with the mechanical bridge over the river our boat needed to pass under so we had to dock about a mile down the lake. In most cases, this would have angered most people but not us birders - especially when we were welcomed by this Merlin.

Sunset at Metzger Marsh... near Ottawa NWR. Muy bonita!

The weekend takes my World List to #424 and ABA to 229!

The best part of the trip was that I was able to spend some quality time with my son!

Yellow Rail in Downtown Indianapolis!

2009-10-27T23:09:00.002-04:00

There are some things in life that are just more important than sleeping in! Yeap, this past Sunday I finally decided that I was going to have a slow morning. I was tired, a little down, and eager to sleep in after several months of go, go, go! Well, I did sleep in a bit but was suddenly awakened (earlier than I wanted) by my cell phone. Before the message ended and after I heard the words "Yellow Rail" I was dressed and ready to go. Don Gorney had discovered this misguided bird while driving downtown Indianapolis on Sunday. After assuming the bird was either lost or a victim of a window strike, Don called out the troops (which thankfully included me) to help catch the bird so that it could be released in a more suitable habitat.

Yellow Rail (photo by J. Mueller)... Downtown Statehouse, Indianapolis, IN

By the time I had arrived, several dedicated individuals were already looking throughout the bushes on the lawn of the Indiana Statehouse in search for this secretive bird. After about 20 minutes, Don rediscovered the bird. It quickly flew out of the roses and into a another group of small shrubs and hid almost instantly. We found it again and after everyone had a chance to take pictures and look at the bird we gathered around and prepared to capture it. While Don held the net, another gentleman and I got down on our knees and prompted the bird to move forward into the net... it did just what we wanted, was caught, and was taken to a nearby wetland. It was a strong bird so I believe it will be OK. Since their behavior is to fly low up and then back down into hiding, the bird would have likely been hit by a car if it had not been captured. An absolutely awesome experience AND the first time I have ever seen a Yellow Rail.

Yellow Rail (photo by L Voss)... Downtown Indianapolis, IN. Can you see it? I like this picture since it shows the secretive behavior of the Rail.

A fall day...not much to say.

2009-10-22T20:19:00.007-04:00

I hadn't been able to get out much in the past couple of weeks but this past Sunday I was able to take a morning stroll around my parents property to enjoy some of the nice weather and beautiful scenery that comes will Fall. The day was extremely peaceful and is exactly what I was looking for - along with a bird or two if possible.

House Finch... a very under appreciated bird. There were House Finches everywhere. All appeared to be happy and healthy and were enjoying the day as much as I was.

A female House Finch... belting a few fall sounds.

Eastern Bluebird... A somewhat drab adult but a beautiful bird nonetheless. There was alot of bird activity on the property but not many species. Lots of Bluebirds, House Finches, Goldfinches, Field Sparrows, Blue Jays, Carolina Chickadees, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a Downy Woodpecker.

A most beautiful death... I paused for a minute to take one last look behind me before heading back up to the house when this Milkweed caught my eye. I stared at it for a short while thinking that I had never realized an exploding milkweed seedpod was so beautiful!

I have never been a big fan of fall in the past but over the last couple of years I have come to enjoy it more and more. It is truly a peaceful time of year that is unlike any other. There is a sadness to the season that will provoke me to pause and just stare at my surroundings. It seems to be nature's way of saying goodbye with a few simple reminders (such as this Milkweed pod) telling us that goodbye's aren't forever.

The Big Sit! Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis, IN

2009-10-15T20:11:00.009-04:00

Red-shouldered Hawk... Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis. This cooperative Hawk was very close to the Big Sit circle allowing for everyone to get a good look at it. My wife took this picture.

This past Sunday (10/11) was the Amos W. Butler Audubon Society's first annual Big Sit. It took place at Eagle Creek Park on the west side of Indianapolis. It was in a great location overlooking the lake and very close to the new Ornithology Center. Participants and visitors got the double treat of looking for birds on the outside and learning about them on the inside. In all, I believe more than 50 species were documented at the Sit!

Me, Lorena, and Ceth

My wife and I took 4 of our 5 children to the Sit for a couple of hours, it was chilly but they didn't seem to care much. They were instantly involved with the event and eager to find a new bird that hadn't been reported.

Me and Serena... checking out the waterfowl on the lake.

Lorena... likely looking at the Canada Geese, American Coots, or Mallards on the lake.

I am very fortunate that 4/5 kids are beginning to love birds as much as I do. It is true that you kids will love what you love. We as parents make a huge impact on our kids... youth in general. They are all so excited to tell me about birds everyday. Whether it be something they saw at the feeder, saw at school, from the car, bus, whatever it may be, they are ready to tell their dad all about it! Nothing could make me happier!

Me, Lorena, and Evan (blue hood)... all very involved with the birds. By my look, this was probably when I was happily staring at either the Gadwalls or Wigeons.

Spider and Prey... this wasn't taken at the Big Sit but I had to include it. As I was taking this picture the Spider was moving all over the place to get away but he would NOT let go of his prize.

Indiana Audubon Society's Fall Festival - 3 Lifers!

2009-10-10T21:32:00.008-04:00

Lincoln's Sparrow... Dunes State Park, IN. One of 3 Lifers for me over the weekend.

Last weekend, my nephew and I attended the Indiana Audubon Society's Fall Festival at the Indiana Dunes State Park. As expected, it turned out to be an awesome event! Birders from across the state gathered to attend seminars, workshops, etc. as well as some quality time birding the Lake Michigan shoreline. I was able to gain 3 lifers over the weekend - LeConte's Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Nelson's Sparrow.

Who is this handsome birder along the Lake Michigan shoreline?

Scenic view from the shore.

Another very attractive view of the Dunes. Gorgeous!

Alison V., Rob R., Me, and Eric R. ... McCool Watershed Basin near the Lakeshore. Alison, Rob, and Eric are each very exceptional birders. I was definitely in the presence of greatness!

I picked up two lifers on Saturday after spending some very wet time at the McCool Watershed Basin along with several participants from the festival. This relatively small area which is in part managed by the Northern Indiana Migratory Bird Association is a haven for some awesome birds! We were very privileged to get to spend some time trampling through the swampland in search of both the LeConte's Sparrow and Nelson's Sparrow. It was extremely rainy and extremely wet but it was all worth it when we got some very good views of both birds, especially the Nelson's which stayed in place for some time for almost everyone to get some spectacular photo quality views of the bird. The LeConte's wasn't as still for us but did flutter up multiple times as we approached allowing all of us to see its very ragged tail and behavior of flying low to the grass and instantly dropping back into the grass. Having both the Nelson's and LeConte's together allowed for some nice comparisons in flight, color, and behavior. We also got some nice views of multiple Savannah Sparrows.

Red-breated Nuthatch... Dunes State Park Nature Center. There were three at the feeders this particular day. They just recently arrived back to the area.

Yellow-rumped Warbler... Dunes State Park. This particular bird was just banded by Brad B., the head Naturalist at the park.

Other highlights of the weekend were presentations by Dr. Ken Brock, Lee Sterrenburg, Ross Brittain, and Alison Vilag (young birder extraordinaire) all of which were absolutely fantastic!

A huge personal thanks to Brad Bumgardner and Amy Wilms and team for pulling together such an outstanding event! I had a awesome time!

World List - 415, ABA List - 220, Indiana List - 193!

MBS - What a GREAT Weekend!

2009-09-25T22:58:00.008-04:00

Last weekend (9/17 - 9/20), I, along with my friend Rob, attended the Midwest Birding Symposium in Lakeside, Ohio - close to Cedar Point. I have tried really hard to figure out what words to use to describe this event and to this moment, I am still torn. Since I am a little confused on what wording to use, I am going to use a combination of words. To me, the event was - outstanding, exceptional, brilliant, amazing, splendid, grand, and most of all, overwhelming! Overwhelming in a good way!

Sunrise at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge... Ohio.

Why so awesome? Why so overwhelming? Well, let me tell ya. Until this visit, I had never been to the Lakeside area. I was extremely excited and couldn't wait to get there! Luckily, I was with a friend who had no objections to pushing the speed limit which made for a much quicker trip. Unfortunately, we arrived in the evening and didn't get to look around much but what I did have a chance to see was a gorgeous lake shore hugged on the shoulder by some remarkably beautiful marshland. We arrived to Lakeshore just in time to see the movie "Opposable Chums", a documentary about the World Series of Birding and an interesting look at exactly how crazy birders are and to what lengths they will go to find birds! I highly recommend it! By the end of the show, I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel and go to sleep so that the next day would come.

Bronze Copper... Ottawa NWR. A gorgeous insect!

It did come. We made our first official birding trip to Sheldon Marsh where I quickly collected two life birds - a Blackpoll Warbler and a Marsh Wren. Could the day get any better at this point?

Kirtland's Warbler... East Harbor, Ohio

Well, maybe if they announced at the first program that a Kirtland's Warbler was spotted just down the road from the Symposium!!!! Hello? The announcement came and a herd of birders left the room instantly to make their way to the park to catch a glimpse of this amazing endangered Warbler. We were part of this herd!

We arrived and spent a couple of hours in search of the bird. Rob finally caught a glimpse and I unfortunately didn't. Nearly crying, I made my way back to the symposium feeling like a penny waiting for change. Then, like two birding angels came two friends of mine from the Indiana Audubon Society who were both very anxious to go birding and wanted to go see the Kirtland's too. They invited me to go along and off we went. We made our way down the trail and BAM!! There is was, at almost eye level - a gorgeous, awesome, striking Kirtland's Warbler!

Me and Kenn Kaufman... YES, THE Kenn Kaufman

And just as I was trying to catch my breath from the Kirtland's Warbler and few other lifers I saw Kenn Kaufman standing across the room. Now I haven't been an "official" birder for but a few years but there is one thing that I have learned so far... Kenn is THE man! I have yet to come across his name for any other reason than good. He is the like the International Spokesperson for the well-being of birds and their habitat! I approached Kenn and Kim's area a little bit nervous but was instantly relieved when Kenn and his wife began to speak to me and Rob as if they had known us forever. Absolutely wonderful people!

Rob and I with the Cornell Team!

OK, so now it can't get any better right? Wrong! On Sunday, Rob and I were fortunate enough to run into the folks from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. That's right, the good doers of all things birds! A great organization. We actually was able to have lunch with them and afterward spend a little time birding in Ottawa. Oh yeah, along the way we met another great kid, Andy (on the right) who turned out to be a very well tuned birder! He actually help me get another lifer... a Gray-cheeked Thrush. All of these folks were very good people! I am fortunate to have met them!

Leopard Frogs... Ottawa Visitors Center. My favorite frogs!

Philadelphia Vireo... Magee Marsh Boardwalk. Guess what? Lifer!

Can you really ever get enough of these signs? I don't think so!

Peregrine Falcon... MBS. This bird was actually an injured bird on display from a local rehab group.

There were so many things to do, to see, to watch at the Symposium. From birding presentations from experts such as Bill Thompson III, David Sibley, and Kenn Kaufman to a presentation from a movie star - Jane Alexander, about her journeys in birding. I even met some of the coolest bloggers out there... Red and the Peanut and Bird Chick!

I could write forever and ever about my experience at the MBS. I am definitely sold on the event and plan to attend the next one. If you are a birder, you have to go. I guarantee you won't regret it!

Sheldon Marsh

MBS - Young Birders Day!

2009-09-09T20:56:00.002-04:00

Help spread the word! If you are planning to attend the Midwest Birding Symposium or know somebody that is please let them know that Saturday is special in that it will offer activities special to Young Birders! The following offers more information...

THE Ohio Young Birders Club presents:
KILLDEER KORNER
Activities for Young Birders!

Saturday September 19, 2009 is Young Birder’s Day at the Midwest Birding Symposium! Join us from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Wo-Ho-Mis (across the street from South Auditorium). Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Our friends from the Ohio Young Birders Club and the Black Swamp Bird Observatory will offer the following activities:

Preschool:
The Binocular Laboratory—kids will make a pair of binoculars and learn how to use them
The Feeding Station—kids will build a bird feeder out of a variety of common recycled items
Fun with the Hooos!—kids will make an owl puppet or mask

Middle School:
Midwest Birding Symposium Junior Duck Stamp Contest—We’ll help participants paint a portrait of their favorite duck, goose, or swan! Lily Sprang, winner of this year’s National Junior Duck Stamp Contest, will be leading the activity along with her brother Eli, an Ohio Junior Duck Stamp winner and national runner-up!
We’ll also give all our artists materials introducing them (and their parents and teachers) to the Junior Duck Stamp Contest. When the portraits are finished, artists can choose to take their art home with them or enter it into the contest. We will award prizes for the top three contest entries.

For Teens:
Bird Walk—The Ohio Young Birders Club will lead a bird walk from 8:00 – 9:45 a.m. Saturday on the Lakeside grounds. We will meet at the front entrance to the Hotel Lakeside.

For details, contact BSBO at 419-898-4070.

#404, Yellow-crowned Night Heron!

2009-08-31T21:14:00.004-04:00

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (picture by J. Velasquez)... Goose Pond FWA!

There is nothing that leaves me more unsettled these days than leaving a bird unidentified. Yesterday, while at Goose Pond, I saw this bird take off from behind some weeds and as it flew away I thought that it was a American Bittern. I had never seen an American Bittern before so I was extremely discouraged that it was too far out for me to add it to my Life list with confidence. I saw the bird again as were were leaving flying back to the same spot I first saw it so I turned back to get another look. As I approached, I scared it off once again and got a look that made me feel sceptical that it was an American Bittern mostly because the bill was pretty thick vs. what my guide was showing for the Bittern. At this point, I decided it was a Night Heron. The next question was, which one. I was not able to take a picture quick enough so I was fortunate that my friend John snapped a few. It was so bright outside, I still could not see the picture well enough to know what type of bird it was. Today, John sent me the picture he had taken to which we both instantly ID'd the bird as Yellow-crowned Night Heron! Very cool! Christmas in August!

Goose Pond FWA, Indiana Brings Life List to 403!

2009-08-30T18:45:00.007-04:00

I (along with my friend John) spent some time today at Goose Pond, FWA in Linton, IN, and as always, I left pleased and happy that I went. The Fish and Wildlife Area is managed by the State DNR and has to be one of the best places to bird in Indiana. GPFWA is an 8,000 acre restored wetland area that hosts an enormous amount of wildlife - especially birds! Recently, Goose Pond recorded Indiana's first Roseate Spoonbill! I gained one (potentially 2) lifers during my visit - Blue Grosbeak! I have not confirmed the other just yet, it's either an American Bittern or Black-crowned Night Heron. We'll see what the professionals have to say! Nonetheless, the Blue Grosbeak brought my World Life List to 403 and my Indiana Life List to 187! Through today I have seen 284 species of birds in 2009, 136 species in Indiana. I would love to hit 200 species this year in Indiana. Time is running out!

Anyway, here are some pictures from my day at Goose Pond FWA. Enjoy!

Indigo Bunting, a very, very young Indigo Bunting... My friend found this cute/ ugly little bird as we were being scolded very violently by an extremely hyper female. We knew instantly we were near her nest as she put on quiet a show for us! We took a few pictures and let them be.

Indigo Bunting... the proud parent that DID NOT appreciate our presence today!

Field Sparrow... one of only two Sparrows for the day. We saw several but I am very cautious with Sparrows at this stage of my birding hobby. They are in and out of the grass, I just never feel like I get a good look.

Monarch Caterpillar... Always a treat to see. This one here is on a Milkweed plant which is where Monarchs typically lay their eggs. Of course you can see a large number of Aphids as well - unfortunately!

Monarch... there was lots of Milkweed and lots of Monarchs. Awesome!

Green Heron... not the best picture but it's the best I could get today. I am not sure how many of these we seen today but they were present in mass. There was also a large number of Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons.

Snowy Egret, Caspian Terns, and pathetic Digi-scoping!

2009-08-23T22:50:00.007-04:00

Snowy Egret... Eagle Creek, Indianapolis, IN. My first in Indiana!

I was able to spend both Saturday and Sunday this weekend doing some birding at our local birding paradise that we are blessed to have here in Indianapolis, IN... Eagle Creek. I was especially excited to come across a very healthy group of shore birds that are beginning to move through town. Since I had to spend most of my time with my eye permanently stuck to my spotting scope, I thought I would try to do some Digi-scoping. Unfortunately, most of my shot didn't turn out. Below are a few of the better.... and obviously I need a lot more practice taking pictures using this method! I can't seem to get the shot as clear as it actually is in the scope? Suggestions are welcome.

Great Egret, Caspian Terns... There was a group of about 30 Caspian Terns present which apparently are common migrants through Indiana. This was my first Indiana sighting of the birds.

Great Egrets, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Terns

Great Egret, Canada Goose

Belted Kingfisher... One of my favorites! Today I was able to witness this bird catch a fish and beat it to death prior to finally swallowing it whole! Pretty cool sight! Not sure what the fish thought about the situation though?

Birding Adventures TV Show! Florida Scrub Jay

2009-08-09T01:11:00.002-04:00

If you are not already aware, there is a new TV Show that airs on Saturday mornings on the FOX Sports Net called "Birding Adventures"! It's a show that is dedicated to destination birding and typically highlights a species or two per episode. Today, the target bird was the Florida Scrub Jay. Conservation of the species and efforts to grow populations was the primary topic. I was especially excited about this episode since the Florida Scrub Jay was added to my Life List this past March. They are a beautiful species and are amazingly smart! I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to re post some of my pictures of the Florida Scrub Jay - I do believe this is one of my favorite birds!

If you haven't yet tuned into this new show, I would encourage you to do so. I am so pleased that there is finally a TV Series dedicated to our hobby! You can check out their website at: www.birdingadventures.com !

For more information on the Florida Scrub Jay you can go to: http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Scrub-Jays/scrubjays.htm

Northern Cardinal x Turkey Vulture! Who knew?

2009-08-02T20:49:00.004-04:00

Today, my son asked, "Dad, will you take my birding" - he is 5! How could I say no? We finished up lunch and my son, my daughter, and I took off to do a short birding trip to Southwestway Park in Indianapolis, IN. Here are a few pictures from the day. Although I am always happy to spend time in nature with my kids, I am more amazed at what they discover and what fascinates them. Sometimes they get excited over a bird, an insect, or even a rock, whatever it may be, I know that it is my job to acknowledge their excitement with our natural world. This will ensure they take care of it in the future!

And this Cardinal?

Bald headed Northern Cardinal... Indianapolis, IN. This lovely Cardinal has been visiting my feeder for about 3 weeks now and just doesn't seem to be getting any prettier. My kids keep referring to it as a Turkey Vulture Cardinal! Apparently, this unusual molt happens periodically in both Cardinals and Blue Jays. The issue has yet to be thoroughly studied. You can read more at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/BaldBirds.htm

Unknown Insect (at the moment)... Indianapolis, IN. I am not sure what this is but my daughter pointed it out and wanted me to take a picture. The picture came out so good I thought it would be worthy to share.

Scarlet Tanager... Indianapolis, IN. Like so many birds, I just can't get enough of this one. So beautiful. This one is a juvenile male. It was in the company of 2 others and some Indigo Buntings. A beautiful make-up of birds, unfortunately, I could not get them in one picture. Scarlet Tanagers winter in southern Central America and northwest South America.

Pearl Crescent... Indianapolis, IN. Birding is so much more than just birds. Don't get me wrong - it is the focus! However, there are so many beautiful things that surround you as you bird - like this butterfly. All you have to do is look around. We are so blessed!

Mammoth Cave, KY - 1 Lifer!

2009-08-01T10:04:00.005-04:00

This past week, my family and I travelled down to Mammoth Cave, KY to spend the week camping and getting closer to the natural world. We had a wonderful time and was able to see some things that really inspired my kids. Here are a few pictures from our week!

Summer Tanager... Mammoth Cave, KY. Believe it or not, I had yet to see this gorgeous bird. In fact, this was a target bird for me on this trip. I actually saw two, one near our campsite, a female, and this awesome male at the Park. This made my 401st Life Bird!

Bumblebee!... Mammoth Cave, KY. I have come to really like this insect over the past few years. Along with Honeybees, they are extremely hard workers and are very focused on their work. They are so busy that I can put a camera lens almost completely on top of them and they seem to care less.

Wild Turkeys... Mammoth Cave, KY. These two birds were the National Park Welcoming Committee. The were right at the entrance and didn't move much.

An active Bat hibernating cave... Mammoth Cave, KY... too cool!

The sign in front of the cave! I love to see these type of signs!

Red-spotted Purple... Jellystone Park, Mammoth Cave, KY. I chased this butterfly some ways before finally being able to get a picture of it. This picture doesn't do it much justice - a beautiful butterfly.

Wood Thrush... Mammoth Cave, KY. These birds are commonly found flipping through leaves and scrounging among the forest floor looking for insects. This one did a great job posing for me. As you can see, he blends very well within his surroundings.

Black Rate Snake... Mammoth Cave, KY. This snake was just off the trail sunning in a tree. I am pretty sure it is a Rat Snake.

Eastern Box Turtle... Mammoth Cave, KY. This little turtle was found just along one of the trails. He was about the size of a 1/2 dollar. Very cute.

Misc. Nature

2009-07-14T21:03:00.004-04:00

It has been so hot lately that it seems as though the bird activity on my last few ventures out has been minimal. Without my eyes stuck to my binoculars, I had the opportunity to take some pictures of some other critters in nature that I often time miss.

Great-spangled Fritillary... Marion, IN

Silver-spotted Skipper... Marion, IN. This milkweed was a hit to many insects.

Water Snake... Marion, IN. I love these snakes. They are the most curious reptiles, always willing to come closer to get a better look at us.

White-breasted Nuthatch... Marion, IN. I was able to see some birds, this is one of only a few that allowed me to take a picture.

Hummingbird Moth... Marion, IN. I could watch these Moths forever. I am always amazed that they are so focused on flowers that you can get almost eye to eye with them before they fly away. This one is loving the milkweed.

Jewel Weed... Indianapolis, IN. One of many beautiful woodland flowers. Very delicate flowers on a very delicate plant. Apparently this plant is also an antidote for Poison Ivy if the leaves are crushed and rubbed on the poison ivy site.

Ecuador - Heaven on Earth Part 3 - The Hummingbirds!

2009-06-28T09:44:00.010-04:00

Although I loved every aspect of our trip this past May to Ecuador, my favorite part had to be the hummingbirds - especially in Tandayapa. We stayed at the San Jorge Eco Lodge in Tandayapa. The lodge itself is not along any road so there is a good hike to get there. Actually, I am not sure how far the lodge is from the road but it felt like we walked forever. The hike was beautiful but extremely exhausting since it was entirely up hill in the cloud forest. Just as we were finishing our last stretch to the lodge and I was about to proclaim that I regretted the trip (based entirely off of me being out of shape) we rounded the corner to see several rows of hummingbird feeders with traffic that could only be compared to the busiest subway station on earth. Their were hummingbirds of all types flying in from all directions. All of my exhaustion instantly drifted away and I was instantly in love with this lodge! We saw more than 20 species of hummingbirds during our trip! Most of these are from Tandayapa, a few are from a lower elevation in Milpe.

Andean Emerald

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Violet-tailed Sylph

Purple-bibbed Whitetip

Purple-throated Woodstar (F)... My favorite picture of the whole trip.

Purple-throated Woodstar (M)

Green-crowned Brilliant

Fawn-breasted Brilliant

Booted Racket-tail

Black-tailed Trainbearer... we found this one in the city of Quito.

Western Emerald

Roseate Spoonbill in Indiana! Goose Pond FWA

2009-06-19T22:48:00.004-04:00

On 6/14/09, my family and I took a trip to Goose Pond FWA in Linton, IN in search of a very popular guest to our state. A Roseate Spoonbill arrived her a couple of weeks ago and has been hanging around every since amongst a flock of Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons. We, like many others this day were very fortunate to spot the bird in our first few minutes of looking. The Spoonbill was within viewing distance just off the highway.

Roseate Spoonbill, Goose Pond FWA... Can you see it? This amazing bird is right in the middle of the Great Egrets. Can you see where it gets its name? Not the best picture but for it being so far out and using digital zoom, I am OK with it.

Young Birders.... not only was I excited to see the Spoonbill - my kids were also. Isn't this so cute? You can also see the line of birders in the distance that travelled to see this bird just like us.

The real fun begins... Before this trip I stopped at Walmart to buy my kids some new nets. They paid for themselves in about the first 5 minutes. They caught everything that moved and had a blast! I am so happy they love nature like their dad.

Eastern Meadowlark... not the best picture but this bird was so beautiful through the scope and was singing its heart out... it deserves to be posted.

Pond Slider... I think. I found this turtle while looking for my field guide I lost last week. Here I was showing it to my kids that were the audience in the van. I never did find my field guide.

Grasshopper Sparrow makes #400! 3 Lifers Today!

2009-06-07T20:10:00.010-04:00

Dickcissel... Goose Pond FWA. 1 of 3 Lifers today!

My son and I took off this morning for an 1 1/2 trip to Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Southern Indiana in search of a few recently reported birds - Glossy Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, and Blue Grosbeak. We got 1 our of 3. Fortunately, we were able to get the Black-necked Stilt the instant we arrived to the property. We were also delighted to see a large number of Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons.

Despite not seeing all of what we set out to see, we did have a great day that included 3 lifers for me! In addition to the Black-necked Stilt, I also added Dickcissel and Grasshopper Sparrow to my Lifelist! To top off a day of 3 lifers, the Grasshopper Sparrow made #400!

Black-necked Stilt... Goose Pond FWA, Indiana. Not a good picture, I know, I know... but not bad using a 2 mega pixel digital camera through a scope!

Indigo Bunting... Goose Pond FWA. One of these days I will get a good picture, I will. I love these birds.

Monarch? Guess again, this is a Viceroy!... Goose Pond FWA.

Great Egrets, 1 Great Blue Heron... Goose Pond FWA. I am not for sure how many Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons I saw today in total by I know the number was up there. Very picturesque.

Dickcissel... Goose Pond FWA

Catfish... Goose Pond FWA. My son had some good luck today too! He specifically wanted to find some baby Catfish today - later he found a 4-leaf clover and after lunch BAM, there they were - by the thousands! He caught and released a few with his hands.

Ecuador - Heaven on Earth! Part 2

2009-06-04T20:54:00.005-04:00

One of the many highlights of our recent trip to Ecuador was the Tanagers. Each species provides more excitement than the previous. We saw Tanagers throughout the trip but they were most plentiful at the San Jorge Tandayapa Lodge in the Cloud Forest. Just about any direction you looked you saw Tanagers - blue, yellow, green, red, everywhere! The lodge provided Bananas throughout the day for the Tanagers - they love Banana seeds. We saw 23 Tanagers species during our trip and unfortunately, like so many pictures I took, most of my Tanagers did not take well. Nonetheless, here are a few of the better pictures.

Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager.... Quito. This was the last species of our trip, the day we were leaving. We actually saw several of these as we were hiking high up a hill. This is the best picture I could get but even behind the twigs it's still striking!

Blue-grey Tanager... Tandayapa. These two are working their way down to the Banana feeders that are refilled throughout the day.

Black-capped Tanagers... Tandayapa. In this picture there were about 5 that were in the tree at one time.

Metallic Green Tanager... Tandayapa. Another striking bird, especially in the sunlight where you can instantly see where it got its name!

Golden Tanager... Tandayapa. One of the more common Tanagers during our trip! Gorgeous!

Blue and Yellow Tanager... One of our first birds on the trip - possibly the first Tanager, in Quito.

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager... Tandayapa. This was very common Tanager in the area. Here it is eating the seeds out of a Banana. Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to have Tanagers at your backyard feeders?