Escape From the Northwest

[Pat Anderson]

Brock, nicely put. Only in Fall City, we have some fine birds, pileated woodpeckers, stellar jays, hawks, and so forth, but the largest number of birds are starlings - which are "ornaments" that crap all over our eves and siding...

Birds are elegant ornaments on this sublime landscape.

I'll stay tuned, and keep the cat indoors.
:cat

 

[Hunkydory]

Hunted birds for sport and to eat for a good portion of my life. Now killing anything for sport ranks pretty high on my past "wished I hadn't done it list". Not that I wouldn't still kill if hungry and realize all the good that the likes of clubs and hunters such as Ducks Unlimited do, but now even the crows that crap on my boat and vehicles are safe from me. Filling a book with all the different types is still not my thing would rather just enjoy the looking and listening and when I find one exceptionally unique to me then identifying and learning more about it. Just after Christmas one of the exceptional varieties, a pair of great horned owls took to including the tree just out our back door as a place to spend the day. They have been returning about once a week and have provided us with immense enjoyment listening to their different sounds and then watching them take off for the nights hunt. In the learning more about them found they only pair up like this in Jan and Feb for mating and will find and use some other large birds nest for the results. These are the first great horned owls we've had the privilege to see and the pair of them viewed and listened to up close has made this winter already much shorter. I find myself everyday checking the tree to see if they have returned again for the day knowing that every time they do its likely the last time in my life I will see even one of these magnificent birds.

Ken, thanks for sharing you trip and though caravanning would definitely not be my thing it sounds like a wise way for you to travel in and safely enjoy Mexico at the present time.

Jay

 

[captd]

Yep, like most everything in life, we share - the lifelist, but before we could count a bird we both had to see it. A few times that made some additional excitement since, as you know so well, a sighting may be a fleeting moment.

The 500 we did in a rather relaxed fashion. Living in our camper, we would read about where to go and when for the birds we needed. Then work up a 'schedule' for our driving. The night before the 'search' we would study the books and DVD and listen to the calls we needed to hear. Then, usually at oh-dark-thirty we were out and looking. Great fun, and we traveled to places 'off the beaten path' and at times one (as a traveler) would not ordinarily be there. Great fun and met some fine people, birders and non-birders. Heartily recommend the quest to birders who are retired and have an RV or camper.

And do they mention that some of them are good to eat? :thup :wink

captd



Your trip sounds great -- we look forward to your tales.