My "Spark" Bird

I had recently read the book about Phoebe Snetsinger's addiction to birding called Lifelist.  It was an interesting read full of new vocab.  So I wrote down the new words that birders use out in the field.  I found it a fascinating read.  While it wasn't complex or full of deep revelations, it did make me think about my own beginnings.  And the word "Spark bird" was used.  I think I thought about this for 2 weeks.  What was my "spark bird"?  How did this crazy addicting photography challenge happen?  Instead of visiting every Spanish speaking country, which is still my goal, I found myself targeting places that have interesting birds and critters to capture on camera.  

RIP Phoebe Snetsinger

A very funny man by the name of Ivan in Panama told me that I was a birder whether I admitted it or not. And that I was going to become one whether I liked it or not.  I thought he was crazy.  A birder?  NO WAY! Those people were weird and have addictive personalities. Detective work. ID'ing. Research. All things I love to do. Um....yeah:)

Ivan in the blue shirt at his B & B in Gamboa and me the giant with  the Spanish crew.

This past year I have stayed close to home because there is much work to do at El Presidio PLUS I had a limited budget etc.  And that was okay because I realized I had a lot of work to do here in Arizona before attempting to take it elsewhere. 

In a lot of the photography, you may notice that I like birds in motion.  Whether it be a Kingbird going after a bug, a Vermilion Flycatcher with a dragonfly in its beak, a gull dipping into the water, etc.  Those are the shots I'm working on everytime I go out into the field. I just don't want to be that birder who crosses that line to get a shot of a tiger only to find himself taking pics of his final moments. 

Lance-Tailed Manakin- My "Spark B ird"

After much thought about my "Spark bird", I realized it wasn't a Scarlet Macaw or a Crimson-backed Tanager......it was the Lance Tailed Manakin on Coiba Island.   I remember sweating to get those shots of this blue gem on the branches.  There were several flying around me and I thought, these are the most beautiful birds I've ever seen in my life.  And I love owls!  But they are in a different category....beyond birds:)  I'd call them Gods.  I also wondered if "Mourning Doves" were a spark bird for several birders.  I'd love to meet them:) But the simple truth is that all birds are cool.  It just took this bird to get me hooked.

Sandwich Terns-I'm not sure I'd like to eat them

And then, it would roller coaster into everything else.....a better camera, crazy adventures, finding plants that would attract the birds to the gardens here, meeting awesome people, setting up bird feeders.....and oh yeah....that life list:)  The latest craze for me has been my work on flycatchers and seabirds.....like Terns!  Who calls a bird the "Sandwich Tern?"    Putting a sacred thing like sandwich with a bird is just wrong. 

As I review my work, I realize how much stronger my observation skills have gotten but thanks to EBIRD and Kathie, I realize I have to do a better job on counting and bringing that notebook along during my treks.  I had been going through my photo albums to help me ID the birds and I realized that I had seen so many birds that I didn't document.  Thanks to EBIRD I've spent many hours recording info.  In fact, I spent 2 hours on one bird outing to get the details right!  But going back on the albums revealed something more........I could ID the birds easily.  And the ones I couldn't ID then are now possible!  If it hadn't been for that "Spark bird" on Coiba island, I wonder if I'd even have a thistle seed feeder now in our gardens here at El Presidio:)  What's your "Spark bird?" And if you're not a birder, do you have a "Spark Plant", "Mammal"?  I know this blog focuses a lot on the critters but I truly do love plants:)  And I'll be updating soon.  I've been working on lots of things.....and updates will be coming:)

Kiskadee

Spark Bird=The bird species that initially stimulates an interest in more serious bird watching or birding. Spark birds vary for every birder and might include a unique or rare bird sighting, a favorite and familiar bird species or a bird seen when introduced to the hobby by an experienced birder. For many birders, spark birds are unknown species that lead to a curiosity about identification, and after successfully identified, the beginning birder is curious to learn more about both familiar and unfamiliar species as they discover the diversity of birds.