Closing 2007
Long-eared Owl in Dane County
With only several days remaining in 2007 and no birding trips planned, I'm closing out the year with 235 bird species – my lowest annual tally since I've been keeping year lists. In an ongoing effort to bird closer to home, 164 of those species were found at Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton, WI. Since I made far fewer trips to Lake Michigan (actually, I don't think I went at all this year), Horicon NWR and Nine Springs, there are a lot of gaps on my 2007 list for ducks, waders and shorebirds. I also skipped out on the Wisconsin Point field trip, so I missed a lot of gulls and all three jaeger species. I did well with songbirds and was pleased that I saw nearly all the sparrows right in Dane County.
I'll probably never have an annual list of 300 or more and that's alright. There are Wisconsin birders who meet or exceed this tally every year and I think I might understand what motivates them, but I don't know if it's the love of birds, science of ornithology, addiction, compulsion, the chase or some combination thereof. Speaking only for myself, when I did a Wisconsin Big Year in 2004, it was sort of like a crazed obsession. After awhile, whenever a rarity was posted to the Wisconsin Birding Network, I would experience a kind of unease and obligation toward my list. If I didn't chase the most recently reported rare bird, I would have to make it up somewhere else along the line in order to keep "300" as a realistic possibility before year end. It created a kind of anxiety toward achieving that goal.
I began to reduce the "chase factor" in 2005 and my birding endeavors are now much more relaxed, focusing on quality experiences rather than quantity. When I didn't chase the Green-breasted Mango in Beloit and felt no guilt, I knew I was cured! This present birding pace is a comfortable one that keeps the gasoline budget more reasonable and opens up a lot more time for doing other things I've lapsed with; things like bicycling and reading. Birding locally and recording observations into eBird is how I plan to continue with this rewarding hobby. Without a doubt, my best birding experience in 2007 was going to see a roost of Long-eared Owls with Sylva and Dottie in February. When Dottie saw those owls perched there before us, she began to cry - it was so moving. Even if there are fewer experiences like that, they somehow seem so much more special and rewarding compared with all that chasing time.
Long-eared Owl © 2007 Mike McDowell
posted by Mike McDowell @ 4:44 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Hi Mike,
I understand the need to bird closer to home. I have made a concerted effort to bird my local parks and other potentially good nearby places and have reduced my insatiable need to "chase" rarities as I did years ago. It's just not that important to me anymore. I have discovered that by consistently working these local spots with a variety of habitat types I get to see the change in birds through the seasons, and I actually find rarities anyway! Birds have wings and they go places. You just have to be in the right place at the right time.
Great post. While I keep a list (who can keep track of their memories otherwise?) I have found that the longer I bird, and the more set I become on this being a life-long hobby, the less urgency there is in my birding. If I don't see something well, I don't write it down. There's always another day.
I don't get out nearly as often as you, being a graduate student. My favorite species are usually the ones that I can see all the time, generally at the house, that I really get to know.
Lovely photo & wonderful story. I've sometimes found myself engaging in hobbies (birding, painting, etc.,) for the "wrong" reasons. Every so often I have to remind myself that it should be fun first.
"Wise" Blog. Don't close out 2007 yet...you may have some important visitors at your feeders in the next 11 days or on one of Becky's "errand" trips. Happy Holidays to you and Becky too!
Peace B W/U
I still have a little hope for a species or two! But, congrats on your wonderful accomplishments. Many more than I was able to see!
Mike,
We've already discussed this topic many times. Interestingly, I've only found more than 235 in a year twice, in more than 30 years of serious birding. (246 was my highest). There is a lot more that one can fit into the overall activity of birding/ornithology. You are making your contribution, and enjoying it, too. What could be better?
Bill M. (Milwaukee)
Birding Locally ... check out this, it's made for people like you;
http://www.sparroworks.ca/bigby.html
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