Ahhhh-Oooooo!

On an overcast day, Baby J sat in his stroller listening to the strange "Ahhhh-ooooohs" being made in the distance.  He made his own "ahhh-oooh!" and our hearts melted.

I took a break from the chases.  No more for now.  It was time to hang out with the family. So we headed to one of my favorite and yearly stops at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.  It's great for kids.  It's also a rehabilitation center for the critters.  And it's also a fantastic wildlife sanctuary. So Baby J got to go on his first birding adventure. 

At the Wildlife Sanctuary, they sell corn for the ducks and Baby J got to feed the hundreds of ducks. 

The baby J's hang out together

But he didn't get to see just ducks.  There were geese and turkeys and all kinds of critters.  

Wild Turkey

I watched his face as the ducks piled up around him. It was absolutely fun!

This is a great place for kids to experience wildlife up close.  Well maybe not too close to those Canada Geese:)

Northern Cardinal

It just so happened that we hit the day at the right time because it wasn't too cold and there weren't a lot of people walking around the park.

While at the sanctuary, he made duck sounds and wolf sounds, tried petting a Canada Goose....um.....yeah no. 

American Black Duck

He got to go down his first tree house slide, play in a turtle shell and throw milk on his uncle.  Stinker. 

The day went by too quickly and soon our adventures in Wisconsin would be over.  We had a fun last day together. 

And the real reason why I don't have kids? My family has contributed quite a few people to this planet.  Currently with a world population of 7 billion, quite a few of us will need to NOT have kids:)  So it's nice being the Uncle with all the nephews and nieces.  I'm just hoping that some of them will get the travel bug and maybe become a future birder?  

It's was nice to hang out with the family during the holidays, but it's back to the Arizona trails next week.  And the weather here is VERY nice:)  Until next time.....

The Duck Hunt

Ring-necked Pheasant

I was so excited to take Gordon to one of my favorite places to bird in Green Bay.  PLUS! We were officially going birding during the summer here.  Something I had never done before.  We went on an overcast day to the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.  It turned out to be a great outing full of amazing birds! A lot of wild birds call this park their home because it's full of great habitat!

Great Crested Flycatcher

Gordon needed the American Black Duck on his lifelist.  From my experiences with these ducks in various states, they can be difficult for photos. I've been in many areas where they are swimming a mile away from shore.  Sometimes they are behind the reeds and difficult to see.  But at Bay Beach, they come right up to you!  I was excited to add data to the lacking information at this site about these ducks for the month of June. 

At Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, the ABDU walk up SO close to people because people love feeding the ducks...and geese...and swans?!?! They sell bags for a dollar at the desk:) I checked records on this duck and there weren't any for this spot during the month of June!  So it was a gamble. This could be a disappointment or a fun find for Gordon. It was a lifebird and that was our goal. For me, I was just super thrilled to bird the area again.  During the winter, many of the waterfowl come to hang out along the river shore near the rehabilitation center. It's quite a show!

Tree Swallow

We started off with some amazing birds all around us.  If you are a birder, you should definitely give this place a look.  If you're not a birder, you should still go and take the family.  It's a large preserve funded by the city of Green Bay.  It's also free to visit!  How sweet is that?  Your kids are going to love it!

There were so many birds calling and we were still trying to figure out the various calls.  It was after all, a whole new group of bird song we had to learn!  

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

I let out a sigh of relief when we found 3 of the ducks still hanging around the area.  Granted, they aren't in large number during the summer because they are breeding in the lake, but I knew there had to be some hanging out.  Thank the bird gods!  Once the target bird was found with excellent observations, it was time to just have fun and bird.  The American Black Duck is a bird species showing a decline in numbers due to hybridization with Mallards.

American Black Duck

I nearly crapped my pants when I surveyed the area and discovered SWANS in the area!  At first I clumped them all together and called them Tundra Swans. Gordon takes a closer look and discovers a Trumpeter mixed in for the fun!!!  They are rare for this area during the summer months, but a few remember this place as home and have stayed around the grounds where there is plenty of food and hospitality:) Most of the Tundra swans are breeding in Canada and Alaska while the Trumpeter Swans have a more diverse range.  

Hey, what species are you?  You look like me, but something is not quite right. 

Okay.  Ready for your bird lesson?  I've put both similar looking swans together. There are two noticeable differences with these birds.  Can you see what they are?

Tundra Swan

Now look carefully.  Hint.  The field marks are with the bill. 

Trumpeter Swan

Did you figure it out?  Or did you give up and just feed the swans instead?:)  The yellow lore(near the eye) is a great field mark for the Tundra Swan.  It's not always clear due to the distance so sometimes we have to look at the bill(which is the second field mark), the way the bird flies or more importantly, listen for their distinct calls. 

Another bird of interest for me was the Purple Martin. There are several pairs here that nest.  In the photo below, you'll notice House Sparrows taking over the nest boxes.  I apologize to my European readers for what I am about to write.  These aggressive sparrows are a nuisance and have taken over much of the Martin space.  Native vs Non-Native species.  In some cases, House Sparrows and European Starlings are "removed" from the area so that the native birds can nest.  These Purple Martins seem to be "tolerating" their neighbors for the moment.

House Sparrows and Purple Martins

A beautiful songbird that comes to the feeders in the eastern half of the US is the American Goldfinch.  It's a stunner with that brilliant yellow coloring.  I had to laugh while entering the data.  First off, most of the eastern birds either have the words "Eastern" or "American" in front of them. They were like foreign words to me while I was jotting down the info.  Arizona bird lingo would pop up and eventually I'd just cut to the word...Goldfinch!  Or Towhee! Or Duck! 

American Goldfinch

Here is a link to the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and our June checklist from this location.  Until next time!

Robin Stroking

The bells of St. Marys

The first time I heard the term "Robin Stroking", I burst out laughing.  It didn't conjure up a nice image!  BUT it's not as bad as you might think really.  After a huge snow storm came to Wisconsin, I was kicked out of the serious bird chasing. Inside my head I screamed "NOOOOOOOO!!" At this point, I was resigned to watching my parent's bird feeders.  Or as what some call "Robin Stroking".  

My Mom hangs up feeders as we get them filled with food

According to bird guides(the funny ones), "Robin Strokers" are people who sit at feeders and casually bird. They also have the tendency to report common birds as rare bird sightings. For example, there's a birder up in Scottsdale who was excited to find a Western Grebe in a town lake behind his home recently. The nicer birders just grin.  

While finding a Western Grebe during our winter months is not rare, it is rare observing it in flight!  Look at how weak their legs are!

But some of the sassier ones will say something back (in a not so nice manner) and put that poor naive soul in his place. In every group, there are those people. While that is an exciting bird, it's certainly not rare:) Well my parents fit this description since they like to casually glance out their window at the birds before they sit down on the couch and watch their QVC and Days Of Our Lives programs.  After our snow storm hit (and dumped 13 inches on and around our house!), it was time to Robin Stroke hard!  So the day before the storm, I helped my mom get the feeders full of food for the starving birds. 

Papa Rohrer snow plows

Then Snow Storm Ashley hit Two Rivers more than any other city in Wisconsin!  I woke up and found my 66 year old father already snow plowing!  To make things worse, I saw my younger brother out there with him helping!!!  This was a firstborn fail on my part.  So I put on my snow gear and went outside to shovel the areas that couldn't be plowed. 

A Coopers is a pretty car to look at but it's not practical for Great Lakes driving in winter or spring

After shoveling for just 20 minutes with an aching back, I remembered why I moved to the desert a long time ago:)  Don't get me wrong, I liked the snow very much but I didn't like the idea that my parents could slip on the ice and get hurt.  My ride above, the Cooper's Hawk, was loaned to me for the week. But after getting stuck in some mud near a bog, I realized it was just a fancy car that had some fun gadgets. But PS!  Thank you Erica for loaning me the car!  I wouldn't have been able to see the Short-eared Owls or Whooping Crane without it!:)  But as most of us know, this car was not made for snow or the harsh elements. My chases would end. 

Northern Cardinals never looked better!

But I thought to myself, "Hmmmm.  There is an opportunity here."  I read all of your blogs and love all the birds in the snow photos.  Here was my chance to partake in such a rare experience.  So I got my camera ready and sat within the warm house and watched the colorful birds at the feeders.  If this is what it's like to be a Robin Stroker, I'm all for it! Well for awhile....:)

Hey!  You can kinda see the red belly of this Red-bellied Woodpecker!

But I became restless.  I turned into a whiny needy child. "Dad, can you drive me to Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary?" "Dad, can you take me to the cemetery?" And so on and so forth.  The snow was still falling and to me, sitting in the house is only good for so long.  I watched my Dad sigh as I pulled him out into the snow for a walk. 

Every time I go home, I enjoy visiting this area for some fantastic bird watching.  And while I've seen a million Canada Geese and Mallards, there's still something magical about walking in the snow with them.  Until a goose started stalking my Dad and began hissing at him:) *snickers to self*

The true gem of the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is the American Black Duck(below).  It's one of the reasons why I love going.  Plus it's become a "Dad and Son" thing to do:) Then afterwards we go to Kroll's for lunch.  Dad usually orders his Seaburger(made with Haddock) and Onion Rings and I'll order my typical Taco Salad and Fried Cheese Curds.  Don't judge now:) Anyhow, these ducks will come right up to you for close examination.  To be honest, this place has had everything from Tundra Swans to Gulls to Pelicans and lots of other amazing woodland birds. 

American Black Duck

We sat watching the feeders(aka Robin Stroking) at the sanctuary for awhile before spotting a rare Common Grackle visiting during the winter months.  Not bad for sitting near a window and watching about a gazillion birds come to the feeders. Here is my ebird report.

And have you ever visited a silent forest in a cemetery on a winter's day?  It's not haunting.  It's.....magical.  I looked for Great Horned Owls and Eastern Screech Owls there, but I began to freeze my tuckus (took- ahs) off and whined myself back into the warm car.  My Dad watched birds from inside the car. Then I thought it would be cool to go to the lake and see if any loons or scoters were floating around the icy waters.  But it was rather COLD! 

If you've been watching the Netflix series, "Making A Murderer", you'll recognize this name:)  Yes, my hometown is just 15 minutes away from this gem of a family.   The bird gods thought it would be funny to have a Snowy Owl hang out around their salvage yard.  We didn't find a Snowy Owl, but we did see......

.......a beautiful Rough-legged Hawk.  All the days were overcast in Wisconsin.  After my visit, I reluctantly returned back to my sunny desert skies. Wisconsin is an amazing place full of wonderful people and good food.  There is a lot of history there.  It's a rough life, but it's a comfortable one just like JRR Tolkiens' Shire.  My home is the Shire. It's a place where people eat dinners together, play cards, watch Packer games and look forward to their deer hunting.  I never could watch Packer games nor shoot a living creature, but I certainly can relate to good conversations and memories.  And of course, there is nothing quite like the Wisconsin pride in their amazing outdoor attractions. During the summer, so many people come to visit us from all over the world.  It's a great place to bird and meet nice people. 

Rough-legged Hawk

From one extreme to another, I returned to the desert home and helped out with the bird count down near the Mexican border as well as chase an Oriole in Yuma. I collapsed from exhaustion during that trek and I think did some snoring along the way. A birder's life is like this often.  I am officially tired and exhausted. This year is going to be a calmer one.  But still, one of substance as you'll see.  Las Aventuras has a lot in store!  Until next time, stay warm and have an emergency supply of Chex Mix with you in case your car breaks down in the snow:) As for Robin Stroking, I get it.  

Point Beach State Forest

When 13 inches of snow falls down and traps you inside your house, your only hope is a 10 year old kid looking for some money who is only happy to shovel your sidewalks! In the meantime, we birders must survive, save our aging backs, sip our coffee and watch our bird feeders while our future generation saves us from manual labor:)  Happy New Year everyone!

Important holiday gear for birding.  Chex Mix so that you can survive. Camera, binoculars and thick gloves so you won't get frostbite.  Note scarf and hat were also very important.  My scarf became the most important thing to me while standing out in the middle of the lake in Manitowoc!  Frosty!

Transitions

Common Raven

Life can get crazy. This past week included getting rid of a swarm of bees on our patio, preparing for Micheal's birthday and running errands for various things.  So when do I get to bird?

Willow Lake in Prescott, AZ

Well like everything else, I have to make the time.  One of the hardest decisions that I've had to make recently was letting go of the Presidency at our HOA.  As of the 31st, a huge weight and stress will be lifted from my shoulders.  More precious positive time again!

Evening Grosbeaks in Sunflower, AZ

As for other transitions? Well I also need to get back into shape again.  I've let myself go.  Yes, I hike and exercise, but it's the food!  I love it so much:)  I'm good the entire day until around 4 PM and then I go crazy.  This summer, I will be trekking around Southern Mexico and I need to get my body prepared for the high humidity hikes.

The treks make me laugh.  One week, I'm freezing my butt off on Lake Michigan.  The next weekend I'm down in Mexico birding along the beach.  This past weekend, we headed up north for a little R&R in Prescott, AZ. Talk about crazy weather extremes!

Western Meadowlark at Willow Lake

I think if it wasn't for birding, the friendships/family or my other half, I'd simply go insane.  Life is crazy.  At the beginning of the year, I thought my time out in the field would be cut to a minimum due to the wedding.  However, I've discovered that I can't let that happen. One day versus a whole year?  I just don't get the crazy need for spending thousands upon thousands of dollars for a one day event. Anyhow, I find the time to explore wherever we go now.

White-breasted Nuthatch

And of course, I enjoy the fun ride that goes with the birds. Today's post takes place at Willow Lake with Micheal and Cynthia near Prescott, Arizona.  Everything was blooming.  Allergies were high and so were the warblers!

Micheal, me and Cynthia

I marvel at it all.  From the chilly woods, to the mountain terrain, and so on and so on.  When one birds, life is an everyday adventure.  Until next week friends..... 

Pops feeds the Mallards, Canada Geese and American Black Ducks  Look lower left in pic to see the ABDU.

The Migration North

Long-eared Owl

I am spending my warm spring break this year in Wisconsin.  The temps are somewhat agreeable for the outdoors:)  It's definitely not the 90 degree weather back home!

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary rescues 8 Red Fox pups after their mother was killed by a car.  I like to stop here when I visit to see what's happening at their center.  So grateful for all the work they do!  Plus they have nice bird feeders and it's a reliable place to pick up the American Black Duck:)  Over a hundred of these beauties mix it up with their Mallard friends along a wonderful wetland area. 

While hanging out with the family, I've managed to rack up some birds here along Lake Michigan.  The wintering birds are starting to head back north and my wintering birds from Arizona are starting to migrate back north into places like Wisconsin.  The Sandhill Cranes and Red-winged Blackbirds have made their debut!

Red-winged Blackbird

While here, I've gotten permission to survey a restricted area, visit a wildlife rehabilitation center, explore Lake Michigan's shoreline and surrounding marshlands. 

Family helps explore a restricted area near a nuclear power plant.  We obtained a permit to walk the land. Very cold!  But we found an active nesting pair of eagles!

It's tricky maneuvering as I try to balance family and birding together.  So far I've managed to land myself 4 new lifebirds including the American Tree Sparrow, Glaucous Gull, Northern Shrike and Rough-legged Hawk.  All these birds will be or are heading north.  I have been trying to track Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs, but I don't have many opportunities to chase these birds now as my time is coming to a close. I missed these birds in our area by just a few days.  They are now further north in Wisconsin!

Herring Gull

I met up with my favorite Manitowoc birder and former Professor, Doc Sontag.  We chatted for awhile discussing the various birding trends in the area for the month of March.  

Meeting Doc Sontag at the Manitowoc Impoundment

Balancing it all out is super tricky! Either way, it's weird watching a very active migration take place right before my eyes.  Everything this year seems to be a week or two early in many areas. 

American Black Duck

The birds out in Lake Michigan have been very exciting for me.  I love all the gulls and waterbirds floating around the piers and harbors. I've found the White-winged Scoters, Red-throated Loon, and the Common, Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers!  Other delights include MANY Common Goldeneyes and Greater Scaups. But where oh where are those darned Long-tailed Ducks everyone is reporting:)?

Female Hooded Merganser

So for now, I leave you.  I still have "work" to do on this spring break.  

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I leave you now with one of my favorite lighthouses along Lake Michigan.  Until next time!