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!

Frozen Pursuits

Point Beach State Park

At the end of it all, I returned back to my hometown in Wisconsin. Arizona is a great place to bird, but my interest these days centers around this Great Lake state.   Today I have a lot of questions about the Two Rivers and Manitowoc areas. I grew up here playing in a lot of the fields, forests and farmland along Lake Michigan. I'm now exploring as an adult and have many many questions. As I spent time with family, I, of course, wove in the necessary birding needed to find several important life birds. 

Long-tailed Ducks

I believe my book studies of the state are now leading me to a return home for the summer. On this trek, weather played a strong role in what I could and could not do.  A major snow storm blew into the area and disrupted my bird tour.  It was frustrating but I liked relaxing with the family at the same time.  

Snow Bunting

Both the Manitowoc and Two Rivers harbors are excellent for scoters, loons, ducks, rare gulls and many other amazing birds like the Snow Buntings and Long-tailed Ducks above.  

Then it was off to the Killsnake State Wildlife Area(also within Manitowoc County) for Short-eared Owls.  I had a fantastic observation as 10 owls were on the hunt.  As one of them caught lunch, they all descended into the grasses and disappeared.  Pretty amazing show!

Short-eared Owl

Everyday was overcast. And some days were downright blustery. At one point, water edged both sides of the road and had me a little nervous.  

Killsnake Wildlife Area

I had never heard of this area before nor had my family.  The birds educate me about their habitat and force me to discover new places. 

As I returned from my venture, I stopped for a quick lunch and watched this Ring-billed Gull hang out in the parking lot. 

Ring-billed Gull

Another great spot for Common Redpolls, American Tree Sparrows and Northern Saw-whet Owls is the Woodland Dunes Nature Center off of Highway 310 in Two Rivers.  I was hoping that Common Redpolls had arrived but I was a bit early for these birds to see them at the feeders.  Right now they are hanging out in the woods along with the White-winged Crossbills:) However, I did have nice observations of several birds I don't get to see often. 

Woodland Dunes Nature Center

Then I heard about this Snow Storm Ashley being discussed at the nature center.  It was scheduled to hit Two Rivers Tuesday night.  The bitter wind had kicked up and birds were quiet.  In fact, many of them had all but disappeared. Where do they go?!?!  And right before the storm, there was a feeding frenzy at the feeders. 

American Tree Sparrow

Birds flew in and out and they filled their bills with seed and suet. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

One of the most difficult challenges on this trip was locating a rare Whooping Crane.  They are not posted on ebird nor are they to be mentioned by others about their location. Their protected endangered status and numbers parallel that of the California Condor...except that their locations are kept hidden. For an out-of-state birder, this can be very tricky with all the secrets.  But somehow, days before my trip, I had been reading that there still was a lingering Whooping Crane in the area.  Magill and Kathie gave me the extra nudge and courage I needed to explore this HUGE area.  

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

During my ride into the ever darkening skies, I noticed several Sandhill Cranes in flight.  While I knew I was on my own with this bird, I followed my instincts and followed the Sandhill Cranes in flight.  As I did, I was careful to navigate myself into a farmer's field where they all were landing.  

One Whooping Crane next to a couple Sandhill Cranes

As I parked my car, I scanned the fields and found my bird rather easily!  In a subtle message from the bird gods, I was reminded of my 2015 start.  We went on January 1st to find a "lost" Common Crane in Roswell, New Mexico.   It only seemed appropriate that I would end my year with the last of the cranes needed for my life list in the US.  And it was an amazing experience that I shared alone.  Of course, I had been texting the crew about my chase, but ultimately, it was me in the car alone.  It's times like this one when I wish I could share this important bird observation with my friends.  For several of them, this would be a lifer.   If anything, I now have a better idea where I can take them for this bird if they visit the state. 

Top to bottom and left to right-Common Crane, Sandhill Cranes; Sandhill Cranes, Whooping Crane

Much of my wanderings were done alone.  And there is value in this.  Sometimes it's best to bird alone and keep sharpening those necessary tracking skills.  I like playing a detective whether it's finding a bird or scouting new habitat.  Connecting the dots builds the knowledge base and makes me a better birder. 

Exploring habitat for a future search of the American Woodcock at Woodland Dunes

Meanwhile my Packer loving family was shocked to watch the Pack lose to the Arizona Cardinals:)  Bird power rocks!

Then came Winter Storm Ashley.  More to come from the scenic Wisconsin......

To The North

Dark-eyed Junco(Red-backed)

I love the cold.  And I especially love birding in it!  Well, let me define "cold".  It's anywhere between 20 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. On a trek to the North of Arizona, we journeyed once again to the lands of Heber-Overgaard for a rare visiting Carolina Wren. 

Snow Goose

The week before this exciting trip, I was mired in final exams.  The grading was grueling so I treated myself to some short birding after work finished.  At a park nearby work, I went to observe a friendly Snow Goose in its' blue molt. Normally they are very white, but I wanted better observations of this different molt.  Pretty interesting stuff.  The Snow Goose became quick friends with a fisherman along the lake who was the feeding the bird. 

I also wanted to hang out at the duck ponds near my home and watch the Canvasback swim around the area.  They are regular visitors here during the winter. 

Canvasback Drake

When the work week finished, it was time to play.  And it was time to do some serious birding.  I met up with Gordon, Magill(straight up birder with binos and a scope; no camera; no nonsense:) and Babs as we set our sights on the Carolina Wren.  We found the bird within moments after we arrived at the residential spot.  The sun was rising and we were not able to get any photos of the wren before it flew off.  But we saw it!  The meaningful birding happened for me afterwards. 

American Dipper

I didn't want to bird Heber-Overgaard just for the Carolina Wren.  I wanted to revisit the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery again.  It's a unique habitat with a gorgeous setting!

The road is only several miles long but it has a different kind of habitat that attracts some amazing birds!  It was quiet.  I was surrounded by friends.  And we were in a snowy "holiday feeling" birder's paradise. For years, I have tried to redefine what "Christmas" is to me.  And I couldn't.  It doesn't have any religious connection for me, but it does have some meaning when it is spent with family and friends.  Walking in the snow with friends reminded me of my childhood as I played outside with the neighborhood gang.  It all made sense.  This year I have found meaning through wildlife in marriage, death, work and in this personal journey.  

Words cannot describe how complete it all felt at the end of the road(literally!).   The American Dipper would become the bird of the year for me.  Seen in Utah, Colorado and in Arizona, this bird completed my 2015 birding journey in the Western States.  And it was always observed with excellent friends. 

The American Dipper is a really fascinating bird that feeds from fast moving creeks, streams and rivers.  It jumped from mossy rock to branch along the only stretch of emerald green left in the snowy covered banks of the river. 

Our group really loved watching these birds and for a couple of them, it was their first time at this location.  Gordon and I both ventured into this area during the past summer.  I wanted to go back in winter and explore this spot again.  Glad we did!  I added the Pacific Wren as my 700th bird to my life list. 

Bald Eagles

Bald Eagles watched over us as we exited the vehicle.  There were at least four flying around the area.  

The magical world of birds keeps all of our inner child alive at any age and it binds us together on this lifelong trek.  It gives meaning and purpose to my life as it does for my birder friends.  I loved this moment below of my friend Gordon as he begins a new chapter of his life.  He is a retired man now and I cannot wait to see where the road will take him!  The most meaningful life adventure lies ahead for him.  

Gordon travels the Beeline Highway

Happy Holidays everyone!  As another year comes to an end; another is about to start.  Thank you for following Las Aventuras this year.  We'll see you back next year with another chapter and many more adventures! Until next time!