Born Again Bird Watcher

Our daughter’s science project took on a whole added dimension thanks to the addition of the Wingscapes BirdCam 2.0 into the tools she was using. As she set out to determine if our local feeder-visiting birds preferred pure black oil sunflower seed or a mix of sunflower seed, millet, and even a little dried fruit, she set up two identical feeders a few feet apart, measured equal amounts of each type of seed into each one, and the kept a daily log of how fast the seed level in each feeder decreased. (more…)

Stopping by the German pavilion at the 2010 SHOT Show, I discovered the Minox display. Prominently featured among their many fine product offerings were their new top-of-the-line APO-HG binoculars. (more…)

Courtesy of Brian Crane’s Pickles.

Wanting to make sure I was caught up with the latest trends in outdoor gear, I obtained a press pass, bought an airline ticket to Las Vegas, reserved a hotel room, and headed off to the 2010 Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Show. For those who might not know of this event, it’s the largest gathering of manufacturers and retailers who supply products to those interested in the activity areas noted in its name. (more…)

Having gotten caught up on all my writing and my lovely wife needing to use the computer, I pulled on my official RSPB Pulborough Brooks Reserve fleece, grabbed my digiscoping rig, and headed out toward the Dike Road in Scappoose to do a bit of a digiscoping workout. As the weather was cool and dry after a few solid days of rain, the birds were plentiful. However as the sky was still overcast, the light was a little less than ideal. Nevertheless, I’m rather pleased with some of the images I managed to record. (more…)

As July of this year gets into full swing, I expect to be planting my boots upon Peruvian soil for the first time in my life as a member of one of Gunnar Engblom and Kolibri Expeditions’ Manu tours. The details are not yet completely final but as it is already January and this will be my first trip not only to Peru but to South America as well, there is much preparation that must be done if I am to make the most of this extraordinary journey. For this reason I am declaring every Friday on Born Again Bird Watcher from this day until my return and likely sometime thereafter to be Peruvian Friday. Once a week readers can expect interesting (I hope) and informative posts on different aspects of Peru generally, Manu specifically, the flora and fauna to be found there, and all the different elements of preparation that one making such a trip will want to be sure and address before the journey commences. Be sure to check back regularly.

Regardless of how many times one has either read about, watched video footage of, or (best of all) observed them in the wild, the sheer awe and wonder hummingbirds inspire never seems to diminish; even the most commonly seen species visiting the most ubiquitous backyard nectar feeder is a perpetual source of momentary magic as it swoops and dives, perches briefly and then darts straight away on to its next source of nectar. So when I heard that PBS Nature was planning to premiere a new episode entirely devoted to hummingbirds this month, I full expected that it would be a program not to be missed – and after viewing a copy most kindly sent to me by the good people at Thirteen/WNET my expectations were more than fulfilled. (more…)

As I sat in my Astoria hotel room yesterday afternoon looking out on a flock of Western and Glaucous-winged Gulls that was perched on a deteriorating portion of a long-abandoned dock that the Columbia River had yet to fully claim, I suddenly found myself wondering what would have been had I taken up bird watching while still a boy living in that very same town. The spot where the hotel room now sits is the same place where decades ago my father and I sold the salmon we had caught; we were Columbia River gillnetters. What would it have been like to have been a young bird watcher with such an abundance of gulls, ducks, cormorants, terns, and other coastal birds so close at all times? (more…)

Let’s face it, just because many of us write blogs doesn’t mean we are masters of social media. Oh sure, we probably have Facebook and Twitter accounts, but are we really making the most of all the opportunities available for connecting with others – be they potential readers or fellow hobby enthusiasts – by utilizing such other tools as Digg, Newsvine, and all the rest? If you’re like me, you might have considered “covering all the bases” simply too much work. However as accomplished social media mavens will attest, there is much to be gained by going beyond the “Face-Tweet” world. (more…)

Time’s really getting tight now – too close to have much chance to buy anything online and have it delivered in time for Christmas; unless, of course, you know someone who has an iPod Touch or an iPhone who would really enjoy one of the great apps offered by iBird Explorer. (more…)