Weird Adventures I Have Because Of Birding

Last time I was on Showcase Minnesota I was talking with the producer about when I would do my next segment. I used to have a regular segment on Mondays, but that was when I worked at the bird store and could only do Mondays. I also didn't travel as much as I do now, so we just play it by ear. I asked the producer if she was going to have any cool guests and told her to just put me on that day. She said, "Well, we have George Takei on February 1, but we're already booked up that day."

As it happened, I left my binocular harness at the station during my last segment and decided February 1 would be the perfect day to pick it up before the bird trip this weekend. The producer said it was okay for me to come and try and meet Mr. Takei. And since I'm a familiar face around the station, I can come and go unescorted. It was funny because I totally confused the crew while I was sitting in the waiting area, "Are we supposed to be doing calls today? I didn't see birds on the sheet!" I joked that I was just at the station really early for Monday.

Non Birding Bill had today and Monday off from work, so he came with me. After Mr. Takei did his Showcase Minnesota segment, he filmed an interview for Tim McNiff's 11 Questions. Tim has always been really nice to me on the station and he let us watch. Above, NBB is standing standing in the studio while Mr. Takei is being interviewed. I have to say, it was a great interview, he has a great sense of humor and outlook at being an original cast member of Star Trek, not to mention all his work with human rights and his political activism. He's just nice and has an incredible outlook on life.

Afterwards, Mr. Takei (can you tell that I just don't feel comfortable calling him George?) was really nice and posed for a photo with us. What a class act and gracious man. Thank you, Mr. Takei for putting up with us. Incidentally, he's in town with the Minnesota Orchestra narrating To Boldly Go--music used in sci fi movies. He said part of the fun is that some people come to this dressed in full Klingon or other Star Trek costumes. Should be a fun addition to the usual symphony crowd.

I got a kick out of Rob Hudson, one of the hosts on Showcase Minnesota--he's got a strong Minnesota accent and he was explaining Uff Da to Mr. Takei. "It's like, 'I'm outta potato lefse? Uff Da!' Just think of it as a milder version of Oy Vey!" It reminded me of a moment you would see in a Christopher Guest movie.

From Non Birding Bill

Early Thoughts on Bird Watch America

Have I really been in Atlanta one day and am I already this exhausted? I love this show--so many great friends to catch up with, so many new people with new ideas to meet and so much new product to see. All this is on top of my actual duties that I have to perform here.

Non Birding Bill was kind enough to check out a laptop pc for me from the university he works at since Norbert was not ready from having his hard drive replaced. I can't get the darn thing to connect to the internet or hold a battery charge, but somehow I have landed a very spanky executive suite with office privleges. I'm currently tucked away in a quiet corner on the 17 floor of the Hilton using their complimentary computers and internet access. Incidentally, accessing in my room is $13.95 a day--nuts.

My lunch time presentation went over better than I expected. It's odd, I feel perfectly natural most of the time in front of a crowd, but I found myself incredibly nervous--my left leg and right hand were uncontrollably shaking for most of my talk. I think it was because I was debuting some new material (crazy customer stories--like the woman who used to call the bird store and tell us about the peewees she could communicate with psychically) and I get more nervous talking in front of peers than people I will never see again. The audience seemed to enjoy it, and I think I kept it brief--whew.

The best presentation that I observed today was by Peter Marra about urban ecology--he has been doing some interesting research on common birds found in urban areas. I think this is something that can be used in several major cities. One of his most interesting findings had to do with nest predation in urban areas compared to forested areas. I think the general thought is that nests are less safe from predators in urban areas because we think of raccoons, crows and cats. Marra's research found that urbans nest were preyed upon a little over 30% whereas nests in forested areas were preyed upon closer to 80%! The main reason appears to be that we have fewer nest predators in urban areas--sure there are crows, raccoons and cats but not nearly as many snakes or smaller predators because we can exterminate them more easily.

He also had studies of catbird survival rates once the young leave the nest. Interesting to note that in neighborhoods with more cats, had fewer fledging catbirds survive.

Tomorrow I get to go in to the trade show and see what's nifty and new. Some sneak peaks that I found today: solar powered squirrel proof feeders, newer ant moats for hummingbirds, suet pellets, and a new book from Houghton Mifflin with tips from 50 top birders (hmmmm, I wonder how many people are going to glance at the list of 50 top birders and then take offence that they weren't invited to submit an essay--incidentally, there are a lot of essays by women in the book).

More soon.

Old Photo

While going through my iPhoto archives searching for a cover shot for Disapproving Rabbits I came across a photo I took about three years ago:

It's Non Birding Bill napping with Kabuki in mid rouse (fluffing and rearranging feathers) on his shoulder. Awwww. My two content boys, I love them so.