What Was And What Is

It is a strange thing transitioning from one birding experience to the other because each birding moment has a different feel. At home in Arizona, I often guide and spend much of my time with the birds, but when family is involved, it's a delicate balance between family time and the birds. For this trek home, it was more about spending time with the family. But I did sneak in some time each day to get some birding done.  In this next series of blog posts, you'll see how it all "fused" together.

American White Pelican

I missed home. And I wanted to be there to help out with my Mom and Dad.  Sometimes my mother says everything is fine when it's not.  I get it.  She doesn't want us to worry.  For the first time in my life, I was actually worried about my parents. No one wants to see their parents get older.  My mission was to break up the routine and give my Mom a break when I could.  

My hometown remains the same, but there's much more diversity now.  Each day I took some time to bird alone or with family. On those outings, I noticed a different community from the one I knew for decades. 

The wonderful birding hotspot that is the Manitowoc Impoundment

Like always, I pondered what it would be like to live in Two Rivers as an adult. There's a part of me that can see myself in a home on the lake surrounded by forest smoking a pipe researching birds in my study. The other part of me freaks out at that notion. I don't want to get comfortable and complacent. In Maine, I wasn't connected to any one place so I could just explore and have fun. But in Wisconsin, I remember what was and what is now.  At a very young age, I remember telling my friend that I would never live in our little town when I grew up. We aspired to build a plane and fly it to places unknown.  When our plane didn't fly, I was bummed out.  So instead we built tree houses in the surrounding woods. I had wanderlust at a very young age. 

Marsh Wren

I have been watching, for some time, the aging of the "factory generation" from my hometown. Most of the factories are gone now. The people who worked there were hard workers that followed a formula. It was a hard life. There were also a lot of others who owned a lot of the popular establishments around town that supported that factory population. Until the factories moved elsewhere. They are my parent's generation.  The ones who believe in a nice and tidy green lawn, a husband who should be served his food by his wife, and in general that there is an order to all things that should be followed.  But their memory is vanishing as many are aging and passing away.  These old ideas cannot sustain themselves for the next generations. These historical supper clubs and local stores have been shutting down now for several years as the people either die or are unable to keep them open. I see achievements left behind.  I remember the old arguments of the people who are no longer with us.  And the ones who still are. 

A dedication to the founding father of Woodland Dunes, Bernie Brouchard, 

Bernie has been gone now for a couple years, but Woodland Dunes is painting the barn where he did much of his bird banding over the years.  Some remember Bernie.  Most will never know who he was.  The same goes for Winnie.  There's a bench on the boardwalk with her name. Every time I pass that spot, I think, 
"Oh Winnie. What would you say about the world today?" I've worked with them both over the years and am glad they are remembered. I always wondered who would fill their shoes. I'm proud to say that there are many new faces who are educating the public about Woodland Dunes and Point Beach State Forest. 

Common Yellowthroat

For the first time in years, I see a cultural shift in my old community.  People from all backgrounds are moving into old homes that no longer have the strong family names that once lived in them. They will never know. Nor do they care. People from out-of-state have discovered the Lakeshore area and how beautiful the area is. This is exciting. So I see change happening and it gives me hope. I'm a whole mixed bag of emotions though. I hated the old generational attitudes towards "norms" like a woman being a servant to her husband. Or having to do something because that is what is "expected of you".  Or if you were different, you didn't belong.  And yet, I still miss some of those faces. 

As the factory generation fades into memory, a newer one is taking place.  I spoke with Doc Sontag this last time.  He is in his 80's and going strong.  Another friend met up with us, also in this 80's, at the Manitowoc Impoundment (which is a great place to bird!). There in our little bubble we pondered what will happen after their generation was gone.  And in fine Doc fashion, he looks over and points to me, "Chris and his generation are the next in line to take over for us old coots." Me?  No. I could never replace that man.  He is wise beyond years and full of experience. But he's right. We must carry the torch and teach the next generation.  There is a comfort knowing that Doc is out there every day counting birds in the same place. Who will take his place when he's gone?  

Double-crested Cormorant

During my stay, I did as much as I could.  I slept in. I tried to memorize everything the best I could.  I followed my parent's routine.  For the first time in my life, I worried about them both.  They always took care of me when I was a kid.  Now it's me and my siblings turn.  Often we take each other for granted until we realize that we shouldn't. I'm glad they caught my Dad's heart blockage before it was too late. That scare has changed "the tone" in our family.  

Common Grackle

I see my nephews and nieces.  Some are older and some are very young. I love them all for all their energy.  I think for a moment that we'd be great parents if we had kids. But I am also glad we didn't have kids. It was the best decision I've ever made. That doesn't mean I don't like kids.  I'm a teacher and I believe in our future generations. They make me laugh, but as I get older, I find my patience wearing thin:)  While I was home, I had fun taking the kids out.  There were times I wanted to pull the remaining hair out of my head, but by the end of the day, they went home to their parents:)

I love this little guy. We often spent time out in the field looking at birds. He shows a good interest in the birds. 

There was often so much "noise" happening around me with 20+ people in our family that I had to find a private place for quiet time. These were my birding times. I'd only get so many hours each day to explore and do my bird counts which was fine. I remember on my last day there that I skipped out on some of the family things and just enjoyed the silence.  It's sacred. People who are used to noise all the time often have a difficult time with it.  Not me.  It's a beautiful thing.  

Ring-billed Gull

My family all laughed at my idea of "helping".  For my siblings, their definition of "help" was taking my turn to cut the grass for our parents.  No my dear brothers, that was your deal. Plus it gave us some time to chat without the kids or spouses around. And where were my sisters in the cutting-of-the-grass deal?  I think it was rather sexist that they were left out:)  My "help" was trying to get my parents to understand that they are retired and that they must compromise to enjoy this last chapter of their lives while they still can.  They both have ideas and dreams about what they want to do.  I want them to live their fullest lives together. They owe each other everything.  It's ok for them to be selfish now.  They've done their work as parents and don't owe us anything. Arizona is the land of retirement and I tried to explain to them what retirement can look like if they so chose that life. And it's okay to say no.  We, the siblings, should not put any burdens on their lives now.  It's their time to fly. 

The fact of the matter is that it's all complicated.  Family is that way.  The most I could do is take away some of the stresses that my parents had every day by running errands, watching the niece and/or nephew, and allowing everyone to multi-task instead of being stuck in one place. My point here is that we all hopefully contribute to our families in different ways. 

Barn Swallow

We had a great time in Wisconsin and I am so thankful that I could spend time with everyone. 

American Goldfinch

Over the next several weeks, we'll explore the careful planning between family and Wisconsin birds on this blog.  

It was good to be back home. Until next time.....

Birding Washington Island

Historic and still operational lighthouses dot the shores of Lake Michigan

If you ever wanted to experience a piece of "AMERICANA", Wisconsin is the place to visit.  Washington Island attracts tourists from all over the world during their summer months.  It is part of the infamous Door County experience.  My Dad likes to road trip and suggested we go to the island.  Last year we went to the island but didn't bring our car!  To make matters worse, we didn't check the train schedule and were stuck at port. Never again. 

And so we waited in line. The lighting in Wisconsin this time of year is unique. It has that sunny, golden "Somewhere in Time" haze.  Maybe it's just me but the photos have a different feel than from the ones I take in other places. 

Eventually we parked our car onto the ferry and seated ourselves in a shady spot in the passenger area. 

Washington Island is a beautiful place to bird.  Here you'll find one of Wisconsin's unique birding hotspots while also enjoying the laid back atmosphere of the island. 

Double-crested Cormorants hang out on a buoy at the Washington Island harbor

I've seen quite a few of the Wisconsin birds already so there wasn't anything in the lifer category to chase.  But I was curious about the prairie habitat in the middle of the island.  I wanted to understand better how Northern Bobwhite survived in certain sections of the island.  This species of bird doesn't go this far north in its' range.  Plus it's on an island. So I spoke with the locals about their birds.  We found lots of nesting Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks in the area. 

American Lady on Lavender

While planning for this trek, my nephew asked me what my favorite bird was and I had a hard time answering his question.  I like them all but I especially like gulls, sparrows, grouse and parrots. Owls are also pretty neat but grouse are super interesting!

As we drove around Washington Island, I spotted my first pair of "chickens":)  The Ring-necked Pheasants casually crossed the road.  My Dad stopped the car and I quickly got out to make sure the birds wouldn't get hit.  You gotta watch these Illinois tourists. They're known to the Cheeseheads as FIBs. According to Urban Dictionary, a FIB(or #$%@ing Illinois Bastard) refers to people from Illinois, how they drive and act.  They drive really fast at home but slower than an old lady with a walker when they're vacationing in Wisconsin plus they don't know where they're going.  Locals call them rude.  But Wisconsinites also recognize that this subspecies of humanity brings lots of money with them:) This is a long standing joke? between the two states. Anyhow, I am thankful that this driver eventually slowed down for this pair of pheasants.  

 How can I explain Door County?  It's like going back into the 1950's.  There are a lot of richy rich tourists.  They are mostly white and cleanly dressed people who would make great extras in the movie "Dirty Dancing."  If you're saying to yourself, "Ugh.  Why would I want to go there?" Well, you gotta look past the vacationing crowds of people. There's more to Door County than cherry wine, cheese curds and perch dinners.  

Wisconsin culture is a fascinating one because it is so unique from the other states in the US. Many of the people have an accent and a fun sense of humor that you'll mostly understand if you down several beers. I always forget how much drinking people do here. At a grocery store, I burst out laughing when a guy frantically asked where they sold all their "booze". It's been awhile since I've heard that word:) And what they lack in "booze" is made up with lots of creamy and delicious dips and meats and cheeses. The next day, I'd lock myself up in my room wondering how I put on 10 pounds!  Generally speaking, my hobbit kind are the most friendly people you'll ever meet.  Sometimes Often, they make off colored jokes that may offend most people but because this state is comprised of many small towns similar to the world of the Shire, they are often excused due to their genuine sincerity and friendly demeanor. 

Take for example this sign.  My first reaction was, "NOOOOO!!! Inappropriate!!"  Then, both of us burst out laughing.  There is a logic to the Wisconsinite.  How many of us read the usual state made signs?  I know that I often overlook them, but when they are written like the sign above, it grabs the tourist's attention with a shock or laugh and at the same time delivers their message, "Stay Out!"  Or in this case, who knows?!

Washington Island is a great place to bring your family. Or just fix your hair while having a drink.  There are great restaurants, museums, trails, and shops.  And there are state parks.  So back to my point, if you aren't crazy about tourists, no worries.  There are so many open spaces around the island to escape.  And birders always find those spaces:)

While birding, it's hard not to get distracted by places with lavender fields.  The color purple.  It gets me every single time.  

Anyhow, we stopped at this fun lavender shop on the way back from our Northern Bobwhite conquest.  These birds are a bit tropical and prefer the warmer climates.  In Wisconsin, the Northern Bobwhite is rare for most parts of the state and considered a species of special concern. The winters are too cold for them and their survival rate isn't very successful (especially among the females). Many live for only ONE year!  I've been following this population of Northern Bobwhite on the island now for a few years.  So how were they surviving on an island in Lake Michigan?!!

Not one to wait for answers, I spoke with the local naturalist on the island at the nature center.  Apparently hunters released these birds and several other grouse species for their shooting pleasures.  It still didn't explain why there have been consistent reports of breeding on a yearly basis around the island.  I studied the area via satellite and scratched my head. Locals also reported that the past several winters had been fairly mild. Cities along the lake also enjoy a milder winter due to Lake Michigan's warmer waters. Okay.  But what about food and shelter when there were weeks of blizzard and sub zero temps? I've seen this bird in Chiapas.  Sub-zero temps are almost impossible to survive. Especially for a warmer climate bird like the Bobwhite. 

Red Admiral

Then it came time to explore the general area.  There was the appropriate prairie land for them to nest.  It was lined by forest, etc etc.  BUT how did they survive winter?  Well right across from the prairie, there was a home with feeders and lots of places to keep warm.

Layers of work go into finding birds.  Sometimes, it's all for ONE bird.  Historical reports, satellite images, speaking with local residents and birders in the area along with habitat requirements usually answer so many of my questions.  It's part of the game and detective work that goes into birding. A special shout out to Melody Walsh, a resident birder of the island, who was my virtual guide throughout the whole process. The layout of the island is interesting.  The forest area had breeding warblers.  The interior held the grassland species. And the waters surrounding the island held a healthy number of lake birds. 

The perimeter of Washington Island is forest and the central prairie area is protected from the harsh winter winds off the lake.  Around October and November, the tourism season ends and the island goes quiet until spring again.  To make your trek to the island successful, you'll need to look at the ferry schedule times here. To stay on the island, you'll need to book in advance. Another island, known as Rock Island, is a camping/hiking only trip. This year, Rock Island had a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons, a first in decades!

Wisconsin days fly by much too quickly.  The sunset is around 8:15 PM giving one the impression that they can play outside all day.  Then I saw the time and was shocked by how my body had been tricked!

My ebird report for Washington Island can be found here. If you are interested in more information about the Door County Outdoor experience, Magill Weber has written a book on the best hiking and biking trails around the area. She grew up in this area and in her book, she'll take you to many of the popular natural areas in this part of the state. This is for nature enthusiasts who don't want to spend all their time shopping:) On my next trek, I join friend, naturalist and birder Nancy Gill as we explore Horicon Marsh State area. Until next time, happy birding!!

A Tucson Spring

It's spring here in the desert.  I've kept it local for several weeks because I need to budget my money for a bigger trek coming up.  It has been an enjoyable challenge because I am forced to play within the perimeters of my own area.  It's a different kind of birding, but it's still quite enjoyable. 

Mallard duckling

Outsiders often visit the Old Pueblo in April and ask the locals, "When is your spring?"  People living here KNOW that spring is subtle.  Our trees leaf out and release terrible amounts of pollen:) But our trees aren't bold and tall like the ones found on the eastern part of the US. For birders, we visibly see the migration happening before our very eyes. 

While waiting for my master lens to return from the shop, I took cell phone pics and used a smaller lens for some of these shots.  Imagine going to your work place and finding this Great Horned Owlet staring back at you?!  It was hard to focus and listen to the adults talking in the room:)

Least Sandpipers

While Tucson doesn't have a lot of watering holes, we do have a few that attract some special migrants.  This time of year is good for rare sandpipers.  The most common are Least, Spotted, Western and Solitary Sandpipers.  Pectoral and Stilt Sandpipers are good birds but they are not always reliable. I have found that I need to be in the right place at the right time to spot these passing migrants.  The key is to place yourself in those spots for a possible sighting. 

Solitary Sandpiper

 Staying in one area also allows for a VERY in depth look at our local birds.  Take for example this Killdeer below. 

Many of us know that a Killdeer parent will act injured to draw a predator away from the nest. While I am not a predator, I am clearly a danger in a different kind of way.  

Almost every living creature on this planet uses some form of communication.  As a birder, it's my job to interpret that communication for a better understanding of the birds.  It offers a very satisfying observation as well. 

In this particular case, I knew I was near a nest.  I stopped quickly and scanned the area.  Had I made a few more steps in the wrong direction, I might have stepped on these eggs.  Thankfully, I understood what the bird was telling me. Look at how much this Killdeer's eggs look like the surrounding rocks!  Nature is amazing. 

I believe that Coachline, or El Río Preserve, will be one of Marana and Tucson's premiere birding spots when it's all finished.  It has been a wonderful success.  A walking/bike path have been put into the area making this premiere birding spot even better.  There is now a parking area (with a ramada for lunch and shade).  As a local, I can tell you that I am super excited about this transition.  And my tires are glad as well.  No more gravel/sharp rock parking:)

Several years ago, friend and birder, Magill sat with me as we did a Big Sit and counted birds under the awning at this place for the day.  It was a lot of fun as we ended our observations with lots of Lesser Nighthawks flying around us. 

Black-crowned Night Heron

 After two weeks, my master lens returned back to me repaired and I was so excited to get the darn thing that I headed to Reid Park to film Great-tailed Grackles collecting mud.  It. Was. Great.  Even if they were just Great-tailed Grackles:)  That's how happy I was!

But during those grueling two weeks of waiting, I did some research for our upcoming Wrenegades event.  Every year, we get together to raise money for the birds of Southern Arizona.  It helps support Tucson Audubon's projects. 

I spiced up my treks but kept it cheap.  A really nice place to bird on Mt. Lemmon is the Rose Canyon Lake area.  But I didn't want to pay the hefty entrance fee so I parked off the highway and hiked down to the lake.  Another woman did the same but as she was hiking down into the area, she didn't realize how far it was:)  So I kept encouraging her to keep going.  "Where is the damn lake? My kids better be down there."  I told her not to worry.  We chatted the mile hike down and got to the lake.  She didn't see them but from her conversation about her kids, I guessed they'd be at the floating dock fishing.  And there they were.  That trek, for the day, landed me a Lewis's Woodpecker. 

I also scouted around for the ducks.  Again for our birdathon.  There are a few wintering ducks still around....like this proud drake Ring-necked Duck. 

A Round-tailed Ground Squirrel eats some refreshing Barrel Cactus fruit on a hot near 100 degree day. 

And my research takes me into new areas around town locating new Burrowing Owl locations.  The one at our airport is now gone which means that the construction crew destroyed the burrow:(  Thankfully birders saved the birds and had them relocated.  It was very sad to see them go.  But it also forced me to scout out new locations which was fun. 

Next week, I join up with my fellow Wrenegades to find as many birds in a 24 hour time period as we can.  Will we break our old record?  Stay tuned for more.....