Category Archives: Year 9

Birding at the Top of the Watersheds

Year 9,

Ever heard the term “A Canary in a Coal Mine”? Supposedly years ago coal miners would bring canaries deep into the earth with them while mining. If oxygen levels fell to unsafe levels, the bird would demonstrate the effects first, pass out and thereby tell the miners to seek safety.

Earlier this week Cornell University issued their annual report on bird population health (or lack thereof). Folks, we’re killing our planet. The data is disheartening … from the report’s overview: “The United States and Canada have lost 3 billion breeding birds since 1970—a loss of 1 in 4 birds”. This is not a debate about climate change … the bird population loss is due to reduced or poisoned habitat. We all live in this habitat / land … A Canary in a Coal Mine. Think about it.

Personally I am very lucky and live on a migration highway (the North Shore of Lake Superior) and near the top of not one, but three watersheds (Mississippi River, Hudson Bay, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence). My local water is not downstream of anyone else.

Yesterday was a good example in that I tend to see birds most folks do not come across. Visiting the Forest Hill Cemetery I found a Rusty Blackbird. It was eating bugs in the middle of a small mudflat. Perhaps blackbirds do not excite you, but Rusty Blackbirds are just one small example of the problem. Cornell states: “The population has plunged an estimated 85-99 percent over the past forty years”.

Rusty Blackbird Finding Breakfast

On the Lookout for Merlins and other Raptors

Yesterday I also found a few Black-Billed Magpies up at Sax-Zim Bog.

ChicagoLand Sax-Zim Bog Birding Presentations (by me!)

Background, Year 9

Coming soon to a ChicagoLand Birding Club … me! Yup, this November I will be the guest presenter at two of the Chicago area’s birding clubs: the DuPage Birding Club and the Kane County Audubon Society. Attending is free, and I have donated my time. My primary topic will be Sax-Zim Bog which is where I am a volunteer naturalist. In lieu of the fee often paid to presenters both clubs have graciously agreed to make a donation to the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog! Here are the basic presentation details:

  • Wednesday,  November 9th at 7 pm
    • Kane County Audubon – St. Charles, Illinois
    • Details (follow link)
  • Thursday, November 10th at 7 pm
  • Presentation Outline
    • For both nights … via Google Docs
    • Not all sections will receive equal time and emphasis

While the majority of my presentation will focus upon Sax-Zim Bog, I will briefly touch on some of my other favorite winter birding locations for that individual who wants to be far from the madding crowd … such as the Stony River Forest Road (image taken early this morning just after sunrise).

And of course the star of Sax-Zim Bog … our year round native, the Great Gray Owl!

For those who want to see some of my own bird images, I invite you to take a look at a few of my own photo albums.

 

Old Vermilion Trail Skiing (and Birding)

Year 9

Old Vermilion is back! Long time readers (and skiers) know that I used to maintain Nordic Ski Trails in the woods on public land a bit north of Duluth. The last two winters were lost due to my health, but I am back with a vengeance and therefore so is Old Vermilion! Sunday I walked the trail with my bow saw and cleared downed trees from two years worth of weather. I may bring back a bird feeder or two, but no promises. The new location for public feeders at French River Lutheran Church is much easier to maintain, and right on the migration path up and down the shore. I even had supervision on Sunday afternoon to insure I did my trail clearing properly!

My Supervisor

Trail Map

Old Vermilion Trail … typical

A Shadow Selfie

For those of you who don’t know about my heart problem that almost killed me two years ago, here is my story as told by CBS-3. I’m back to trail running!