Las Aventuras: Americano

Working at our Mexican booth with Yogi for the Wings Over Willcox event

I began 2015 with 588 Life birds. And I finished with 704.  My first life bird of the year was the Common Crane and the last?  You'll find out:) "Americano" has been one of the most challenging years for me as a birder.  There were things I loved about this chapter of my birding career and other things I'd rather not repeat.  Let's take a look back at 2015.  While Colorado and New Mexico have stolen my heart, California and Utah made me cringe. Mexico was a thrill as were Wisconsin and Arizona. So let's get started!

The most exciting outdoor trip?

Mary's Lake Campground near Estes Park, CO

During the month of June, we headed up to Estes Park for a camping trip.  It was in our campground that we heard a Boreal Owl calling.  The weather was great as were the hikes!  From the post, Legends of Destiny. 


The most frustrating experience?

In the cloud forests near San Cristobal De Las Flores, Chiapas

I learned some very important things about myself during my trip to Chiapas, Mexico.  1.  I really hate rain while I'm trying to photograph life birds for the first time.  2.  Large groups are not my thing while I'm searching for life birds. Birds tend to hide when crowds amass in great numbers. I loved the people, but 12 people in a birding group is challenging for a wandering gypsy:) Oh! And 3. Giving up control on how you bird!  That was really hard! From the post, Rain Rain Go Away!

The craziest experience?

I wanted a California Condor this year but not in Arizona.  I had wanted to see if I could find one in Utah at Zion National Park. BUT!!!! In order to get to the spot, we had to do this crazy hike to the top along a cliff.  I hate heights and this trek truly challenged me:) I honestly didn't research this one and let Micheal plan it out.  I'm glad he didn't tell me ahead of time how scary this hike would be. Luckily, I found my California Condor at the top and the hike paid off! From the post titled, Mukuntuweap.

Angel's Landing

A Moment of Pure Joy?

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

One of the most magical moments happened this year during a snow storm in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO. It was a silent and beautiful walk through a snowy and quiet woods along a mountain lake.  I was with my birding bud Kathie Brown.  The birds weren't very vocal, but the walk was quiet and the scenery was breathtaking around Bear Lake. I felt like a little kid again playing in the snow. From the post titled, Winter Wonderland. 

Best couple activity?

We got married in Rocky Mountain National Park with our families together.  Here we rented cabins and it was like we were back in Minnesota at the summer cottage so many years ago. The post is titled All With the Family. 

Strangest bird?

This gorgeous little brown bird, the Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, hopped around like a warbler yet hung out with hummingbirds.  It was VERY unusual!  As the name suggests, it uses its' bill to pierce flowers for nectar. While hummingbirds pollinate other flowers, this "nectar robber" does not:)  Fascinating!

Rarest sighting?

What was my best bird this year?  Well there were many, but there is usually one that truly stands out.  This year it was a Nava's Wren. It's a very specialized bird living in a hard to reach habitat.  The bird is only found in 9 locations in a very tight geographical area. It's range is...you guessed it....declining due to urban sprawl, cattle ranching and road construction. It's a bird of the darkness.  It clings to the shadows.  It lives and breeds within limestone caves and can  be found around limestone outcroppings.  This wren was tricky!  But a little patience paid off BIG TIME.  From the post, Vanishing Lands. 

Best study sessions?

I have gotten to the point now in my birding where I am fascinated by data.  This year, my first count was with Magill.  Here we ran around the urban sprawl of downtown Phoenix counting the expansion of Rosy-faced Lovebirds in some sketchy areas. I loved it!  My other project is ongoing and continues in Northern Sonora at the Aribabi Ranch.  It's a newer "patch" that I have been monitoring since 2013.  From the posts, To the Heart of the Matter and The Water Highways

Stupid moment?

Elegant Trogons.  I hear their call and always get excited.  So I leap over rock and river to observe this lovely bird.  As I am recording audio on this bird, I slip and my cell phone slowly flies out of my hand as I say, "Noooooooo!"  It lands in the river upright and is my first cell phone mishap.  Luckily, I find out Micheal extended the warranty on my phone and we were able to replace it. From Blood and Stone

Most epic moment?

Searching for the White-tailed Ptarmigan at the Alpine Level of Rocky Mountain National Park.  That was one epic trek!  From Destiny Awaits

Most painful?

 Oh, that one is easy.  There was a hot Mexican number by the name of a Tufted Flycatcher(Code 5) who decided to make the forests of the Huachuca Mountains home for the summer. In May, we hiked miles to get to this bird through forest, rock and stream to find these two tiny birds nesting. It took everyone about a week to recover, but those flycatchers were sooooo cute!  And worth it! Plus the hike took us down into some amazing scenery.  The Tufted Angels

Favorite place to bird?

The Chiricuahua Mountains.  If you have never been, you must go. This place has more animals than people!  It's so much fun. 

From the Portal based blog series Not All Who Wander Are Lost

A place I could call home?

I love Gunnison and I keep dipping on the Gunnison Sage-Grouse. And I hope I keep dipping on the bird because I love going back to that cute little town in Southwestern Colorado. 

Perfect weather?

I've discovered I love snow. I love a hot steaming cup of coffee as I watch birds in the snow. I love birding New Mexico. A LOT.  I love birding Wisconsin. A LOT.  I left my family in Wisconsin many many years ago because of the weather.  In my younger years, I had to explore the world and now as I age, all I want to do sometimes is go back to my personal Shire.  Is that strange?  I think that's why I love New Mexico so much.  The people are real.  They are kind much like the people of Wisconsin.  And these two states win the Americano award this year for best local eats, friendliest people and best overall birding.  From the posts Close Encounters of the Bird Kind and A Balancing Act. 

Bitter Lake near Roswell, New Mexico

The social connect?

 This year I had the pleasure of birding with several incredibly cool people that I had never met before.

Kathleen Cameron explores Madera Canyon for the first time!

Most overlooked place to bird?

Gunnison, Colorado.  There's more here than just the sage grouse!

Most scenic?

Heart attack moment but WOW!  The Alpine region of the Rocky Mountains is spectacular!  What a treat!

Sacred Bird Moment?

I was surrounded by thousands of Sandhill Cranes alone as they passed just feet above my head.  I could feel their wing beats as they went to settle down in a water area nearby.  From the post Carry Me Wind

The "I hate all birders who don't have jobs" moment?

Probably one of the biggest moments for birders this year in Tucson happened when a pair of RARE Trumpeter Swans flew into the Sweetwater Wetlands for the day.  Every birder and their mother went to observe these birds.  And me?  Oh, I just stuck in my classroom staring at children taking a test.  I paced my room like a caged animal.  When that school bell rang, I shot out the door to observe my lifer Trumpeter Swans before the sun set. That night, the swans left Tucson and were never seen again. From the post Miraculous Chaos

The worst decision?

Gray Vireos can suck it.  There is one excellent place to see this amazing bird.  If you have a good vehicle, the roads of Mt. Ord can be quite inviting.  However, even if you have a good vehicle, that doesn't guarantee you won't get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. But hey...the views are amazing!  So are the Gray Vireos. From the post The Land of Shadows.  

Most studied bird?

Hermit Warblers.  This bird wasn't a lifer but it was the most studied.  During migration, I went to several locations to really understand this bird.  And I feel like I now know this warbler well.

The bird that scares! 

The Pomarine Jaeger.  A bird that eats gulls.  It's a flying tank on steroids.  And there's nothing stopping it!  Favorite Jaeger hands down!

The bird that forced me into a place I would never visit.

Utah. The land of Chukars and weirdos stuck in the 1950's culture of secrets, fake smiles, lies and cloning their neighbor, the Joneses. But it's one of the few states with countable Chukars.  It was exciting to see this bird with my friend Mia.  Utah's culture was not my thing. The landscape was quite beautiful but I will not be returning there anytime soon. 

Last bird?

 Perhaps in the strangest of ways, I was meant to find the Whooping Crane.  It was not expected during my visit to Wisconsin and yet there it was. I began the year with a crane so it seemed natural to end with another amazing crane.  This endangered bird was a great way to bookend my year of discoveries.  I sat in my car with the windows down breathing the chilly air thinking about the amazing world of birds.  During 2015, I saw 560 incredible birds in North America meeting my year goal.

As we begin the year again, I sit down and plot a new course taking me both to familiar and unknown areas searching for our planet's birds. I will take on new roles as a bird field guide. My life continues to change as it does for everyone. Let's get this 2016 year started with wonderful memories.  Until next time!

A Perfect Moment

This post (and an upcoming one) have been difficult for me to write. I'll do my best to try and capture my thoughts with the words behind those special and very sad moments. The write today was inspired by the healing power of nature and family.  I guess after many years of silence, it's time that this tale was told. I'd like to share with you all a story about a kid I once knew.  Like most people I know, he has changed over time.

As a boy, he grew up wondering what the world was like outside of his small town.  He had BIG ideas about what he'd do with his life. Maybe he'd become a teacher?  A park ranger? Or a weather man! 

As he grew older in that small town, he became aware that he was different from other people.  Much of his thoughts were kept hidden and secret because he didn't want to be hurt by others. And even though he tried to avoid confrontation, he was spit on, laughed at, and beat up several times for being different.  Unfortunately, he'd take his anger out on his siblings. His parents didn't know how to speak to him because he shut them out. There was no one he could turn to for help because they would all try to fix him with their religion. And he didn't need fixing. The science fiction show known as Star Trek was his escape. He eventually left his small town and pursued his dreams. It was safer that way. Over time, he developed a tough skin.  And there was a growing anger towards people and organizations who supported hate and ignorance. After living a life in hiding, it was time to fight back with words and actions. There was no turning back.

He went on to live an amazing life. Free from the trappings of a small community, he was able to form his own opinions and attitudes about the world. He got a job at a place where he could make a difference. Or at least challenge their thinking about the bigger world.  And maybe make them laugh or smile once and awhile. But it was always a safe zone. He also became a secret guardian for all those who were different. And he watched over them making sure that they wouldn't be bullied or hurt like he had been during his childhood. Sometimes he made a difference. And other times, he would lose one of his students to drugs or suicide.  These events hurt him the most because he felt that he had somehow failed them. With age and experience, the man realized he couldn't save every student. And over time, societal attitudes began to change and his important role was no longer as important. 

In his personal life, he met someone and settled down. Over the passage of time, he watched each of his siblings get married. He was so happy for them. And even though he was the oldest and had been in a relationship for a decade, it didn't matter.  He couldn't get married. But then things changed.

His partner wanted an official ceremony. So after much thought, it was decided that their union would happen outdoors and surrounded by family.  At first it was going to be somewhere far far away.  But when he thought it over more, it made him sad to think that his parents could not attend. Therefore, it had to be closer to home. What did both of these people want more than anything else in the world?  Their families present.  And so began the plan to unite nature and family together.

The families arrived from different states and rented cabins where they all spent a week together away from WIFI and work.  It was a rare event and not something experienced since the man's youth.

On the day of the wedding, it began to snow.  There they stood, married by the man's brother-in-law and surrounded by his entire family.  In a moment shared with his wonderful friend, they watched an elk dance in the freshly falling snow.  It was the most perfect moment.  A tear rolled down his face.  This was the spot. There the elk, family and birds watched as the couple made their vows. Instead of rice or bird seed being thrown up into the air, Mother Nature provided the crowd with snowballs.

Normally this man cringed at the idea of showing any emotion, but during the ceremony, he felt so happy. And loved. It was like a warm blanket on a cold winter day. A perfect moment.

People told him that getting married was a life changing event.  He just didn't want to believe it.  Maybe it was his defense mechanism that he developed as a child to protect himself from getting hurt by others. For whatever the reason, he was so happily wrong about it all. He felt whole again. No one could have planned for this magical ceremony. The snow. The elk. His father muttered, "An act of God."  The man simply replied, "Mother Nature." The two would never openly agree with each other on the matter but in their minds, they knew that they were both correct. Others froze their toes off and said, "Brrrrrrr."

Life is full of surprises.  And this world is still an amazing place.  AND BIG!  But none of it compares to the great big love of my family and friends. I'd like to thank my parents for being outstanding people. I don't know where I would be today without their love and support. To my siblings and their spouses, my nephews and nieces, to Charlee, to Mat and Linda for putting together a special ceremony, to Mitch and Rachel, to Kathy and to Deborah. Your last days with us will not be forgotten. I'll be writing about her in the next post. It was an emotional roller coaster ride for all of us. I'd also like to thank Kathie Brown for being with me during this special time. I now understand the meaning behind the "Maid of Honor" or "Best Man".  She is an amazing friend and I am so thankful she was there to help me process my emotions. While we were out on the trails, I realized how much I missed birding with her. Sometimes we "disappeared" together onto the trails to sneak in some birding time. Behind every new bird or critter or landscape, there is a heart that beats behind this experience called life. And it is good. 

Winter Wonderland

The calm magical moments of snow gently falling.

Makes me pause. Inner joy!

Absorb. Wrap my mind around it.  Reflect. 

When chaos happens and balance is lost, I surround myself in these memories. These moments.  And I am whole. 

And it is here in these memories that I restore my faith in people and the world.  Happiness. Centered. At rest. 

The silence of a snowy forested path.  Peaceful bliss.  My personal Xanadu.

Oh gentle snow.  You are as majestic as you are graceful.

May you stay forever in my memory. 

All With The Family

The Matthew-Reeser's Bird Sanctuary

Another October flew by much too quickly. I was joined by my dear friend Kathie and family members for the Big Event in Estes Park, Colorado.

Mountain Chickadee

While there, we celebrated several days of birding, shopping and exploration.

Estes Park is a smaller town situated at the borders of the majestic Rocky Mountain National Park.

My sister and her daughter at Rocky Mountain National Park

While we were there, we soaked up as much wilderness as we could.

Kathie and Jared watch the children climb the now rocky Alluvial Fan

At our cabins, we created a bird sanctuary.  My family would laugh at us from their cabin patio.  Why?  Well, Ms. Kathie, Micheal and myself picked up a lot of bird seed and wood.  We'd sit around the fireplace and watch birds.  We had hundreds of them come and visit our cabin.  And all we had to do was just sit and watch them from the living room window:)

Black-billed Magpie

The evenings were wonderful.  Everyone sat around the large outdoor ramada sharing stories and drinks together.

As is tradition, my family puts together a dance for the big day.  Our wonderful dance was a mix of popular science fiction movie tunes and finished off with a childhood favorite, "Xanadu!"

Pic courtesy of Kathie Brown.  Awesome shot of everyone!

At times it was windy. Or snowy.  Or rainy.  But always COLD!

A cold Steller's Jay

We birded one of my favorite spots in Estes Park which happens to be near their golf course.  

Clifford goes on assignment for a class project

 The locale is known as the Matthew-Reeser's Bird Sanctuary.  Most of the bird life is found along a wooded corridor next to a fast moving stream.  I suspected American Dippers hung out at this location, but I had "dipped" several times on this bird in June.  Persistence(and timing) paid off. 

Classic American Dipper shot

And it wasn't just a far away glance.  Both, Kathie and myself, were able to watch two of these birds nearby our trail.

And along the way, we stopped looking at the birds and just enjoyed family and fall.

But then a Steller's Jay would steal the show:)

Here is a video of our American Dipper encounter.  If you are a lover of everything wildlife, I highly recommend Estes Park.  More to come from this amazing locale.......