Category Archives: Background

Minnesota Birding News Updated

Background, Year 8

The forecast for the next week is for the temperature to drop to between -15F and -20F every night, and never get above zero during the day. Fierce winds will make the windchills even colder. In short, I don’t expect to do much birding. It is dangerous to be outside for more than short periods of time.

The weather gave me the perfect opportunity to update my Minnesota Birding News Service. This free service installs on any Android and/or iOS device, as well as a PC or MacIntosh computer. Whenever any of 39 birding services post an update, you will be automatically informed and be able to read the new content via an app (not via email).

Here is how the service might look on your mobile device. These are screenshots I took and annotated when originally creating the Minnesota News Service. The service utilizes a technology called RSS and an app named Feedly. This term and app are explained in detail with video tutorials via the Minnesota News Service Web Page.

The 39 “feeds” are distributed across these classifications:

  • Minnesota Bird Areas
  • Minnesota Bird Blogs
  • Minnesota Bird Orgs
  • USA Bird Blogs
  • USA Bird Orgs
  • International Birding

Feedly Post Install Screenshot #1

Feedly Post Install Screenshot #2

Feedly Post Install Screenshot #3

Do you want book #1,000?!

Background, Year 8
My goal in writing about birds and photographing them for children’s books has always been to increase the joy and enjoyment of nature for families. It has never been to make money. This morning I paid the sales tax bill for last year, and closed the account on last year’s sales. While certainly not required, I wanted to update folks on my children’s book sales financial results.
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Net financial gain over the past two years … 2019 and 2020 (Snowy’s Search for Color and Do You Hoot?): $180.
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I have taken ZERO money out of my book account for myself. All proceeds have been used to pay for publishing, shipping and taxes. I am certain the $180 gain will be put towards future book expenses.
  • Books Given Away at no charge (PDF copies): 633 copies
  • Printed versions of books sold: 366 copies
  • Total books sold or given away: 999 copies

Thus, you can see this effort is not a “get rich scheme”. If you would like to download a free PDF copy of any of my birding children’s books and perhaps obtain the 1,000th copy, please follow this url. Thank you. (direct link: Snowy’s Search for Color)

Cheating Death … Embracing Life!

Background, Year 7
Yesterday afternoon I ran two miles. I was scared silly before taking my run, but last Friday medical staff removed my medical restrictions. This was my first workout where I was outside, by myself and not wearing a heart monitor. The physical rehab staff want me to restart my normal active lifestyle. While two miles is not a long distance, it felt like a marathon to me. Yesterday’s run even had 130 feet of elevation climb (and fall) … the equivalent of running up an eleven story building.
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While that may not seem an impressive distance, for me the run was HUGE … a full marathon while fighting off fear. It was a bit less than two months ago I collapsed while trail running and cheated death. While I knew I had a genetically misshapen heart valve, no one realized that valve had recently deteriorated. Most folks with similar valve issues live their entire lives without any problems.
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The graphic shown at the bottom of this post is from my Garmin which I was wearing while running that fateful day. Apparently I lay on the ground for 30 minutes before my body and heart reset enough to allow me to hike to the trailhead (with assistance) to meet the ambulance. The new “Richard Hoeg” has a new heart valve and a pacemaker. My medical tests did not reveal any heart disease.
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Only today was I willing for the first time to look at my Garmin data. Yesterday’s data was much, much, much less eventful! I am not considered fully recovered yet from my open heart surgery, but the Rehab Staff say I am “knocking it out of the park” in terms of recovery. The nurses all say the fact that I was in excellent shape before my troubles is now helping me recover quicker.
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Still … weird to look at the map and timeline of when I cheated death. I intend to run again today. Thus, an update on my health status … I am doing very well and have even gained back 3 of the 16 pounds I lost over the past two months.
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I hope folks don’t mind the “non bird related post”. My recent journey has given me a much great appreciation for family, friends and nature.
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Click / press upon graphic if you wish to read details.

Normally I do not post photographs of myself, but for this post it seems appropriate. This image was taken two weeks ago at Thanksgiving dinner … only Molly and me given the Pandemic, but I had a HUGE amount for which to be thankful. I am also enjoying a glass of Chardonnay with my dinner … approved by my doctor!