I’m in the process of trying to film some videos and in the midst of bird walks, banding, counting ducks, so there’s been a lull in blogging. Hopefully, I’ll have some video snippets up tonight–or at least a photo of a purple finch! Meanwhile, if you are not faint of heart, check out this link to a photo of some sort of mantis that has captured a hummingbird. Not the first time this has happened or is this sort of thing just an insect related event, arachnids get in on bird eating too, but certainly one of the most in focus photos of such an event.
Meanwhile, I have started a new project for the park service–counting ducks along the upper Mississippi River from a small plane. I have a fear of flying, but it stems more from feeling a lack of control from not being able to watch what the pilot is doing. In a small twin engine, I’m right there with him, helping him watch for aerial hazards as we fly below 500 feet to id waterfowl. We were so low, as we passed boaters on Lake Pepin, they would wave and we would wave back. I also had to giggle, I kept having the soundtrack from Wings playing in my head the whole time.
Not too many ducks moving through, but we saw TONS of American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, and ring-billed gulls. It’s the weirdest experience, I’m considered part of the flight crew for this and part of duties include pointing out potential hazards like towers, wires, and oh hey, five turkey vultures right overhead. Our pilot is awesome and I’m looking forward to watching the the change in waterfowl along this stretch of river. So, species we saw this week:
Trumpeter swans (about a dozen), Canada geese (lots), mallards (lots), pintail (few), green-winged teal (few), great blue herons (some), great egrets (flocks gathering for migration), bald eagles (overheard the pilot say, “We get out of our way for them, they don’t get out of our way.”), coot (a few), pelicans (tons), and cormorants (tons).
Figures. You go flying to observe birds from the air, do in fact do a blog post as requested, and DON’T HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE AIRPLANE.
(Sorry; far more interested in flying things with rivets than feathers.)
Looks very cool though; nice view. 500 feet, huh? As low as you can legally go with any possibilities of people around, is my understanding. Neat that you could wave to people in boats.
So is your quantitative data really “some”, “few”, “lots”? They’re looking for qualitative measurements, what’s in the area, vs. numbers?
Neat, great to see the first photos. Thanks for the post! Can’t wait for the follow-ups!
I can’t find “this link to a photo of some sort of mantis that has captured a hummingbird.” The link to the BWD item described as “not the first time” is there, but from the wording I expected another one, if only to admire how well focused it is.
You got to fly with Turkey Vultures????
sigh…
Craig, I’ll post as much of it as I can, I’m hoping for some cool stuff when the divers move through.
Roy, thanks! I forgot to add the link, I’ll put it in now!
Now that IS sharp and nicely focused. Thanks!
I have the exact same phobia of flying for the exact same reason! It’s understandable how the small airplane actually helps the anxiety. Unless you drive everywhere (you certainly didn’t drive to Kazakhstan) how do you get past the fear to fly commercially?
Craig-I actually turn in numbers of birds, but kept the post rather vague.
Jason – My body takes over on commercial planes and forces me to sleep. I literally go right into a deep sleep when we leave the gate and I’m out like a light until we reach cruising altitude. I’ve even experimented with caffeine pills and espresso, nothing will prevent me from falling into a short sleep. If I’m sitting next to someone I know, I always warn them that I’ll pass out and eventually wake up, not matter how much talking they do.