Birding season on the Washington Birding Trail

By Bob Difley

Potlatch State Park is Site 47 from the "Olympic Loop" of Audubon Washington's Great Washington State Birding Trail. The park, off Highway 101 (at milepost 335.1) on the Hood Canal south of Hoodsport in Mason County, is a 57-acre park with Hood Canal saltwater shoreline and mixed forest.

And this is the best season for birding, from now through Spring, especially during high tide which is the best for viewing waterfowl. Expect to see common loons, surf scoters, greater scaups, common and Barrow's goldeneyes, buffleheads, red-breasted mergansers; horned, western, and red-necked grebes. Check foliage for red crossbills, varied thrushes, Steller's jays, fox sparrows, and band-tailed pigeons.

Find out more here.

Birding explodes in the UK

"For the news is that on the quiet there has been a birdwatching revolution. A recent survey by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) spells it out: six million Britons now enjoy birdwatching every couple of weeks. And membership of the RSPB now exceeds one million (a figure that has doubled within a decade).

"Graham Madge, of the RSPB, reports that this spring, there was a 20% increase of visitors to the UK's reserves compared with last year. It appears that more women are birdwatching and that dowdy is no longer the name of the game. Unlikely fans abound: Mick Jagger, Van Morrison, Joanna Lumley, Daryl Hannah and Cameron Diaz – the list is long.

"At the same time – and it can be no accident – a flock of exceptional bird books is being published this autumn, each so remarkable that it's likely to have a whole new audience reaching for the binoculars."

Read more of this article on birding written by England's Observer. Seems it is becoming very popular across the pond.

Choosing a bird book

Most of us birdwatchers own several birding guides, both national and regional. The most common division for regional guides are the Western and the Eastern versions. Some publishers also print separate Texas and Florida guides. Books vary also on their format, with some using photographs and others using drawings.

Though most birders have a preference, both types can prove valuable for identification and should be on the birders bookshelf. The advantage of photos is that the photo is a more accurate version of what you will actually see when out birding. However, drawings will show more detail in the bird's coloring, markings, and other features that you may not see in the wild, and may give you clues of what to look for. Using both guides is often helpful in making an identification.

The Sibley Guide to Birds along with the Eastern and Western regional guides by David Allen Sibley are among the best in the drawing category. All birds were drawn by Sibley. The Field Guide to Birds of North America by the National Wildlife Federation (and available in RVbookstore.com) is in the photographic version and has more than 2,000 images taken by leading nature photographers showing birds in their natural habitat.

Whichever book or books you choose, make sure it contains the following features:

• Shows birds in all plumages, in all its seasonal changes.
• Gives size measurements of bird and its wingspan.
• Shows birds in flight, illustrating the wing patterns and colors to look for.
• Shows seasonal range and migratory routes for each bird.
• Discusses or shows similar birds that could result in mistaken identities, and tells how to differentiate between them.
• Describes the bird's various voice sounds: mating calls, singing, warning, etc.
• Describes bird's usual habitat, feeding patterns, and behavior.

When you travel through a new area, check with visitor centers or chambers of commerce for regional birding guides, a checklist of regional birds by season, and for the locations of noteworthy birding locations and birding trails.

Eagle Watch Weekends at Kentucky State Parks

Kentucky State Parks has been conducting eagle watch tours for forty years, and will offer the same popular programs in four state parks this season. The tours take place at four Kentucky resort parks during weekends in January and February on an excursion yacht, barges, pontoon boats, and by van, depending upon the location and tour. They are led by state park naturalists and Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists.

Ticket prices for the tours range from $20 to $55 a person. Most tours last between two and three and one half hours. The weekends also include an evening program on birds of prey.

The parks, phone numbers and dates for the Eagle Watch Weekends are:

* Dale Hollow State Resort Park (800-325-2282): Jan. 15-16; Jan. 22-23; Feb. 5-6.

* Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (800-325-0146): Jan. 15-17.

* Lake Barkley State Resort Park (800-325-1708): Jan. 29-31.

* Kenlake State Resort Park (800-325-0143): Feb. 5-7.

Read more about viewing bald eagles on Kentucky's Eagle Watch weekends here.

Cae May Point: Raptor Capital of North America

Now through the end of November is the height of birdwatching season on the Atlantic Flyway route of migratory birds that goes right over New Jersey's Cape May State Park. The bird-viewing deck along the dunes near the lighthouse at Cape May Point is one of the best spots in North America to see migratory birds. More than 60,000 birds of prey migrate the Atlantic Flyway each autumn.

The spacious park at Cape May Point is called the Raptor Capital of North America because of its bird-watching reputation.

One of the reasons Cape May State Park is so renowned for birdwatching is because many of the birds hover above the park before flying over the large body of water between Cape May and Delaware. On a promising birdwatching day at the park -- after a cold front and with clear skies -- there will already be a dozen birders with cameras and binoculars at the ready before sunrise.

Beginner bird watchers and enthusiasts are invited to Beginning Birding for Adults, every third Saturday of the month at Palmyra Cove Nature Park, where participants learn how to spot the different species of birds while exploring the cove's 250 acres of woodlands and tidal wetlands.
Classes are from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Cost $10 per person. Read more about hawks at Cape May here.

Whooping cranes in trouble

A predicted 247 endangered whooping cranes will descend on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas this year, down from the 270 that arrived last year. This will be the first decline in seven years for this population of 5 ½ foot tall white birds, which is the only naturally occurring crane population in the world.

This decline, in fact, any decline in population is of concern to wildlife specialists. The flock population, which usually grows by half a dozen every year, fell in South Texas last winter as the result of food and freshwater shortages brought on by the extended drought.

This year whoopers hatched only 52 chicks in Canada — a six-year low — and only 22 survived. The youngsters won't be counted as part of the overall population until they make it to the refuge for the first time. The arriving whoopers willthen likely face the prospect of a shortage of food supplies in Aransas again this year. Their prime food sources — blue crabs and wolfberries — have yet to rebound from the drought, which may cause some whoopers to starve.

Read more on the plight of the whooping cranes here.

Project FeederWatch

Birdwatchers can now turn their passion into meaningful research through Project FeederWatch bird count. Facilitated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the project involves volunteers across the nation helping scientists monitor bird life in North America. The final result is a comprehensive report and publication.

The great public bird count is scheduled for November through April each year. Those wanting to take part in a given year must enroll by the end of February. The task involves making a tally of the total birds seen at a specific point at a given time. This method prevents duplicate counting and avoids constant monitoring of the count area.

The cost of participation is $15 which covers most of the project’s costs. In addition, all participants receive a kit containing a poster for identifying birds, a wall calendar, a guide to proper bird feeding, a form for counting, and directions for using these items. U.S. residents are also given an annual subscription to the Lab of Ornithology’s newsletter.

Data collected is featured in science publications and frequently used by ornithologists and birdwatchers throughout North America. The count provides a real opportunity to contribute to the well-being and research of birds that share our habitat. Another benefit is finding previously unknown birds in the neighborhood.

Anyone can take part in the bird count,which in the past has included retirees, youth groups, nature centers, schools, and birding clubs. The amount of time spent counting birds is up to the participant. The FeederWatch organizers provide multiple scenarios for both days and hours invested. As the strategy is to count the birds present at a given point in time, those with little free time on their hands can still provide accurate information. The location for counting can vary though it must be consistent. An area with a bird feeder or birdhouse can be ideal, though any bird-friendly location will suffice.

Project FeederWatch is a win-win for those with a love of birdwatching. One can admire them while providing a meaningful contribution to their well-being. To read more about Project FeederWatch, visit the FeederWatch Web site.

Birdwatching in . . . Rwanda?

You may be more likely to associate the African nation of Rwanda with abject poverty than birdwatching, but the nation is this week participating in the World Travel Market 2009 (WTM), the premier global event for the travel industry held in London from November 9 to 12.

This year Rwanda is showcasing what they describe as the vast opportunities and new experiences available to tourists (that are expected to exceed 780,000 visitors!), one of which is a new canopy walk in Nyungwe forest--which, at its completion scheduled for January 2010, will be the first of its kind in the region. It will provide a unique view of the forest and offer an unusual tree canopy birdwatching experience. Who knew?

Read more about birding in Rwanda.

Take the National Parks birding quiz

Did you know that the ruby-throated hummingbird breeds throughout the eastern U.S. but that other hummingbird species are seldom seen in the eastern U.S? Or where is the location of the largest seabird colony in the US?

But I bet you already knew that some trumpeter swans over winter in Yellowstone National Park, while others migrate south, and that all of the more than 300 California condors alive today, including about 170 living in the wild, are descendants of an original 22 birds that were captured in Southern California and put into a captive breeding program.

These birding facts and more are part of a National Parks Traveler teaser, the National Park System Quiz 73: Birds. Try the test yourself and see how knowledgeable you are on the birds of the National Park system.

Picky, picky: The right food to feed birds

Before you pick up the first bag of bird seed you come to off the supermarket shelf, you might want to consider Michael Russell's advice on the Bird Watching Now Web site for what to offer the birds that are likely to visit your feeders.

"The best seeds to provide for your dinner guests are sunflower seeds," he writes. "These seeds attract cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, goldfinches, purple finches, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches." Russell also suggests niger in a special tube feeder to attract goldfinches, but warns that it is expensive and not to waste it. Safflower seeds attract cardinals, titmice, chickadees, and downy woodpeckers. Another nice feature of these white seeds is that squirrels leave them alone.

Russell also suggests scattering white millet, a very cheap seed, on the ground for ground-feeding juncos, mourning doves, sparrows, and quail. But he also warns--and this is an eye opener--not to buy bags of mixed birdseed. Too often birds will come across the seeds it doesn't like and simply fly away, not to return. However, if you put specific seeds for specific birds at your feeding locations, you are more likely to attract the birds you want.

You can read Mike Russell's entire article on the birdwatchingnow Web site.

Audubon's binocular guide

Audubon Magazine online has released their Audubon Guide to Binoculars that looks at binoculars from an expert birder's perspective. The writer, Wayne Mones, is a birdwatching tour leader and points out features that a non-birder might not appreciate. He suggests that when purchasing binoculars, you base your choice on their function specifically for what you intend to do with them, which is birdwatching.

“Bird-worthy binoculars must be bright enough to show subtle features in poor light and sharp enough to resolve fine detail. They must focus quickly enough to “get on” a fast-moving bird," Wayne says. "They must have a field of view wide enough to locate birds rapidly and follow them in flight. They must also provide accurate color rendition, have no observable distortion in the center of the field, and should not fog up in wet or humid weather. And they should work with or without eyeglasses."

Read his full report and see the results of his individual binocular tests based on his "birdwatching expert's" criteria.

Ken Kaufman's top birding experiences

Expert birder and bird book writer, Ken Kaufman, when asked listed his top ten location experiences that American birdwatchers might want to add to their life list. Following are the ones in the US.

1. The Platte River in Nebraska where the Sandhill Cranes stop in their northern migration. You may see half a million of the loud croaking and very large birds. Only problem it happens in March and it’s c-o-l-d.

2. Take an owl prowl in the dark calling owls out or playing a recording of their calls. You won’t see much, but is a great experience.

3. Take a boat trip offshore to see pelagic birds that seldom come near land. Monterey Bay in CA is a good place for such a trip, you may see a Black-footed Albatross.

4. For great hawk watching, and a test of your species identification, visit one of the raptor migration spots, like Cape May, NJ: Hawk Mountain, PA; and Duluth, MN.

5. Check for rare bird alerts on various bird web sites, and jump in your toad and go see it. It has been described as a road rally as birders come from all over to mingle and talk birds.

6. Big Day birding is seeing how many species you can identify in one day. As Ken says, it has no redeeming value but is lots of fun if you do it with a group of your same skill level.

7. Take part in a Breeding Bird Atlas project in an area like a county or a state that's been divided up into blocks for surveying. The idea is to look at a little plot carefully and ask: how can we prove whether Red-winged Blackbirds or meadowlarks are breeding here? It puts you in a position to look at the birds in a completely different way. You might ignore Common Grackles unless you're trying to prove if they're nesting. You look to see: are they carrying nesting materials? It's the opposite of a Big Day. It's such a fascinating kind of birdwatching, an excuse to go out and be self-indulgent and spend a lot of time watching these birds and contributing to scientific knowledge.

Read more about Ken Kaufman on his nature Web site.