The Yardbirds...

Today I will be at the North Coast Nature Festival at the Rocky River Nature Center. I set up most of my booth Friday evening, but I have a few last minute details to work on this morning.

I have everything loaded in my car, extra props, cash box(just in case someone actually buys a photo!), Bob...and my camera...

So, I'm looking out the kitchen window, checking out the feeders before I leave, when I hear a Red-bellied Woodpecker calling...from the ground below the window. I thought "That's an odd place for a Woodpecker." When I looked down, it wasn't a Woodpecker, it was a Brown Thrasher feeding in our garden! Quick, run and get the camera...crap...it's in the car! I would scare it away if I open the door.

Next best thing...yell at the Doodles in the shower.
"HEY! THERE'S A BROWN THRASHER IN THE GARDEN, WHERE'S YOUR CAMERA!"....
"WHAT?"...
(I repeat my exclamation...)
"WHAT?"...
I yell louder and she tells me where the camera is. I get a few shots...I really need to figure out her camera...it's so little and it doesn't have enough buttons...very confusing. She get's out of the shower, she didn't understand what I was saying for the most part...and she missed the bird, so sad.

Here ya go...a Brown Thrasher in our garden...I gotta run now!

Stop by and see me if you're in the area! The fest runs Saturday and Sunday 10am until 5pm!

Room For All!

An empty boardwalk at Magee Marsh.

Me and the Doodles were at the boardwalk at Magee Marsh this past weekend(go figure!)...and we heard a few very disturbing comments...and I'm sure I'll hear a few more after this post.

Some of the 'regular' birders at Magee are complaining about the upcoming Biggest Day in American Birding festival. "They're going to ruin MY favorite place to bird!" "How am I supposed to see MY warblers with all of these amateurs?" You get the idea...now I usually try to keep a humorous outlook on all things birdy, but this is really pissing me off.

With all of the habitat being destroyed on a daily basis, birds coming closer to extinction, isn't it a GOOD idea to get MORE people involved in our past time? Isn't that the point of the Audubon Society, American Birding Conservancy, the American Birding Association and all of the local bird clubs that need new members?

Yes, the boardwalk WILL be more crowded during the festival, with folks that may have NEVER seen a warbler before. Imagine their excitement when they spot one of those colorful critters! We learned so much during our visits to Magee during International Migratory Bird Days in the past. With the crowds, we could over hear descriptions of what we were seeing and learn about these birds and how far they traveled to get here.

Yep, we were just two 'amateurs' hogging up some 'regulars' birds and boardwalk...now look what has happened to us! We volunteer with different bird groups, we help raise money for birds and habitat and more, we even donated an acre of land in Ecuador for habitat restoration!

Please imagine what other new birders could do for the world...and make a little room on the boardwalk...

Don't be a grumpy old Coot!

Imagine seeing a Golden-winged Warbler for the first time!

...Or someone visiting from Canada!

Or discovering a quiet little Black-throated Green Warbler that the regulars have passed by.

How would you learn about the amazing journey of a Blackpoll Warbler without the help of so many birders around?

Then there's my favorite, the Black-and-white Warbler. I want to share this joy with as many people as possible!

And the Doodles wants everyone to see a TimberDoodle in real life!

Kenn Kaufman has an article in the latest issue of Bird Watchers Digest
on this very subject. It's really worth reading!

It's time to spread our wings and share our love of birds with as many as possible!

Everything Butt Warblers...

An American Robin after a rough night at the worm bar...

This will be a long post, I had soooo many photos from last weekend and i didn't get around to sharing during the week. You can blame it on the fighting Goosesessessss.

There's just so much to see at Magee Wildlife Area! You REALLY need to visit if you haven't yet. Now that the Biggest Week In American Birding is almost here, everyone will be focusing (pun, ha!) on warbly things and all of our other friends will feel left out.

So, for all of our 'other' feathered friends, this post's for you!

This is what always happens when I see Blue-winged Teal.
I can hear them laughing when they fly...stoopid ducks.

The Brown Creeper photos are getting better!

This Cooper's Hawk didn't seem to affect any of the little birds zooming around.
Maybe they know he's not a very good shot...

"Merwhainpumpse"
Sorry, Mr. Downy's mouth was full, I couldn't understand him either...

Great Egret being one with the marsh.
They're good at yoga, very well known fact.

I wonder what a Hermit Thrush looks like from the front...

The Doodles spying eye spied this Northern Flicker flicking.

A Pied-billed Grebe being greeby.

Just in case you were wondering if we saw any Red-winged Blackbirds, the answer would be yes.

Here's my token cute photo of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet singing.
He's singing because the Golden-crowns are gone and he gets more bugs now.

Rusty Blackbirds always look at me like this.
I wonder if something was hanging from my nose...

"Quit taking pictures and GET MY HEAD OUTTA HERE!"
This is a Prothonotary Warbler box, NOT a Tree Swallow box!

This is a Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers belly. Yellowy, eh?

...And as the Trumpeter Swans sail off into the sunset...so do I.
Toodles!