Two birds, 20 bucks

I had to really talk myself into going.  The birds were being reported daily on the eBird alerts.  Then, last Wednesday, the morning came bright and sunny and I didn't have anything pressing to do.  Okay, this is the day.

The first problem, even on a quiet Wednesday morning with not much going on.  No easily found parking.  The Zone parking can be tricky because of the machines.  I found a spot in Zone 106, but the machine didn't work.  I had already paid one parking ticket this past summer because I operated the machine incorrectly.  Every structure was un-manned with a giant QR code to scan.  Really?  I don't know about anyone else, but I've seen enough QR codes to last me the rest of my life.

Finally, I found a lot on Layafette Street with a real live man operating it and to whom I could pay $20 for a full day - even though I didn't need a full day.  But that allowed me to relax and even have lunch afterwards.  

I did a quick loop around Campus Martius.  Nothing.  The ovenbird had also been reported at Cadillac Square park so I walked across the street. Almost immediately, I found the tiny Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii), hanging out with house sparrows along Cadillac Square St. It was so much smaller than the house sparrows, it would have been hard to miss.  It was chasing the house sparrows around trying to steal the bread they found.  I wish the photo above was in focus.   

Here it is in the middle of the road where it found its own crumbs to nibble.

With the house sparrow hoarding its bread.

The Lincoln Sparrow appeared to be a plump little thing, especially considering how out of habitat it was and the time of year - not many seeds or bugs on those wood chips.

Along the curbside.

Next came the Ovenbird.  I carefully walked around Campus Martius again seeing only house sparrows and not even many of those.  I noticed a grassy and weedy boulevard just south of Campus Martius.  I crossed the street at a zebra crossing and slowly walked the path through the middle of the green space.  I wasn't seeing any birds.  Then, suddenly, I saw a small bird with tail cocked move into a clump of bushes.  The Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)!  

All of my photos from the morning were poor.  I deleted well over half of those I took of each bird.  I wasn't expecting to take beautiful photos.  Neither bird was in that kind of habitat.  Mostly the photos were for documentation.  Lincoln's Sparrow is one of my favorite migrant sparrows; so elegant appearing with its dainty streaking.  Ovenbirds are always special.  A birding acquaintance from many years ago used to give a talk on urban birding.  Not uncommonly an Overbird becomes stranded in downtown Detroit each autumn.     

I stopped for lunch at Layafette Coney Island and when I got back to the parking lot, I told the attendant that my $20 was well worth it.  He looked at me a little weirdly and seemed amused; of course he did, a lady with clunky camera and binoculars.  Please.

Hoping to see a murmuration

My cousin sent me this video.  This autumn I seem to be seeing a larger number of European Starlings amassing that I recall seeing in recent prior autumns.  Of course, I am hoping that a murmuration occurs.  So far, no luck. 

“It’s the season I often mistake / Birds for leaves, and leaves for birds,” the U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón writes of autumn. In fall, a flocking movement in the sky, or in the trees, can mean either kind of marvelous flying thing.

From Love Letter to a Season I Never Loved When I Was Young, Margaret Renkl, New York Times, December 4, 2023.

Least Bittern in November

I took my first series of photos of the well-seen November Least Bittern that were marginally better, but the date was wrong on my camera (defaults to January 1, 2017).  Fixed that and took these marginal second series of photos.  

I don't know the best explanation for why a Least Bittern would be on the edges of Lake Erie in November.  Delayed?  Misdirected during southward migration?  Lost?  

I sort of like the delayed cause since we have had, by and large, a very mild autumnal season and least bittern is a nesting bird in the area.   Secondary to climate charge, we know that some bird species are moving northward slowly; why not the corollary explanation for autumnal movement southward?

Random additional photos from Maryland's Eastern Shore

I've am working on some other projects and keep coming across photos that I did not add earlier.  My visit was in the beginning of October so this is much overdue.

Now that the weather has become cold, rainy and even snowy where I live, it is really nice to remember the fabulous weather on the Eastern Shore during the first week in October.  Just a week prior to my visit Hurricane Ophelia had passed right over Ocean City.  

 

There were many, many large flocks of Sanderlings (Calidris alba).

But I saw only one Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla).

I had forgotten about Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) being on the Eastern Shore.  From the Ocean City boardwalk I noticed a cluster of funny shaped black birds and am glad I trudged over the sand to see them.  

For sure, the birds out on this spit of sand were far away.  The photos are heavily cropped.  Still, I am going to go out on a limb and guess that the tern in the left of the photo is a Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus).

A distant, and only slightly better, photo of a different Royal Tern.  Here with Laughing Gull and a shadowy gull, possibly Herring.

One of my target birds for the trip was American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus).  Far away, but I still saw them.  There were four.

Wild pony of Assateague

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polygottos) - this is a bird name that will never require changing.  The one above was in the dunes on Assateague Island, the one below was on a treetop in an Ocean City residential neighborhood.  

I would say that Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) above, along with Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) below, were the most common gulls in this part of the Eastern Shore. 

Which gull is this?

Where is Amar Ayyash when I need him?  The only identification that makes sense to me is Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus).  But the large, bright orange gonydeal spot throws me a little.    

Book Review: Birding Under the Influence

Birding Under the Influence:  Cycling Across America in Search of Birds and Recovery, by Dorian Anderson, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2023.

The last time I finished reading a good Christmas gift book for birders was Birding Without Borders by Noah Stryker, and right around this time of year, too.  At that time I was so busy I did not get my review out until New Year's Eve.  I'm not nearly so busy now, so will not make the same mistake with this book review.

My reading comes from being a birder who followed Dorian Anderson's daily blog, Biking for Birds,  during his 2014 Big Year.  At that time I knew nothing about him.  He seemed to have burst out of nowhere and his gritty, honest and skillful effort was startling.  Unfortunately, Dorian Anderson shut down his Biking for Birds blog after completing his Big Year.  As just one of his hundreds of daily blog readers, I made my own impassioned argument against shutting it down.  But, he did, and started his new blog, The Speckled Hatchback, instead.  This blog had been inactive but he has now revived The Speckled Hatchback to promote his book and share some new photographs.  He also has a website, doriananderson, which I think birders, especially, will enjoy. As I was doing all of this research, one thing I am certainly aware of, Dorian Anderson does not need my review to help him promote his book.  

A few months ago, I attended a Zoom presentation offered by Orion Magazine featuring J. Drew Latham and Jonathan Franzen, both birders and both writers who need no introduction to readers.   Jonathan Franzen made the argument that good nature writing should also include the human element, connection, tension or drama to the thing that is being written about.  Franzen wrote the introductory essay making this argument for the Orion published Spark Birds which the Zoom presentation was promoting.  His essay was also published in The New Yorker and is provided in the link to his name.  I agreed with Franzen as this is true for the nature writing I enjoy most.  Franzen mentioned another Big Year book, Kingbird Highway by Kenn Kaufman, and this book is also mentioned by Anderson in his book.  

Okay, okay, so after all of this introduction, what about Birding Under the Influence?  Should you read it?  My answer is an unequivocal yes. Dorian Anderson hits all of the high notes in Birding Under the Influence.  It is propulsive and compulsive reading.  You do not have to be a birder to find his book deeply compelling.  As I read, I kept asking myself, how could this have been possible?  

Anderson's book weaves the story of his birding, his stunning academic success and research science career, his astonishing alcohol and drug abuse and meeting the woman he loves, now his wife Sonia (and to whom he dedicates his book), together in one seamless narrative.  I love this style of narration and his use of it is very effective even if, occasionally, a little forced. Nevermind, it doesn't matter.  You will get it and appreciate it.  (For the October 12, 2023 ABA podcast episode, host Nate Swick interviewed Dorian Anderson who admitted that his entire education had focused entirely on science and math and included only scientific writing.  He had no academic Fine Arts background to speak of so while writing he had to learn all of his narrative skills and techniques from scratch.)

Occasionally, for me at least, a few of his metaphors go awry and made me groan, as on page 121, "With pine scent tickling my nose and birdsong tap-dancing on my tympanum, I made halting progress toward the tundra."  Here he is writing about his White-tailed Ptarmigan pursuit and where other metaphors do work.  A couple of pages later he writes "... the ptarmigan forced a humbling recalibration; where I struggled to survive, the unbreakable bird thrived."  At the conclusion of the same chapter and referencing his first, and unsuccessful, attempt at sobriety he writes, "Like a cramped calf muscle, hindsight and regret prevented me from overcoming the steep but surmountable hill in front of me."  For my money, beautiful.

Anderson's writing also reveals his big and extroverted personality. This is on nearly every page.  Despite everything he put himself through, he had many friends and colleagues who liked and respected him.  A few made efforts to help him and who, until he meets Sonia, were thwarted.  So committed was he to his drinking and drug use and his rationalization for it, that even Sonia was very nearly thwarted. As an aside, he seemed to have had a somewhat challenging relationship with his parents.  He doesn't treat this with any depth but, just prior to setting off on his Big Year, we are given a glimpse of this. 

As it happens, I have met Dorian twice.  The first time was about six months following his big year at one of his university speaking engagements.  A good friend sponsored Dorian's visit to speak with his students and gave a small dinner gathering the evening before Dorian's talk.  My friend is a very good cook and, of course, plenty of wine was consumed - not by Dorian though.  When the evening was finished I was chosen to drive Dorian to his hotel for the night.  I had consumed my own fair share of wine and was nervous.  Dorian, however, didn't seem to be.  He chatted away on the short drive.  When I dropped him off he thanked me.  The next afternoon his talk with the students was a success.  More recently, I met him this past spring, in May, at the famous Magee Marsh migration hot spot in northern Ohio along Lake Erie. Dorian was there with Tropical Birding, who each year sponsor the Biggest Week in American Birding event.  I recognized Dorian as soon as I saw him.  I stopped and, though I am certain he had no recollection of me, somehow we connected.  I reminded him of our meeting at the dinner my friend gave and of giving him a ride to his hotel.  He definitely remembered my friend and even recalled a piece of advice my friend had offered.  The boardwalk was crowded and Dorian, along with his Tropical Birding colleague, stopped to talk.  He spoke as if I was a long lost friend.  This is a special skill and not one I typically associate with birders.  Rather, this suggests to me that he honed his people skills outside the realm of birding.  This is also supported in his writing.  He spoke to me about his book and gave me a publisher-prepared flyer.  I told Dorian I would pre-order it as soon as I got home.  I did, and it arrived in my mailbox early this month. 

I don't think it's unfair for me to write that Birding Under the Influence is not great literature.  It is, however, very fair and honest for me to write that it is great reading.  It is for birders absolutely, but not only for birders; cyclists, adventurers, academics, recovered and recovering persons, dreamers and many others can all enjoy this great read. Mostly, I recommend reading Birding Under the Influence for anyone who appreciates and admires great effort.

Afternote:  I like the publisher that Dorian chose for his book (I am assuming he had a choice).  Chelsea Green is a green publishing house and certainly this is congruent with observations and values Dorian occasionally expresses in his book; and indeed, with his whole biking adventure.  He never once cheated. It's also an employee-owned company.  What's not to like.  I also like that the first edition of this book was released in softcover.  Very easy to read and unpretentious. 

On the other hand, I didn't like that, on his blog, Dorian linked his book to Amazon for purchasing.  I get it though.   100%.  Recognizing that most people use Amazon, this is the easiest way to get his book into readers' hands.   Perfectly understandable.  This is the goal of every author.  

However, may I make a plea for ordering from either Barnes & Noble or your local independent bookseller, if you have one.  Neither will be likely to have this book on their shelves (B&N and the independent bookseller I visit do not); it will need to be ordered.   So it's the same, no matter what, just not from Amazon.  My B&N order arrived exactly on time from the release date.  I am a B&N member so shipping was free.  I am also a member with the independent bookseller, but I have never ordered a book from them.  I'm guessing, but it seems that to be competitive shipping would be free.  So, I'm also encouraging membership with B&N and your local bookseller.  Finally, you can also order the book directly from Chelsea Green Publishing.  

When I wrote at the top of this review, "I am not nearly so busy now,"  I was writing the truth. 

Just to reread and remind myself of Noel Stryker's 2015 birding around the world big year, I include that review here:  Year end book review:  Birding Without Borders, from 12/31/2017.

Birds in the Americas ...

... Will No Longer Be Named After People, by Katina Miller and published in The New York Times today, 11/01/2023.

Swainson's Thrush named for the 19th century English ornithologist and artist William J. Swainson; as were Swainson's warbler and Swainson's hawk.

Just one of many, Swainson's Thrush is a member of genus Catharus and is typical of it in terms of its subdued coloration and beautiful, ascending flute-like voice. 

Chicago Audubon Society board member John Elliott offers his insights in his essay What's In a Name? from September, 2020.

The Associated Press article from November 1, 2023 Ornithological Society To Rename Dozens of Birds - And Stop Naming Them After People.

This noteworthy news item has been picked up by just about every news network known by any of us including, but not limited to, the BBC, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBC ... and many, many more.

The American Birding Association podcast:  The Month in Birding - November 23, 2023.  Discussed in the first segment of the podcast - often amusingly, but also insightfully.

_________________________

On a lighter note:  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary website published this charming and enjoyable piece:  10 Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are). 

Diamondback Terrapin (dead) and jellyfish (probably dead)

On some of my blog posts you will find a good number of turtle photos. First of all, turtles are very photogenic, especially when basking, and secondly, I love turtles. Since my Maryland days, I have always wanted to see an [alive] Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).  Sadly, this one is dead.  In the early 2000s during many Eastern Shore (of Maryland) visits, I was constantly on the search for one.  Those visits took me through Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in the car and also on my bike.  Once, on my bike, I thought I saw one on the road and stopped for a look.  In those days, I didn't have a smartphone and so without google images to check, I couldn't be sure.  Regretfully, on got on my bike and continued riding.  Now, I'll never recall that turtle's field marks, so I keep looking.    

Indeed, the University of Maryland, now a Big Ten team, has 'the Terrapins', as their athletic teams' name and mascot - just in case anyone was wondering.  "The terrapins" has regional and native significance.  

The Diamondback Terrapin is a turtle of the brackish waters of salt marshes, estuaries and tidal creeks, all of which the Eastern Shore of Maryland has in abundance, as do all of the Chesapeake Bay states.  My dead diamondback rolled on to an Ocean City beach along the salty Atlantic Ocean during tide change.  So why was it there?  It had been dead for awhile, but not for a super long time.  On September 22nd (a week prior to my visit),  Hurricane Ophelia arrived (from Emerald Isle, NC) along the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  I hypothesize that its brackish habitat was flooded and forced the turtle out to the salty ocean - where it probably met its death.

Even dead, the terrapin was beautiful.  The pattern on its shell reveals this.  It was probably quite an old turtle as well; at least old enough to have barnacles on its shell.  Additionally, female Diamondback terrapins are larger than males.  I think this turtle was probably female because it was about  8 to 9 inches in size.

Just so everyone knows, the Diamondback terrapin is in trouble.  That its numbers are decreasing should not surprise most.  This is probably why I have never seen a living Diamondback terrapin.  Please don't pick up and take home to sell or raise.  Wild Diamondback terrapins do not adapt well to captivity.  Please do not buy a Diamondback Terrapin from a seller.  This is a practice, amongst many practices involving wild turtles, that needs to stop.  Only licensed and dedicated rehabbers and licensed naturalists who are supporting Diamondback terrapin survival and recovery in the wild should keep these turtles. 

The rising sun on the morning I found the Diamondback Terrapin.  And in the western sky, the moon.

Sy Montgomery has published a new book and already a bestseller, Of Time and Turtles:  Mending the World Shell by Shattered Shell.  It's out now in hardcover.  Sy Montgomery is also the award wining author of The Soul of an Octopus:  A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness and many other really good books.

Here also is a beautiful 20 second video from the morning.  Make sure your sound is on.  I wish I had made it longer!  

On to other topics, this jellyfish was the size of a dinner plate.  I wanted to put it back in the water (I had no idea if it was dead or alive; it appeared quite fresh), but I was strongly advised against trying.  It was well beyond the tide line.

A couple of final photos to complete this post.

Dead horseshoe crabs on the beach.  There were quite a few of them.  If they were intact, I took a photo.  I also saw many horseshoe crab tails, like straight sticks, in the sand.

Horseshoe crabs are, unfortunately, also diminishing in numbers thanks to the illegal harvesting of them for fishing bait.  Of course, the impact on the long-distance migrating Red Knot is much studied and well-known.  Yet, somehow the harvesting of this amazing dinosaur persists.  

An answer for our manicured lawn ...

... may lie in a column from this morning's front page in the Real Estate section of the New York Times:

A Viable Alternative to Conventional Lawn?  Cornell May Have Found One.

Follow this up with Brendan Woodruff's 45 minute Cornell powerpoint talk shared on You Tube:

Cornell Botanic Gardens' Native Lawn

Addendum 01/16/2024

Also found in the New York Times today, 01/16/2024 (but not published today).  Today, I also learned the meaning of the word xeriscaping.

Low-Maintenance Yards by Amy Gunderson, May 23, 2007

Updated endangered and threatened bird species in the State of Michigan

Julie Craves has just posted (Sept. 1, 2023) on her Net Results blog the updated list for endangered and threatened bird species list for Michigan.

Above: Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), photo taken at Nichols Arboretum on Thursday, 08/31/2023.  Though I've heard one or two singing at various times last spring, this is the first wood thrush I've seen this year.  New on the species of special concern list.

I think everyone should take a good look at this list.  Many of the listed birds are going to surprise a lot of birders.

Requiem for a Double-crested Cormorant

At Belle Isle yesterday looking for anything of interest, but especially dragonflies.  Found plenty of interest, including an apparently sleeping juvenile double-crested cormorant.  But not that many dragonflies.

Seen perched at the edge of the lake across from the Yacht Club.

I was stepping lightly and it awakened by didn't fly or swim.  Hmmm.

Odd.  Unbalanced with the tip of its tail submerged in the water.

It seemed thirsty.

After that drink it seemed to settle down, but was still wobbly on its perch.  And it bothered me that the tip of its tail was submerged in the water.

Continue on.  Leave it alone.  Maybe it will recover.

Thirty minutes later when I returned it was dead and its tail was more deeply submerged in the water.

I felt bad.  Was it Avian flu?  West Nile virus?  Lead or mercury poisoning from fish in the river or this lake?  I stopped for a bit to decide what to do.  I wanted to collect the bird for the University of Michigan bird collection; however,  ever since Janet H. left that division seems so out of touch and discombobulated.   They don't answer their phone or emails and they don't respond to messages left on their voicemail.  

Its position on the perch made it appear peaceful.  I don't know how long it will remain this way.  I was too busy to return today to check on it.  I might try tomorrow.

Update:  I didn't get to return for several days or so and the bird was no longer present on the perch.