Misunderstood Birder Underwear


Wow, that was a title I never thought I would write.

Playing around on Magnificent Frigatebird, I found some underwear that might be confusing if you were dating a non birder. I should mention that all of these are available as either boxers or thongs.

First, in England, birders are called twitchers and instead of birding you go twitching. So, if you didn't know that, the following underwear could be interpreted as a warning label:


Something else is that in England, bird is another name for woman. So, this could be considered a bit randy:

I bet we won't be seeing that at a Wild Birds Unlimited any time soon. Also falling under the category of "you're just asking for it" would be this:


I'm just sayin'.

In some circles pishing can mean something other than making a "pish sound" to attract birds. It can be slang for urination. So this underwear might also be interpreted as some kind of odd warning or declaration of strange ability:

That's great. You go with your ability to pish anywhere. Or then there's this:

No, I don't want to hear a big pish story! Yikes! And then there this:

If you don't know what the device is pictured in the silhouette, this could be especially frightening underwear to a non birder. And let's not forget about the life list, not everyone knows what that is, so this could imply an entirely different meaning:

And it would just get worse as the number goes up:

Just kind of makes it sound like you've been around the block way too many times. Here's another:

Let's not beat around the bush on the above underwear, it kind of makes the wearer sound like a lot of birders have had a good time in that area. 'Nuff said. I think the following would go one step further for causing a non birder to run screaming from the boudoir:

The above is technically bird bander underwear, but terrifying to anyone not in the know to see that on a pair of panties.

And then this pair. Well this pair might make the person think that you want to do things with birds that you only read about certain movies stars doing in tabloids:

Just a warning to all you birders out there from someone who has been married to a non birder for a long time. Careful about your choice of underwear.

Ghost Bird Movie

Well, well, well, ivory-billed woodpeckers are still in the news! If you're not tempted to get one for the $50,000 reward, there's a movie called Ghost Bird coming about the whole IBWO phenom. Here's a trailer:

Two things struck me about the trailer. Number one, the use of the song "Where Is My Mind." I think the first time I heard that song was the movie Fight Club (love that movie). And for some reason I always thought of it in association with the ivory-bill. When I would listen to it, I would imagine what it would be like seeing one (and this was before the whole rediscovery thing). So, kudos to them for using it.

The second thing that struck me is that the Ivory-billed Skeptic blogger is in the documentary. I giggled aloud when I saw that. Man, that was a blog that stirred the pot and then totally disappeared. If you're wondering what happened that blog, now that people have lost interest in woodpecker skepticism, he's moved on to climate change skepticism (you go, boy). My fondest memory of that blogger was that once I linked to him in a very tongue and cheek manner and he sent me an email informing me that I need to take him a bit more seriously because David Sibley and Jerome Jackson read his blog. Oooooooooo.

Ah, good times.

Looks interesting, perhaps even a little bit Waiting For Guffman-ish. I think the press release says it will be out in January 2009.

Non Birding Bill Has Been Digiscoping

I was out at a meeting today and when Non Birding Bill picked me up he said, "We had a visitor while yo were away today. Then she showed me pictures on his iTouch of...

...a Cooper's hawk. I asked how he got the photos and he said he used my digiscoping equipment. Which is pretty incredible since he's never used my camera, let alone my birding equipment. I've shown him birds through my scope and he's been around when I digiscope, but he's never put the equipment together, let alone got a bird in scope view--which can be challenging if you haven't used one before.

He had a dickens of a time with it when he started. First, my camera batteries were about dead, but fortunately I always have some charging so he was able to put some fresh ones in. His second challenge was trying to figure out how to put the adaptor for the camera on--which only took three tries (and a couple of zoom errors).

Once he had the camera and adaptor together, had it on the scope, and zoomed out the vignetting, he had the challenge of shooting through the window pane, the storm window pane, and heat shimmer coming off the windows from the radiator.

But he got a few good shots and with a little tweaking in iPhoto on my part he got some VERY blogable photos for a husband who claims to be uninterested in birding. I asked how he noticed it and he said he was on the futon and saw it fly right into the tree outside the apartment windows. A few crows flew into the tree but were not seriously mobbing it. He got a video of it too and when it moved, you could see that it had a full crop and must have eaten recently. Also, the bird is sitting on one foot, I think it was digesting. NBB also said it perched in the tree for a good ten minutes. He tried to open the windows to get even better shots, but as he was lifting the storm window, a screen slammed down and startled the Cooper's hawk.

I love this kind of confused look the hawk is giving the camera in this photo. I wonder if this is the same hawk who showed up as an immature bird last year and took a bathe on the apartment building roof across the way from our apartment? Since she's not banded, there's no way to know for sure, but it's fun to wonder.

So, with a little tweaking and a good stationary bird, even a non birder like NBB can use my digiscoping set up.

Interesting Red-tailed Hawk Story

How can I be expected to pay attention to gulls when there are immature red-tailed hawks in the sun. I've been going out and watching gulls when I can. I figured that I know my hawks so well since I watch them constantly--especially in the fall, that maybe if I watch herring and ring-billed gulls enough, I'll find a Thayer's or glaucous gull on my own. But I try to watch gulls and I find a perfectly posed red-tailed hawk in the sun and had to take photos.

Speaking of red-tailed hawks, I got this interesting note from Lori Arent, Clinic Manager for The Raptor Center:

"On Monday, the clinic received a banded red-tailed hawk that was dead on arrival. We checked our database and the bird was here before! It originally came in on 6/1/07 from Lesser Prairie as a brancher that was suffering from a maggot-infested neck wound. Eight days later, the bird was fostered with a new red-tailed hawk family in New Hope, MN. The adoption obviously worked well and the bird survived a year and a half until being struck by a car near the airport (Hwy 5) a few days ago."

It's sad that ultimately the hawk was hit by a car, but interesting to get actual proof that putting young raptors in foster nests when it's no longer possible to put them in their original nests actually works (and proof that raptors can't count).

Want To Band Birds In the Peruvian Amazon?

SPRING 2009 BIRD-BANDING WORKSHOP IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON (21-31 Mar 2009): Ten days of bird surveying and bird-banding as we continue to document the avifauna of a private reserve on the Tambopata River, Madre de Dios Peru.

The workshop will include training in bird survey and capture techniques (ground and canopy mist nets and bal-chatri traps). It will also offer a rare opportunity to examine plumage variation by species, age and sex up-close on rainforest birds in the hand. Birds will be individually marked for long-term monitoring and research. We plan to work in different habitat types around the reserve and will leave plenty of time for birding and independent explorations of the surroundings. A field trip to the nearby Lago Sandoval is also included.

The workshop will take place at the Centro de Education, Ciencia y Conservacion Tambopata (CECCOT), a young conservation, education and research center dedicated to promote the knowledge and conservation of the region’s natural history with a minimal human footprint. The center is rustic with thatch-covered cabins, a large and comfortable common area, shared cabins, composting toilets and cold water camping showers, limited solar-powered electricity available. Requirements: serious interest in birds, research and conservation (although previous experience not required) and willingness to stay in very rustic/shared conditions in the rainforest. Good mobility. Yellow fever shot, immunizations and your own travel insurance.

Cost: US$2200 includes: Roundtrip air-fare to Lima (either from Los Angeles or Miami), in-country transportation and airport taxes, lodging and meals, field trip costs, materials and instructional fees. Group size 9-14. For detailed information and to determine availability contact us before 1 Feb 2009: DANIEL FROEHLICH (EM: dan AT ceccot.org, PH: 206-595-2305) or URSULA VALDEZ (EM: uvaldez AT ceccot.org, PH: 206-219-9924).

South Padre Island Logo Contest!

South Padre Island's Birding and Nature Center is holding a contest for a new logo:

Those who are talented in art and graphic designs are encouraged to submit their unique, individual creation to the South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation for consideration as the official Logo. The winner will not only receive area-wide recognition for their work, but will receive:

• Certificates for two, 2-nite stays at the La Quinta Beach Resort,
• Certificates for four free Friday night Seafood Buffets from Isla Grande Beach Resort (formerly the Radisson Resort)
• A year’s membership for the winner and his/her family (family membership or a total of four individual memberships) to the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center which allows free entrance into the facility and its boardwalks;
• Free entrance for the winner to all programs sponsored by the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center for one year.

They are looking for that special picture, symbol or graphic that best describes the Birding and Nature Center here on South Padre Island, which may, if approved, be used for signage, business letterhead, business cards, and any/all advertising and promotions for events and programs. The ideal submission will look attractive in color or in black and white; easily ‘fits’ within the uses of letterhead, business cards, etc.; and is easily reproducible, enlarged and/or reduced.

The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center is one of the nine locations within the World Birding Center (WBC): a collaborative initiative between Texas Parks and Wildlife and area towns, to introduce residents and visitors of the Rio Grande Valley to the plants and animals, especially birds, which make the Valley such an interesting and unique place to be. Each WBC site is located in a particularly unique ecosystem in an effort to provide visitors of each site a new and different glimpse into the wonderful ecology surrounding us here in the Rio Grande Valley. The ultimate goal for each of these sites, besides acting as an economic generator for nature and eco-tourism, is to educate the locals and visitors of the Valley to that which makes this area so unique. By so doing, we hope to instill love and pride of this area, and ultimately the desire to conserve our nature resources.

ARE THERE RESTRICTIONS ABOUT WHO CAN PROVIDE A SUBMISSION?
No. We are sending this request out to the public in general, young and older alike; to schools, universities, trade shows, etc. We have no age requirements or restrictions and will not limit the number of submissions anyone would like to provide.

SUBMISSION
If your unique and original submission embodies these visions, missions and/or goals, we’d like to see them. Please submit the original (if a work of art) as well as a digital version of the piece that can be reproduced, reduced and/or enlarged. Send your digital work via e-mail to: spiedc@aol.com; or via postal carrier (in paper and on CD) to: South Padre Island EDC, 600 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, TX 78597 Attn: Cate Ball, Manager Birding & Nature Center. Please don’t forget to provide us your name, phone number and mailing address so we can contact you.

DEADLINE:
December 30, 2008 at 5 pm.

You can read the full contest rules here.

Rusty Blackbird Blitz

From The Birding Community E-Bulletin:

Vounteers are needed to look for and count wintering rusty blackbirds (not grackles or starlings):

Rusty Blackbird has been a species in serious decline over the past four decades. Some estimates put the drop at over 80 percent during this period, but the precise figure is not known. Neither are the causes for decline known, although winter habitat loss and degradation are likely candidates. These blackbirds are becoming scarce and patchy in their winter distribution, making it difficult to focus the research and management efforts needed to save them.

Volunteers are being sought to help locate wintering concentrations of Rusty Blackbirds in order to hopefully get more accurate population numbers. The intent is to have an all out "blitz" to locate Rusty Blackbirds and in order to create a map of wintering Rusty Blackbird "hot spots" that will help focus future research, monitoring, and conservation attention.

During a nine-day period in February, volunteers are being asked to search in any locations and habitats deemed as potentially suitable for wintering Rusty Blackbirds, particularly for sizable flocks or concentrations of birds (i.e., dozens or even hundreds of birds).

Areas of note will be revisited in the future to determine if they are indeed Rusty Blackbird hot spots. Search efforts will be concentrated in the east-central United States, from eastern Nebraska to eastern Texas, and from southern New Jersey to Florida.

The dates for these searches are to be February 7 -15 -, the period when Rusty Blackbirds are expected to be easiest to find (i.e., males are singing) and the population is relatively sedentary.

The search effort is being led by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center along with assistance from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, all of which will be using eBird as the vehicle for data collection.

Click here for instructions and information on the identification, habitat preferences, range map, and general protocols for the Rusty Blackbird Count.

December Birds & Beers

It's time for another Birds and Beers!

Thursday, December 11 at 6pm at Merlin's Rest!

I don't know if it will be the rip roarin' scotch tasting it was last time, but I can guarantee that it will be fun and we'll talk some birds. We can talk about the MOU Paper Session, the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas, owls, crossbills, upcoming bird festivals, bird feeding, Christmas Bird Counts, banding, the topics are limitless. And unlike all the other holiday parties out there--you don't need to bring a gift or baked good! We'll get it all from Merlin's Rest!

Birds and Beers is an informal gathering of birders of all abilities--if you're interested in birds, you're invited. You can meet other birders--maybe find a carpool buddy, ask about where to find target birds, share cool research projects you might be working on, ask a bird feeding question, share life lists--the sky is the limit. It's low key and it's fun.

That Darn Kitty Hive

I just got the current issue of WildBird Magazine in the mail and there's a photo of me at the beehives! I'm so proud, part of our award winning Kelli Hive is pictured in a birding magazine. I feel like I'm crossing some sort of border by getting bees in a birding magazine. Now sure what that border is exactly, but it's cool in my little brain. Incidentally, you can send in your own photo of yourself reading WildBird, you just need to make sure to take it someplace where you do a lot of birding. Which for me happens to be around my beehives. Check out this killer titmouse photo I got near the hives on Sunday:

Nothing like mixed nuts and brush pile to make a titmouse come in and give you his sexy side.

We went out to our two remaining beehives to prep them for winter (the lovely lady above is the Kitty namesake). We are running a couple of experiments. There are beekeepers of two camps: 1 is to insulate your hives in the winter and the other is to not insulate. In our neck of the woods where subzero is the norm in January and February, insulating your hive makes sense. However, some beekeepers feel that a strong hive can stay warm without the insulation and that the insulation gives the hive a false sense of how cold it really is outside. Foragers come out too soon and die, weakening the hive.

We decided to insulate the Kelli hive and this year, Non Birding Bill made sure the insulation was not going to come off like it did last year. He duct taped the crap out of it.

We decided to not insulate the Kitty hive and to take her down to two boxes instead of three. Mr. Neil has read that this will work in our neck of the woods and I was skeptical but he brought me around to his way of thinking. The idea is that the cluster of bees does not have to travel as far to get to the food storage. Last winter, the Kitty hive died because the cluster got stuck were there was no food and starved to death. So with lack of insulation and a small space to keep warm, she should be good to go.

Note how Mr. Neil and NBB are a good distance from the hive? We foolishly went out to the hives with no beesuits or smokers. As we checked inside the Kitty Hive (and true to her cranky nature) some bees flew out and one stung me through my winter glove. Everyone took a step back. Interestingly enough--the sting did not hurt nearly as much as my first sting. It is true, the more you get stung, the less painful the sting--although it has been rather itchy the last two days.

We were a tad worried about Kitty when we came out, her buzz was not as loud as Kelli's and when the hive was opened, I thought I heard that kind of dissonant buzz that you get when your hive has gone queenless. It may just be the winter low-key buzz. I'm not going to worry about it. Requeening just does not work out for us and I refuse to intervene on that any more.

We will check on our girls a bit in the winter. Mr. Neil suggested we go out with a spray bottle of sugar water to spray the cells if they look low on food. We are also trying to use some newspaper in the tops of the hive to absorb moisture and that will need to be replaced.

This bee season went by too fast.