My secret was discovered early this morning in Sax-Zim Bog. I am a bird photography snob! While others try to pad birding lists, I swoon over certain birds and ignore others! My good friend Greg discovered that fact this morning. When we saw a female Bluebird in the bog, a sight I have to admit I had never seen in Sax-Zim, I did not even attempt to take a photograph. The sun angle and the distance were reasonable; thus I could not use that excuse for not pressing down on the shutter. Greg asked me why I did not take a photo and I responded … “It wasn’t the male”. Greg used polite words, but the message was … “you’re a bird photography snob!” Guilty as charged!
In 1964 when I was eight years old my parents gave me my first birding books, National Geographic’s “Song and Garden Birds of North America” and “Water, Prey and Game Birds of North America”. Over the years with moves to college, a wedding and our first home, and now our return to Duluth, these two books have remained with me through every move (most books have not survived). I know that based upon what I saw in those books, my love of certain birds (and not others) were shaped. Growing up in the Boreal Forest I never saw grassland birds. The cover page of Song and Garden Birds was a Meadowlark. I LOVE Meadowlarks, and till I retired a few years ago and had time to devote to both birding and photography, I had never seen a Meadowlark. Growing up I never knew there were grassland birds 50 miles away from Duluth. My parents were not birders. Here is a photograph from each book. There is still a paper clip on the eagle / osprey page from years ago. To this day I can not help but stop the car and watch whenever I see either of these two birds.
One of the other birds I loved, but never saw were Bobolinks. Well, only 100 yards away from the female Bluebird I found this Bobolink. My camera came out and the image was taken.
Oh yes, I also grew up reading dog books, and loved Jim Kjellgaard’s series, Big Red, Irish Red, and Outlaw Red. I was convinced I would never have any other kind of dog EXCEPT an Irish Setter. WRONG! For years until she died a few years back, a rescue dog named Spot and I were inseparable. She and I were joined at the hip. The American Kennel Club never recognized Spot’s breed, a Bassamation. This mutt was a combination of a basset hound and a dalmatian and I loved her. Perhaps I am not a snob after all … just extremely picky on who gets my attention and love! How about you???
Big Red
Spot and I out on NorthStar Lake (and Cyrus)
Rich, to a great degree we are birds of a feather when it comes looking for birds, and I’m not aware of how many varieties I have seen; however, I think that the ladies (birds, that is) have plenty of charm – female Cardinals and Pine Grosbeaks come to mind. Then again, it struck me last year while looking at a lifetime favorite – our own Kingfisher – that the female is actually more colorful than the male. She accessorizes with that nice rusty belt. I can’t offhand think of another example of a North American female with more color, although I do prefer the coloration of the female to the male when it comes to Cardinals.
Love this post! And Spot looks to be the perfect dog.
When I was in 4th grade, my teacher, Mrs Reynolds taught us about birds. She was the one who is responsible for my bird geekiness. When was young, used to see lots of Meadow Larks sitting on fence posts singing their hearts out. Now none. Sad.