The Latest Craze To Hit Minnesot Birders

The hotest bird to show up in the Minnesota Rare Bird Alert? Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches--birds not typically found in Minnesota.

On the 29th, Mike Schrage reported three GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES in Cloquet, St. Louis County. Directions from interstate 35 take the Cloquet/Iron Range exit and go north on state highway 33 to the second stoplight in Cloquet. Turn left onto County Road 7 (also called Big Lake Road) and go about three miles to the intersection with County Road 5. Turn left onto University Road and go about 100 yards. Look for the blue building on the left. This is the Fond du Lac Resource Management Division office. The birds have been on the sunflowers on the right side of the building. This is a working office building so birders are asked to please stay in their cars and remain at least 75 feet from the birds.

/It used to be that you would have to wait months to see a bird's photo in the club's publication. Eventually, people posted photos on their website. Now, you can watch videos of the rare bird on YouTube. I love technology. Bob Williams reported that the above film on You Tube was shot by my friend Brad Beisel and editted by my friend Mike Hazard today. At the end you may hear me say that all 3 birds are there, but only 2 show up in the film. The quality is not the best but at least you can see them in action.

I don't know if I'm going to be able to see the birds. In-laws are arriving for the weekend on Friday. I might head out on Tuesday afternoon if they are still being reported.

Bird Watcher's Digest + birdPod

Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD) and birdPod have united to deliver downloadable Florida bird songs and photographs from www.birdwatchersdigest.com. BWD is America's favorite bird-watching publisher, and birdPod is the hottest bird identification tool for the extremely easy-to-use Apple iPod.

Florida birdJam, the innovative new download of 77 Florida bird songs and photos is a companion to BWD's popular "Florida Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide" published by Cool Springs Press. The definitive bird songs and vivid photography will help even casual bird watchers quickly identify what they are seeing and hearing.

Bill Thompson, III, editor of BWD, says, "We are delighted to be the first publisher to deliver birdPod bird songs and photographs for easy, fast and economical download from our website. As thousands of bird watchers head to Florida, they can download bird songs and photos to their iPods to study before they arrive, and then use them when visiting birding hotspots throughout the state."

You can read the rest of the story here.

What's Up With Rhode Island?

I'm heading out to Rhode Island for a day next week for some birding related training. I thought I would check and see if there are any bird related stories going on. I found one about a Beagle Club that's in trouble for getting rid of raptors on their property that were supposedly eating the rabbits that were meant for the beagles (getting rid being the use of poisons, guns and leg-hold traps).

The other story was about a family that is being "forced" to leave Rhode Island and move to Montana because of roosting vultures (because, you know, they have so few vultures in Montana). You can watch a video of the man who comes off as a big whiny-pants at CNN. I really do try to be understanding of people who don't know very much about birds, but really it's not hundreds of roosting vultures, it's dozens. He's the only one really complaining about them, the other neighbors don't really care (of course, it's not as much fun to give screen time to people who are reasonable). If you watch the CNN clip, you can see an old man at the end asking who would want to live in such a place, who would bring their family to that neighborhood...ME! Alas, Non Birding Bill is not moving to Rhode Island.

Ice and Cormorant Fishing

Yesterday morning it was in the 50 degree range with a thunderstorm. The rain was thorough and it was just chilly enough to feel like it was 30 degrees when you were wet. This morning it was in the 20s and tonight at some point it's supposed to get down to 6 degrees. Br.

But that kind of cold weather means that it's time to turn the park near our building into an ice rink. Yes, in warm weather it's a place for Cinnamon to frolic:

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And in cold weather the parks people bring out the sprinkers:

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Which gradually begins to create a layer of ice...

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..to make our park an ice rink. This is the very early stages of our ice rink being formed. Every year I keep meaning to learn to ice skate and take advantage of it. Maybe this winter I will finally take up that challenge. It is fun to watch hokey games from our kitchen window.

In looking through my mountainous blog potential file, I did find this interesting vacation you can take. It's very unique and good compromise for the couple that is one half birder and one half fisherman:

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Cormorant Fishing! You can read more about it here.

Back on the Blogging Horse

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Turkeys roaming the grass a few blocks from the Mall of America after a few days of laying low around Thanksgiving.

I swear, I take a few days off during Thanksgiving and I just can't get back on the blogging horse. Normally, I have a back log of stuff to write about but this week I'm a little slow. Part of it is that I'm getting a new camera (the other part is just writing deadlines). It finally arrived yesterday. Based on a friend's recommendation I got a Fuji FinePix 900 which is supposed to be very good with digiscoping...now all I need to do is get my hands on a spotting scope... The above photo was taken with a friend's camera but I'm having fun testing out the camera on whatever is nearby:

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"This place is a dump, look at all the dust under the coffee table. I don't approve."

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This is The Raptor Center chicken hawk...no no, just kidding. We use this bird with preschool programs. It's a bird kids can touch and still go home with all of their digits intact.

Boy, I can't wait to try this camera out at banding this Friday.

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I realized I forgot a couple of gift ideas in the last post--one being the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (aka Duck Stamp). I great gift for someone you don't know what to get them--give the gift of conservation along with a pass to all National Wildlife Refuges. Also works well for coworkers, people you don't know very well but have to give a gift to anyway since it's in a good price range.

You will note I still have the stamp tag on my binos.It's not as annoying as we thought, and I think the Ross' goose adds some nice flair to them. Also, note the little rose-breasted grosbeak and the red-bellied woodpecker in back? It looks like some Target stores have brought back their accurate bird ornaments. About five years ago they had a whole bunch of birds and my in-laws bought me the whole set. And I'm not just talking cardinals and bluebirds, they had orioles, scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings, barn swallows, cedar waxwings downy woodpeckers--a really great selection of birds--a red-bellied woodpecker for cryin' out loud--are you kidding me? So, check the Christmas ornament section at Target for these birds. I think they're only $5 - $6 (I have only seen them in Target store, I did not see them available on the website).

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We always try to get a live tree with a little stick on the top, and then I try to attach the downy or the red-bellied to it. In this photo, the downy woodpecker got the top spot. You can see I propped up the red-bellied and tried to hang the white-breasted nuthatch in the proper "rump up" position too. This is an old photo, our apartment walls are white instead of red. As I was digging it up, I found this photo of me with my mother-in-law:

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Ah, good times. The in-laws always come up from Ohio to visit the first weekend in December and help us pick out a Christmas tree and catch up. Judy and I were putting on the lights when Non Birding Bill said, "Smile you two!" and on cue this was the pose we struck. We ended up using that as our Christmas card that year with the caption, "Sharon gets the ultimate wish this Christmas." I'm so lucky to have such an understanding mother-in-law.

I used to feel bad that they would come up the first weekend in December because that's the same weekend as the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Paper Session but I now realize what a good thing it is. The in-laws love to visit the Mall of America and I do not. So NBB takes them to the Mall while I have to go to the paper session--whew, bullet smartly dodged.

Gifts for Birders, Bird Watchers and Bird Lovers

Are you stumped what to get the bird nut in your life? Here are some suggestions for the coming holiday season.

Books, CDs and Calendars
Voices of North American Owls CD - This two CD set has every known call from every owl in North America. The tracks are not narrated, but you can follow along with the playlist to learn the different calls. Most complete collection of owl calls for North America.

Fascinating Loons - A great gift book full of beautiful loon photos and informational captions. This book is full of great loon tid bits without being overwhelming. The information is thorough enough that even someone familiar with loons will find it enjoyable.

Fascinating Loons Audio CD - Sold separately from the book, this CD identifies the different calls of the loons and then the rest is just the calls of the loons mixed with other natural sounds. If you're longing for loon sounds in mid-winter this is the perfect fix. Great for relaxing.

Letters From Eden - This books is perfect for anyone interested in nature, birds and art. It's as if you've found Julie's journal and get to explore not only her writing, but her sketches as well. Perfect gift. If you order from the link above in a reasonable amount of time, you can get it autographed by Julie herself.

All Things Reconsidered - Books with Roger Tory Peterson are always a hit with birders. The essays, photographs, and illustrations in the book were selected by Bill of the Birds. He's the editor of Bird Watcher's Digest, which ran Peterson's column, "All Things Reconsidered," during the last twelve years of his life.

The Shorebird Guide - This book makes shorebirds sexy! It works to break down shorebird identification into an easy and fun way to learn. You won't be an expert overnight but it's the best tool out there for the job. The photos in this book are AMAZING and the book will give you a new apprecation for their beauty. Great for hardcore and intermediate birdres. It even includes quizes to help test your id skills.

Ornithology - Do you know a hardcore maxi geek birder who seems to have everything already? They don't have this yet--it's the new edition of Ornithology by Frank Gill.

Birdchick Calendars - Shameless self promotion I know but it's my blog and these calendars are part of how I make my living. They are available for the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. Each month has fabulous photos by Stan Tekiela, a list of common birds to expect, a list of tips for attracting birds and trivia about birds specific to each state. Available at most bird stores, book stores and online at Adventure Publications.

Hi Tech Birding

Handheld Birds - I think this is a great educational gift for anyone of all ages. You can purchase either the program for a Palm Pilot or you can purchase the unit all in one. It's a National Geographic Field Guide including bird calls all in one pocket sized package. Many of the terms are highlighted and when you click on that word, a definition will pop up. I think this is a great gift for a kid seriously into birds (some may argue the expense, but when you compare it to video gaming systems, it's competitively priced.

birdPod - This is a great gift for someone who already has the Stokes Birding CDs and an iPod. It's a program that organizes all the bird calls into different playlists, takes out the narration, and takes all the tracks that have two bird species on them and divides them into two separate tracks.

FYI to people who already have the birdPod software! New playlists are available to download. They even have a playlist for the Space Coast Bird Festival.

Outdoor Breezy Singers - These solar powered birds can be placed outside and sing when they sense motion. The cardinal and the bluebirds will make most people mildly interested in birds, but if you want to really impress a birder, get them the common yellowthroat.

Shirts -

Nice Boobies
Hot All-Bird Action
Pish Off
General Bird Shirts (I especially like the herons).

Optics - If you are ordering optics, please consider using the link on the blog page with the Eagle Optics logo. Any purchases made using that link supports this site.

Eagle Optics Insight - Monoculars are great for kids if you're not sure if they are ready for the responsibility of binoculars. I also like them for adult birders--I call mine the emergency binocular. I can always keep it in my purse if I'm somewhere and don't expect to be birding but suddenly find myself outside during a warbler fallout. I know joggers and bikers like to keep them in their pockets too when they are out and about. I like the insights best, they're only $25 and have pretty good clarity for that price. If you're getting one of these for "purse binoculars" I recommend getting the yellow ones, they are easier to find in a dark purse!

Optics are tough because it is such an individual choice. What I like in a binocular is based on my small hands and how my eyes are set on my face. Just because I like something doesn't necessarily mean everyone will. Here are a couple of suggestions.

I think a great starter binocular is the Stokes Talon - one of the best that you can get for under $200. Has a great lifetime no fault warranty (even if you drive over it, send back the pieces and they will either repair it or send you a new bino) is waterproof, fog resistant, and can close focus within four to six feet.

Do you know of a good gift idea for a birder? Leave the suggestion in the comments section.

Bless Records Committees

I raise my glass and toast state records committees. For the non birding readers of the blog, bird record committees are the groups in each state that vote on whether or not to accept bird sightings. This is an important (and often times thankless job) with scientific value and meaning. It can be important information if a species is changing its range. They have a tough job and I respect what they do. And sometimes I feel a need to defend them.

Yesterday I got a postcard in the mail from a name I didn't recognize that read:
"How could you tell the three birds in Desha Co., AR were not Tundra Swans? There is a large difference in size, but when the birds are alone ID is difficult. Could you please send me a photo? Trumpeter Swans are increasing their numbers in AR."

After the first perusal I was racking my brain over what this was about. Who would be giving me the business about swans? Have I raised an issue about swans recently in the blog? We're knee deep in the tundra swan migration along the Mississippi in southern Minnesota right now, but I'm not leading any trips this year. What could this be about? Then I remembered: eBird!

I've never been too much of a lister, but I've been trying in the last year and have made a valiant effort (for me) with eBird. I will say one thing about eBird. When the people are double checking to see if you really meant to say that you saw a buff-bellied hummingbird in Arizona contact you, they are very gracious and patient. They do a good job of double checking your sightings without being overbearing.

Recently, someone started double checking the Arkansas sightings and has been asking me about lists from a year ago when I was on the ivory-bill search. I don't keep detailed notes and what notes I did have were turned in to Cornell at the end of the trip. Apparently we saw some birds in the White River Area that just aren't usually seen in that part of Arkansas. One species being some trumpeter swans. While on the search one day I heard some trumpters, looked up and three flew over me looking like they were about to land. I followed them to a nearby lake and took some photos just playing around (since there wasn't a certain woodpecker there at the moment). The person at eBird told me to turn in a report to the records committee, that it was a good sighting for the area. So, I emailed it in, fully understanding that a person they have never heard of is telling them that a year ago three really unusual birds were seen and that I should expect an email back asking to confirm the identification. That leads to the postcard at the beginning of the entry.

It just cracked me up that the postcard didn't start out with "Hi, how are you, I'm with the records committee for Arkansas and I just want to confirm a few things about the swans." No, this postcard went right for the jugular--"How could you tell the three birds in Desha Co. AR were not Tundra Swans." It's hard to read that without hearing the Grinch's voice in your head. I honestly try to read every correspondence I get with a friendly, if not goofy voices a la Snarf from the Thundercats (which makes nasty comments from anonymous fun to read). But this one I wasn't prepared for, mostly because I thought the correspondence would be done via email, not snail mail.

I do have a few not so great photos (see above) and I sent one to them, but for me there is no mistaking a trumpeter's call for a tundra. We get both in Minnesota, as I said earlier we're getting 10,000 tundra swans staging to migrate to Chesapeake Bay along the southern Mississippi right now and trumpeter's are starting to gather to spend the winter in Monticello, MN. See below:

I think people on the committees sometimes get so caught up in making sure the answer is right, they go right for the point of their correspondence without the usual pleasantries that make a reader feel more comfortable. This can lead to people feeling hurt that their sightings are being questioned and for some even refusing to turn in sightings, which could be important to know about. I remember the first time I turned in a record to the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (or MOURC) I got a preprinted postcard that read:

Dear, ________________ Your sighting of a ________________ in ____________________ County in Minnesota was voted as acceptable/unacceptable by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Records Committee.

Non Birding Bill put it on the refridgerator. The sighting was accepted, but the idea of someone receiving a postcard labeled "unacceptable" just cracked me up. It reads a little harsh, almost "Not only do we not believe what you say you saw, but it's just plain unacceptable!!!!! Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha." They're not trying to make friends, they're just trying to get to the bottom of unusual bird sightings.

So, if you see a member of your state bird record committee, give them a hug or a pat on the back. They've got the tough job of not only figuring out the tough bird identification problems but dealing with people when they turn in sightings. It's not an easy job, but someone has to do it.