A Slice of Life
Every December devoted hen watchers conduct Christmas Bird Counts all through the United States. Several of the counts are carried out yearly within the Minot Area. The counts are a part of a nationwide effort led by the Audubon Society.
Though I’ve by no means thought of myself a critical birder, I’ve been current at quite a few hen counts over the years and realized rather a lot by observing avid birders as they hear for sure sounds and determine mannerisms or traits of birds.
It’s not at all times coloration that’s used to determine birds. Sometimes, particularly when the sunshine isn’t the very best, wing beats and flight patterns are keys to identification.
I’ve at all times been fascinated by waterfowl and raptors, birds that piqued my curiosity in correct identification. There’s been some particular moments, similar to holding a tiny sow-whet owl on a birding tour within the Badlands.
I’ve been lucky sufficient to see endangered whooping cranes a number of instances, together with 9 of the uncommon birds on the bottom close to Crosby when their whole inhabitants numbered lower than 40. And I’ve by no means forgotten seeing a peregrine falcon fold up and dive on a cottontail rabbit.
There’s been many different moments too. Sometimes it was the honest curiosity in birds proven by the folks I used to be with. The checklist features a Fish and Wildlife Service biologist stationed at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge a number of years in the past. We have been taking an airboat tour of the marshes on the refuge after we received excessive centered, utterly caught.
While ready for assist to reach we had a beautiful dialog free from the noise of the airboat. He instructed me he hoped to get assigned to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Florida. He talked about his intense curiosity in birds, that are the first inhabitants of that sanctuary.
After that have I bought a few hen identification guides and stepped up my birding sport a bit. I can’t determine practically as many species as these whom I’ve accompanied on birding journeys, however I take pleasure in it nonetheless. It’s an fascinating exercise.
Sadly, there’s a downward development in hen numbers, significantly songbirds, that exhibits no signal of abating. Down too is the variety of hen watchers who actively take part in hen counts. Both tendencies are troubling.
Birds are an indicator of our altering atmosphere. There’s a purpose their numbers proceed to dwindle. It’s a slice of life worthy of watching.
