Las Aventuras: Across America

I woke up on the New Year's Day both happy and sad.  It was over. How can a year fly by so quickly?!  That part is still hard to get over.  What an amazing journey it has been!  But I am also happy to stop the doubled efforts of chasing birds I have already seen.   My purpose for last year's event was to load up on my North American birds.  Here are some fun facts from my journeys to California, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, the New England states, and of course, Arizona. 

Pied-billed Grebe

I began the year with a Pied-billed Grebe in southern California and ended the year with a rare(for AZ) Red-necked Grebe.  In the US, I found 468 species of birds.  For North America, I found 476 birds.  I've been doing some work down in Mexico again and it will be my focus this year.  I am surrounded by bird ID books from these regions!  As of now in the US, I rank 62 for the 2014 year.  Some birders haven't entered all their lists into ebird yet so it could slightly alter the ranking.  But I have secured myself within the top 100 for the year and achieved my goal set back in January. In the state of Arizona, I ranked number 2 thanks in part to all the birds found in the state and for this reason, it kept me on top of their list. 

But those are just numbers.  The true purpose of my birding is to live the birding adventure and find as many of our world's birds as I can before I visit the green pastures:) Or sadly, before they disappear. My current life list stands at 586.  And it's hard!  It was so easy a few years back adding birds to the list.  Now, it takes a lot of planning and good use of my time. With the night studies, my full-time job, a partner and regular life duties, I was able to add 127 life birds to the list in 2014.  Not a bad haul. 

What were the highlights?  Each place was special and so much fun.  But let's look at the bird discoveries......

The most exciting camping trek?  
There is no doubt at all here on this one. Although our Greer trip comes close! It was our AZFO camping trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Here we did a survey of nesting birds around the area.  We had an amazing crew, did some rough camping, and worked incredibly well together.  Everyone still talks about that trip up there.   I hope to join my AZFO group again this year as we explore Organ National Monument down by the border.  

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon

The most frustrating experience?
I think Kathie Brown can vouch for this one.  The Bicknell's Thrush.  I will say this about the Mt. Washington Auto Road.  It sucks.  Beautiful scenery but full of cars and annoying people. And the entrance fee is overpriced. This bird was the trickiest to sort out with the constant traffic. My ears are VERY important when locating birds and this trek was very difficult thanks to all the noise pollution. I still have a bad taste in my mouth about the experience.  I remember how quiet and uncomfortable I made everyone feel in the car by my quiet anger.  I am not proud of that moment, but I was determined. There were many thrushes in the area which also made listening to the Bicknell's call a challenge.  We did manage to spot a couple of the BITH.  However, I will never go on that road again.

The gorgeous mountains of New England

The craziest experience?
We went for the Atlantic Puffin along Maine's coast on very rough waters.  This is where Kathie and Micheal lost it!  The rocking of the waves were too much for them. The Audubon guide was hit left and right during his presentation with ice cold ocean water!  For me, I felt like a giant dancer capturing all the amazing terns, puffins and guillemots around the Eastern Egg Island while the ship rocked back and forth. 

Eastern Egg Island

The most sacred of moments?
Whispering to the Florida Scrub-Jay.  In a magical moment, the captain of the jays flew to the top of my hat and kept lookout while his company flew all around me to feed on the ground.

Florida Scrub-Jay

Best couple activity?
Camping on the Channel Islands for the Island Scrub-Jay!  There we watched migrating whales, tiny foxes and orcas around our island while spending a couple nights on Santa Cruz Island. 

Strangest bird?
The Upland Sandpiper.  The call alone was cool!

Upland Sandpiper

Rarest sighting?
A Snowy Owl in Kennebunkport, Maine in the middle of summer!

Snowy Owl

Best study sessions?
The AZFO fall get together in Globe and grassland sparrow banding with Dr. Janet Ruth. 

Janet releases a Savannah Sparrow

Most epic moment?
While observing Lesser Nighthawks, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher flew past me at sunset.  I couldn't believe my eyes!  And it was all experienced alone after a really bad day at work.  This bird made me forget it all. 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Most painful?
While observing the endangered Piping Plover on Bunche Beach, FL, I was attacked by thousands of chiggers.  I suffered an entire month after a trip to that beach.  

Piping Plover

Most studied birds?
The Montezuma Quail and Bell's Sparrow.

Montezuma Quail

Favorite place to bird?
The grasslands of Southern Arizona

The bitter dip?
The Gunnison sage-grouse!  I'll find you!  The weather was NOT cooperative on this day!

Most overlooked place to bird?
New Mexico!  For those people who say there is nothing there, I challenge you to look again.  WOW!  Plus best food stops this year!  Green chiles......

Most scenic?
Road trek up to Gunnison, CO!  WOWSA!

The worst decision?
Perhaps not the greatest place to bird. One team member discovered a man shooting up in the bushes. All of us had seen the bird in other parts of the country but we wanted it on our Arizona list:) It would have required us to hike a wash full of broken glass, used needles and possibly encountering other nasty things. We decided to leave the area for safety issues.  However, we knew the birds were hiding in that wash. And so we dipped on this bird.  Later in the year on our way to Gunnison, we passed through that same area sans the visit to what I now label "Drug User's Wash" and found the bird around a housing area.  Much safer!

Black-billed Magpie

And finally.  Favorite bird of the year?
The Rhinoceros Auklet.  

I'd like to thank all the people involved this year with Las Aventuras.  The treks have been amazing and without the people, many of the adventures would have been lonely ones. 

When I think about birding in Central and South America, and of course, Mexico, my heart beats a little faster.  It's why I do what I do in the real world. It has taken me to the most amazing and breathtaking places on this planet.  This year, my goal is to explore Mexico again, do a pelagic and spend time with my family back in Wisconsin.  And then there is our wedding at Rocky Mountain National Park this next year. Will I find a White-tailed Ptarmigan while I say, "I do.....love birding."?:)  Or will I get myself into trouble under the eyes of Mother Nature for trying to bird and marry at the same time?  Only time will tell:)  Happy New Year to you all!  

This year's photo album

Birds, birds, birds......check out the amazing Wild Bird Wednesday collection from around the world each.....Wednesday:)

Bunche Beach

Piping Plover

Shorebirds once intimidated me.  On my last big birding expedition near Ft. Myers(and my last Florida post), I was determined to count every small bird on Bunche Beach.  It became a hotspot when I did research on the plovers found around this area. I had my pick of places to go but the word PLOVER played over and over in my head.  I love plovers.  They are cool birds and as it happened, there were two new ones I could add to my list....if I could find them. This was definitely a case of personal preference. Similar to my love of all things "owl", the plovers trumped the other bird species on this very early morning. 

Bunche Beach

This experience is not for everyone.  There were thousands of little shorebirds along the beach.  For a birder, it's a great big treasure chest.  For someone who is a casual birder or traveler, this might be considered rather boring. I battled hundreds of no-see-um bites all over my body.  As I write this post today, my body is still recovering from those terrible attacks.  I prepared as best I could, but it didn't matter.  It was the price to pay for finding the endangered Piping Plovers. 

Wilson's Plover

As a sign from the bird gods, it also began to rain and thus ended my birding adventures in Florida.  BUT NOT before finding my very first Wilson's Plover.  I was very proud of this moment in my life.  Again, I did it alone without any fanfare. There was a time I couldn't ID a single shorebird.  On this day, I knew all of my birds and learned many new calls.  The Wilson's Plover made a sharp trill that led me straight to the bird.  It was the only one I observed on the beach among all the Sanderlings, Dunlins, Sandpipers, etc.  And it was here I gained an imaginary birder medal.  I helped an out-of-towner and bird guide find the plover on the beach.  Then as a sign that enough was enough, it poured buckets of rain.  

Piping Plover stands alone on a sand bar

I ran back to the car all bitten up with my camera tucked inside my vest. And I watched it rain.  Rain.  To a desert rat, it's the most beautiful thing in the world.  I felt happy that I got up early and went to this epic beach to bird.  It's really a lovely place to visit because it's natural and untouched. It IS for wildlife aficionados. Not for the casual tourist. 

Black Skimmer

I hated the idea of returning because I knew I could do so much more in Florida.  So many people are very open with their time. I envy them because I am constantly battling it. Yes it's all enjoyable but there is a definite time table for out-of-state trips.  I don't have a moment to spare! There are so many birds and unique habitat areas to explore.  I could be more.  I could do more.  Even with my body covered in bites, I wanted to continue my work. 

So I tried to push it more and headed to another birding spot on my list but as I did so, it just rained harder and harder.  I parked in the middle of a forested parking lot alone still wet from the downpour on the beach. I love birds.  The idea of returning back to my "other" life was difficult.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  

I could do more.  So much more.  But financially I am still somewhat trapped paying for those student loans after all these years.  I am itching to be free of those chains so that I can really fly and see more of the world. I am a child again playing in my neighborhood discovering amazing things.  My mind is a sponge ready to absorb observation after observation of birds. Watching a Black Skimmer skim over the waters is truly amazing. 

Or viewing the Semipalmated Plover among all the other birds on the beach makes me very happy.  And I love sharing it with others who love nature.  I love sharing it with Pat.  I love the random road trips.  The crazy birders.  Visiting friends I haven't seen in years. And learning.  Really really learning about myself, others and of course, the magnificent birds!

Plover love-Wilson's and Piping Plovers on top; middle-Black-bellied, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover; bottom-Mountain and Snowy Plovers

Another adventure is coming.  Where will it be next?  Stay tuned for more next week.   Check out other amazing birds at Wild Bird Wednesday.