Quick Utah Entry

Okay, if you have never been to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Utah for birding you need to figure out how to get your butt out here next spring. This place is awesome!!! I'm hard pressed to find an ugly view anywher in the fair town of Brigham City.

And just to give you and idea, you know the birding is going to be fabulous when American avocets and black-necked stilts are blocking your car from going forward:

I was totally on sensory overload this morning. There will be more reports soon, now I have to go back to setting up the Eagle Optics booth.

Kingwood Center

One place I do enjoy visiting when I'm in Mansfield is the Kingwood Center. It's a former estate garden that is free and open to the public. There are fun plants and landscaping as well as black swans, peacocks and guinea fowl running about. There are little dispensers that you can get duck chow and feed that, but there are signs all over requesting that you must not feed the Canada geese.

One strange thing that happened with Non Birding Bill on our trip--he started pointing out birds. Some relatives told us about a nearby bald eagle nest. We drove around with NBB's mom trying to find it and he pointed it first--before me. While we were walking around and enjoying the daffodils at Kingwood, NBB found a hawk--very low and not far away. It was a young red-tailed hawk looking for something small and furry. NBB's mom was impressed. She said, "Bill, I know you say you're not a bird watcher, but you're pointing them out faster than her. I think you are a bird watcher now." I told her not to take it too seriously. NBB has learned from going out with me that the faster we find the bird or nest the faster we can go home. He's learned to spot stuff in self defence.

We enjoyed the red-tail and as we were walking away from it, I heard the familiar kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek and in flew an adult Cooper's hawk! It bounced from branch to branch getting closer to the red-tail. Even though the Coop's was half the size, it still managed to drive off the red-tail, I think it's erratic dashing from perch to perch and maniacal red eyes just freaked out the larger buteo. It was so cool to see an accipiter and buteo momentarily perched close together. As soon as the young red-tail flew out of the territory the Coop's returned to its origional position on the other side of the woods. Guess I know where it is going to build its nest this year.

The raptors didn't end there. On our way out of the parking lot, we heard a red-shouldered hawk and watched it fly around on the other side of the parking lot. Adult red-shoulders are such beautiful and colorful hawks, it really blended well with the blooming flowers. Not bad--getting three raptors in a small park in Ohio.

I did enjoy all the exotics running around on the estate grounds. The black swan was pretty cool and I loved to watch the Canada geese give it a wide berth as it waddled along. Not long after I took the photo on the left, it made a bee line for me, but I got out if the way in time.

It was fun to witness the change in migration. While down in southern Ohio the first part of our trip, we saw and heard white-throated sparrows all over the yard. When we got to Mansfield, I didn't see or hear any at the in-law's house. But on Monday morning I woke up in the guest room to hear one singing outside our window. I wondered if this bird had been down in southern Ohio on Friday like we were?

Okay, now I totally have to finish packing for Utah. NBB tells me that it snowed but will get warmer. The hotel that I'm staying in has internet access so I should be able to talk about the wacky antics that happen at the Bear River NWR Grand Opening.

Frightening Folk Art Of Northern Ohio

WARNING!! This blog entry is not for those with clown phobias!!

Let me preface this entry by saying that I love my husband's family. I'm quite sure that for every one thing I find perplexing about them, they find at least 20 items perplexing about me. Some of the art work that I find in their homes baffles me. But then again, they may think my 8X10 framed glossy of a turkey vulture head on my wall or my pelican pelvic bone are a little bizaar. I should have seen it coming.

This is Plaster Man, a life size plaster cast of Non Birding Bill. He did this for a show he was in during his under grad years. When I first knew him he kept it on a chair in his apartment. It scared the pants off of me everytime I walked in not expecting someone to be sitting there. For the time being, Plaster Man resides with NBB's parents. If we ever get a house, he'll come live with us.

This was actually at a neighbor's house. They had more than one. I don't quite get the sleeping children theme. One is kind of cute. Several looks like you have a collection of children who died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Now, this I don't get at all. Children sleeping on toys, that I could kind of see as being cute. But the dolls standing the corner? This is the Cleveland Indians version of the doll and I like how the doll is standing in a corner like a naughty kid, but still keeps the catchers mit handy just in case a fast ball should come his way. This was in the guest room and was about three feet high. It looked even scarier at night. I take that back, it looked scary all the time. When you walked by the room you would think, "Who is that kid in there? And why is it being so quiet and still?"

Here's another corner doll. This was at another relative's house and they had several stashed in various corners. Doesn't it remind you of the Blair Witch Project? Gives me the heebie jeebies.

I'm sure this looks a lot cuter when the flowers are in bloom. I could never grow cut offs up here in Minnesota, we just aren't zoned for it.

This was also in the guest room. Maybe I've watched too many Twilight Zone episodes, but I just can't sleep with that thing smiling at the end of the bed. You know it's just going to come to life at 2am and stuff that little baseball down your throat.

My mother inlaw is a clown collector. Must be the reason why she welcomed me with open arms into the Stiteler clan. The clowns are everywhere; tucked in cabinets and stacked on shelves. There's a glass case full of them at the top of the staircase that stare at you with that blank colorful look. Some are smiling, some look depressed as all get out.

I want my mommy...

Certification Continued

Mark Alt, the president of the MOU is dubbing this "Birdification". I wonder if this phrase will sweep the nation like the term "clister" did in reference to county listers.

I have learned that certification of bird watchers is in other states as well. Roy Harvey sent me a link to a birding certificate program in Florida. Check out the list of certification levels. This seems like a kinder gentler version. (Jeez, did I actually just type "kinder gentler"? I think I lost a little of my edge in Ohio.) Actually, it looks like your level is based on the size of your life list. At least this certification program doesn't threaten to release your information to your employers if you suck like they do in Wisconsin.

Are YOU A Certified Birder?

Now, I have seen almost everything. Kelly Larson found a group called the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative that is offering "birder certification" for birders in Wisconsin. Mike McDowell made fun of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union because of the listing supplement they put out--"That's going too far, how many lists do we need? Is a life list of birds in your backyard bird bath really necessary?" I say, if you get you kicks from it, go for it. Mike thought it made us MOUers look dorky. Well, now we have Wisconsin trying to certify birders. I was thinking of taking the test for fun when I noticed this on the instruction page:

There is a penalty for failing a test. Although the total number of failed tests taken will not be recorded on this site, this information may be made available to employers, agencies, etc., upon request.

Man, that is one hard core certification. What worries me is that I have seen other "certification" programs, one even advertised in some well known bird related magazines. We looked into taking one of them at the bird store and after reading some of the questions, were dismayed to learn that they were clueless about backyard bird feeding. I will need to learn more about this group before I take their test.

Quick Geek Out About Julie Zickefoose

Sometimes I look around and I hear that Talking Heads song "Once in a Lifetime" going through my head and I ask myself, "How did I get here?"

Hanging out with Julie and Bill last week is a prime example. I remember reading Julie's articles and seeing her artwork for years in Bird Watcher's Digest and thinking, "I bet she'd be a cool chick to hang out with." And the fact that I do get to do that now--well, it takes everything I have not to "geek out". I think I did okay last week, until I got to go into her studio and saw a proof of her book that is coming out this fall. This book looks so cool, a collection of stories and essays combined with her artwork. It's as if you are going to come across a hard cover edition of her nature journal. I always thought it would be neat to do a book that way, fill it with great information, factual and not too schmaltzy and fill it with beautiful bird images and Julie has accomplished that. You might want to give a head's up to your local bird store to see if they are going to carry it this fall, it's sure to be a great gift item for the holidays. I can't remember the title, but it's being published by Houghton Mifflin. I was so honored to be in her studio and to get a sneak peak at her upcoming book, I loved the yellow breasted chat, the bullfrog, the golden eagle soaring on the title page and she even has a print of starlings duking it out--you know it takes talent if an artist can do starlings and get you to appreciate their beauty.

I think the geek out has officially passed. This is going to be a great book--I'm so excited. There are so many great books that are going to come out in the next twelve months. Carrol Henderson is doing a book on what started about an egg collection in Iowa and has now turned into a history of bird watching. That's going to be an amazing book as well. He's been showing me snippets of what he has been collecting for the book. Last week he showed me a pair of 100 year old binoculars (boy we've come a long way, baby). The history of these eggs are just unbelievable and this going to be a great read.

Towage and Mansfield Signage

We learned the reason why the trusty Saturn was towed. We left on Wednesday morning. On Thursday morning, the city cleaned the streets and we didn't see the signs since we were gone. I'm sure we could fight it, but it would cost more money to fight it than to pay the $218 to get it home. GRRRRRRR.

So, to lighten the mood, I'm inluding some of the interesting signage that can be found around the fair town of Mansfield, Ohio:

Holy cow, if this is a problem, what's going to happen if the city decides to put a smoking ban into effect? This was on the door to a family restaurant where we had breakfast. I think it's a reasonable request.

This was advertised on a sign outside of Porky's Drive In. Perhaps Mega Pot is the reason the folks in Mansfield are so friendly? Incidentally, there was no request for customers using oxygen tanks to not smoke.

Ratch A Fratch Er Frick A Frack

The title of this entry makes little sense unless you read it with a Yosemite Sam voice.

Cinnamon has chewed an almost escape-sized hole through the bunny gate (left). She has grunted at any efforts to give her a treat. She is very cross and is doing nothing to help my current mood. Meanwhile, Kabuki the cockatiel is angrily ringing the bell in his cage to alert me of his displeasure over our absence.

A half hour ago Non Birding Bill and I exited our airport cab and noticed that our trusty Saturn was nowhere to be seen. We live in a metro area and park on the street with little to no problems and should have seen it outside of our apartment building. I always tend to choose sensible cars like minivans and station wagons because no teenager wants to steal one of those and go joy riding.

Where was our car: either it was stolen or towed. I hoped for the latter as opposed to the former and to some relief that is exactly what has happened. I'm not sure why it was towed, there were no snow emergencies while we were gone. People often park for a week or more in the same spot so I don't think that was the reason, I wonder if our alarm went off and annoyed neighbors? Who can say. I'm a tad irritated but relieved that it wasn't stolen. Better to at least know where it is. NBB is picking it up right now. I'll be curious to learn what he found out about the towage.

Where The Heck Is The Birdchick?!?!

Sorry for the lack of updates for the last few days. I went from being out in the sticks with Bill and Julie and having internet access to the small town of Mansfield in northern Ohio with hardly any internet access--I thought Panera Breads were everywhere. Anyway, we have found some momentary access before boarding our plane home and I promise lots of updates within the next twenty four hours...then it's off to Utah on Wednesday. Sheesh.

NEST ID: I am so sorry to promise to id a nest and then not post for four days--such guilt over a blog. The nest and eggs in the previous entry belong to a song sparrow. Bill found the nest in his yard while we were filming a segment.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and a note to those who may have sent me an email in the last four days expecting a reply: if you don't get that expected reply by this Thursday, please resend it. My inbox is still downloading mail and it's at 134...135...136...you get the picture.

I am told by our pet sitter that we are in for some major disapproval. Cinnamon has chewed through her bunny gate that restricts her access to mischief in our apartment. She must have found out about visiting Chet.

So, what does a birdchick do in Mansfield, Ohio without hot birding spots and internet access--she takes up Sodoku--and starts referring to herself in the third person (somebody slap me). I am a major puzzle junkie anyway--I have to really restrict myself around cryptograms, but without any kind of mental stimulation, I was weak and picked up a couple of books on Soduoku and can't put them down. It's a sickness, I need help. Fortunately, it's spring migration so I think I can kick this cold turkey...so to speak.

I did get some sort of birding in. I got the following "lifer" this morning:

Quick and Dirty Entry

Some things you may not realize about the famous Chet Baker from just reading about him on the internet:

Chet is a lot smaller in person than he seems over the internet, and fits most comfortably in your lap. That is Non Birding Bill above sitting with Chet. If you have not checked Bill of the Birds and Julie's entries, they are confirming that NBB (above) is an NB. This is the only time NBB has ever visited or hung out with any of my birding pals. And it's all because of Chet. He would not be in this part of Ohio were it not for the chance to meet the internet's cutest Boston terrier.

Chet's fur is a lot browner in person. If he looks a tad remorseful in this photo, it's because he's just been scolded for rolling in something stinky and no longer smells like chocolate covered cherries.

Chet is not used to entertaining guests all day long. He usually spends his days napping unless Julie goes for a walk and then sleeps soon afterwards. However, during our stay he has been bending backwards to keep Non Birding Bill entertained while all the birders enjoy the outdoors. I think he will be happy to finally sleep once we leave. He looks so tired, poor puppy!

Chet NEVER disapproves, no matter how we try and bribe him with treats.

"I don't approve of that!"

I've been having a blast here (it's like my own personal Sharon camp), something new to explore around every corner from trillium, to newts, to birds, birds, birds and more birds! Today I set out the NovaBird Camera hoping to get a towhee but got something even better: a field sparrow, it totally made my month:

Some chipping sparrows also showed up:

Speaking of sparrows, any guesses on who made this nest and laid these eggs?

This will be identified in the next entry.

Non Birding Bill has found a companion in Bill and Julie's youngest, Liam. Here they are at the computers, my little Mac Boys: