tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post5217406116203192331..comments2023-11-05T03:56:08.325-08:00Comments on Murrmurrs: Tracking The Fall Dot MigrationMurr Brewsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03422638986410813520noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-69845674390849977312011-11-06T05:14:26.003-08:002011-11-06T05:14:26.003-08:00I am good at identifying birds, until it comes to ...I am good at identifying birds, until it comes to raptors. Unless it's a Bald Eagle or an American Kestrel, I have problems, although I'm getting quite good at i.d.-ing Northern Harriers. Sharpies vs Coopers? I can't do that even when I take a photo of one eating a bird at my feeder....Knatoleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03809822081515082096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-22618217094944922062011-11-05T12:29:21.902-07:002011-11-05T12:29:21.902-07:00Well one needs more than a set of binos; one needs...Well one needs more than a set of binos; one needs vision and smarts to go with that. I seem to be lacking in at least one if not both. Still I love those I am able to see and hear.Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16174142810114806410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-26528289396290704152011-11-04T11:19:21.427-07:002011-11-04T11:19:21.427-07:00Nance, another of the bird mysteries is how they a...Nance, another of the bird mysteries is how they avoid EACH OTHER, as in the vimeo CTrew put in, above. CTrew, you're only the twelfth or so person to send that to me this week, which just shows it's true what they say about great minds! In case any of you missed it, I wrote about the phenomenon in 2009, right <a href="http://murrbrewster.blogspot.com/2009/12/murmuration-rumination.html" Murr Brewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422638986410813520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-50667090937273635502011-11-04T11:08:38.114-07:002011-11-04T11:08:38.114-07:00For some reason, : ) this made me think of you an...For some reason, : ) this made me think of you and my friend who introduced me to your blog. Enjoy!!!<br /><br />http://vimeo.com/31158841CTrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292835534476788277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-81740217189418760752011-11-03T23:42:11.169-07:002011-11-03T23:42:11.169-07:00Himself is a birder at our house, and I'm alon...Himself is a birder at our house, and I'm along for the ride. He's the guy who studied wildlife management at Humboldt State the year the bottom fell out of all the funding for state parks, etc in CA. He knows bird calls, he id's everything at a gazillion yards, he's banded spotted owls (remember them?) and does the Xmas bird count and the eagle count here every year.<br /><br />Akanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00513632434353119491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-77385690107800474032011-11-03T17:26:39.568-07:002011-11-03T17:26:39.568-07:00OMG! This post sounds like it's about me!!! ...OMG! This post sounds like it's about me!!! I laughed all the way through. I can't tell you how often I have seen a bird thinking I would remember every detail. Looking in a bird book I would invariably find what I thought was the bird only to notice that it isn't found closer than 2,000 miles away from here, in any season.NCmountainwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615765649828716560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-87544211423791501052011-11-03T15:18:34.740-07:002011-11-03T15:18:34.740-07:00You gave it your best shot and we're all proud...You gave it your best shot and we're all proud of you. <br /><br />I've discovered that birds know real birders from amateurs. I saw the most bird species ever while working for a world class birder. He threw a feeder and a drip water feature out into the lot adjoining our office and--ta da!--I was spotting rose-breasted grosbeaks and logger-head shrikes out Mr. Birder's windows that Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166865250789996825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-49628418845548459892011-11-03T13:06:34.293-07:002011-11-03T13:06:34.293-07:00Nothing has convinced me that Cooper's and Sha...Nothing has convinced me that Cooper's and Sharpshinned are really different birds. Martha had a fun little birdcall thingy that made them sound very different, but I bet they were just saying different things (one was fluting "dinnertime!" and the other was screaming "back off, buddy!")Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523194846272870013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-71043283498141199882011-11-03T10:25:05.097-07:002011-11-03T10:25:05.097-07:00Oh, and Dinahmow, you are in blessed territory. I ...Oh, and Dinahmow, you are in blessed territory. I saw my first nightjar last year. It did look a little like an owl in a recliner.Murr Brewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422638986410813520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-23693307374043786132011-11-03T10:22:52.730-07:002011-11-03T10:22:52.730-07:00When preying for bird views it is the intent, not ...When preying for bird views it is the intent, not the ability or sucess of identifying a species that makes one a 'birder'. In other words, you tried and it's not your fault there is no 12 volume set of the Encyclopedia of Bird Plummage for you to even afford, let alone carry around with you! <br /><br />Thanks for putting into words what so many of us who try have also noticed, and Dianne C., Humano-gaianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08282153621783363161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-19640772982332989682011-11-03T10:21:41.642-07:002011-11-03T10:21:41.642-07:00Huh, Mr. Charleston, I've never seen a titmous...Huh, Mr. Charleston, I've never seen a titmouse work the bushes. I have seen a hundred titmice work the bushes...<br /><br />Shaatzie, around here crows also serve as mandatory installations on art. We must "put a bird on it," and nine times out of ten it's a crow. I'm a fan, myself.<br /><br />Anon, that is my definition of hell. Anyone remember when we didn't even haveMurr Brewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422638986410813520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-44771575847972563472011-11-03T10:13:39.443-07:002011-11-03T10:13:39.443-07:00This is the most fun I've had all morning sinc...This is the most fun I've had all morning since my computer is on "safe mode" because the #@$*% thing won't start properly and my son has been patiently/resignedly coaching me over the phone to backup my files...sort of like identifying birds. Thanks for the merriment!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-69078697856085682752011-11-03T06:33:43.492-07:002011-11-03T06:33:43.492-07:00What a lovely trip up the mountain I took with you...What a lovely trip up the mountain I took with you this morning.<br /><br /> I was the one who pointed out the crows on the way up, because crows are 1) really intelligent, 2) mate for life, 3) take great care of their young, 4) take up residence where the food is, and clean up after picnics. <br /><br />The red-shouldered hawk has built a nest within sight of my bird-feeder. Not to happy with Shaatzienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-51817573676023926482011-11-03T05:01:03.777-07:002011-11-03T05:01:03.777-07:00I love seeing the raptors and am fairly good at id...I love seeing the raptors and am fairly good at identifying the ones common in my neck of the woods, but it's the little guys whom I enjoy the most. I never tire of watching a Carolina Wren or a Titmouse work the bushes around the house.Mr. Charlestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17497415823443875308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-19660804363194061262011-11-03T00:25:11.472-07:002011-11-03T00:25:11.472-07:00Yes, vultures are raptors(it's the strong feet...Yes, vultures are raptors(it's the strong feet that clinch the ID), as is the funny-looking Secretary Bird(Africa), again, has those powerful feet.<br />When The Man and I were involved in Raptor Rehab [not the drug-dependent kind!]I lost count of the people who called us with "an owl" which 99/100 was a frogmouth, a kind of nightjar.<br />It was interesting, but sometimes harrowingdinahmowhttp://moreidlethoughts.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-17064100647376323712011-11-03T00:15:45.388-07:002011-11-03T00:15:45.388-07:00If only Post-its stuck to them.If only Post-its stuck to them.Murr Brewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422638986410813520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-42523687395762842082011-11-02T23:44:10.992-07:002011-11-02T23:44:10.992-07:00We love our birds and are getting better about ide...We love our birds and are getting better about identifying visitors. It would be difficult to get worse. And you are so right about the out and out vagueness of bird bibles. sigh.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-10628587016491167952011-11-02T21:49:51.653-07:002011-11-02T21:49:51.653-07:00What's so cool about most birders is their wil...What's so cool about most birders is their willingness to share info. We were hiking Smith Rock (taking the heart attack way up instead of the die by cliff face) and found birders at the top with telescopes trained on a bald eagle's nest. Since then, I've been thrilled to encounter birders who help me become a little smarter. Nice post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-57618751104477342482011-11-02T21:13:01.876-07:002011-11-02T21:13:01.876-07:00Quite the birder you have become. Well done!
My m...Quite the birder you have become. Well done!<br /><br />My mom used to band birds, and had nets and stuff like that. I used to help. No time for tales today. But, yes, I was a birder from a young age.<br /><br />When you're working with raptors, leather gloves are advised. Well, at last one.<br /><br />Raptors are fascinating. But one above all others — the veloci-raptor. You don't want Rob-bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-70003529367055791092011-11-02T19:47:49.998-07:002011-11-02T19:47:49.998-07:00Here is how I identify birds--"Look up there!...Here is how I identify birds--"Look up there! It's a bird!" Oh, sometimes if the bird has a color I may say it is a red bird or yellow bird or blue bird. I do know Stellar jays, scrub jays and crows!!<br />I like seeing them but not too hep on being a pro as to exactly what I see. "Look! A pretty bird!"Rose Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07180873324576064516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-44803905087038072722011-11-02T18:29:30.696-07:002011-11-02T18:29:30.696-07:00I used to try to ID everything. Finally I realize...I used to try to ID everything. Finally I realized it was keeping me from enjoying myself, so I stopped keeping a list and never looked back. Same with tripods and big lenses. I once saw a guy spend five minutes concentrating on a Tricolored Heron that was about 20 yds. away, and he never saw the one standing on the railing about 15 feet behind him. That'll never be me again. Now I carryCrackerboyhttp://crackerboy.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-46213152491487829812011-11-02T17:57:22.265-07:002011-11-02T17:57:22.265-07:00Wow, birding for raptors! My kinda trip. I went on...Wow, birding for raptors! My kinda trip. I went on an Earthwatch trip for 2 weeks back in the 80's at the top of the Goshute Mountains in Nevada just at the edge of the Great Salt Lake Desert. Learned all about how they get the Sharpies and others to fly in their nets. My favorite was sitting in the blind one day and being swooped by a Golden Eagle who tore through the mist net. Just gunned cowangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11365881443482166587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-40658919221920657742011-11-02T17:47:41.796-07:002011-11-02T17:47:41.796-07:00Oh cripes, I was raised by birders. Avid ones wit...Oh cripes, I was raised by birders. Avid ones with big life lists. Binoculars on the dining room table types. Dinner plates and cutlery flying as one leapt to their feet screaming "there's a feeble minded whatnot on the feeder", leaving my brother and I clutching our hearts. I said I never would but find myself doing it now too.Tiffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13778085151055551720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-22640993018245543412011-11-02T17:04:50.909-07:002011-11-02T17:04:50.909-07:00I'm not a full-fledged (used advisedly) birder...I'm not a full-fledged (used advisedly) birder, but I am a watcher and I enjoyed the trip with you. Raptors are a special passion of mine. We just passed through the area you mention in early June of this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468223150447785936.post-24631274267613710802011-11-02T15:27:57.502-07:002011-11-02T15:27:57.502-07:00Well, I love 'em.Well, I love 'em.Bob Bushellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819577478571292055noreply@blogger.com