Tag Archives: North Carolina birding
Rare Bird Alert North Carolina- A Prairie Warbler in Apex NC
While out birding today with @latta.ridge at Apex Community Park in Apex NC, we were lucky to spot a rare wintertime beauty flitting in the brush, a Prairie Warbler!
We found him on the far northwest corner of Apex Lake in the marshy area next to the intersection of walking paths.
It was so cool to see this feathered gem at such a weird time of year since Prairie Warblers typically are found in Wake county in the spring, summer & early autumn months.
These lovely little beauties are active birds, often wagging their tails as they search for the six or eight legged snacks that make up the bulk of their diet. When they get stuck for the winter in colder locations (like central NC) they’ll also supplement their diet with the sap flowing from trees and even berries when available.
Prairie Warblers breed across the entire state of NC. When spring arrives, they’ll build their nests in openings with patches of dense woody understory vegetation, such as overgrown fields with shrubs, or young regrowing forests. They place their nests in trees or shrubs, generally less than 10 feet above the ground.
This little one has several months to go before it has to worry about that stuff though 🙂
Photos by me @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved beast, the mighty mirrorless @canonusa #R5
The No Pants Birding Team Begins
By: Isaac McShane of https://isaacmcshane.com/
It was the best week of the entire year. It was one of the best weeks ever. Where do I begin? I could start by explaining what in the hell is the No Pants Birding Team. Or I could start by describing that we had secured reservations on a pelagic bird tour, (which is a fancy word for a seabirding tour), but the offshore weather postponed the trip by a couple days and my boss would not permit me to take off the extra time. I could explain that the magic of this week was in part due to the tremendous variety of wildlife we experienced from Barred Owls and Sandhill Cranes to Red Wolves, Black Bears, Otters, Whales, Nutrias and about 17 Million birds. I could describe how three friends teamed up and bonded over a multi-day adventure across coastal Carolina consisting of ups and downs, continuous laughter, overcoming obstacles and the relentless commitment by my friends to help me complete my goal of identifying 200 birds in a year.
I’ll back up just a bit and explain that back in June I realized I had seen 100 species of birds and decided that with half a year left I would like to double that number by the year’s end. It is important to understand this benchmark is by no means a sort of bragging rights. It was a personal goal I established as a point of focus to maintain a driven sense of purpose as well as a course of action to experience authentic happiness, learning about the birds I love so much and meeting new friends who enrich life more so than anything tangible. It was a character building exercise and an obsession that inspires me. The first 100 species included low hanging berries such as blue jays, cardinals, doves, eagles and such. Back in June I made a facebook post that I intended to double my number by the end of the year. I remember someone commented that getting to 200 would be really difficult as it requires the identification of many rare and elusive species. Challenge accepted.
I studied the birds. I learned their habits, their migratory patterns, their sounds, their diets, their mother’s maiden names and shoe sizes. As much time as I spent buried in research, I spent a lot more time and endless patience standing in marshes waiting for a glimpse of the next target species. I always had my camera on me. It is possible to go birding without a camera, but I strive to progress my skills as a nature photographer, so anytime I am under God’s Great Sky I am armed with my shooting equipment. Plus, I like to share my photos, as well as study them. I reached 200 birds on December 30th, 2021. Sally Siko and Corie Long Latta tirelessly accompanied me to the finish line. We had some setbacks and hurdles, which made the victory all the more sweet.
We were supposed to go on the pelagic bird tour on Wednesday. Monday morning we were notified that the trip was postponed until Thursday. Sally drove to Wilmington and joined me Tuesday night so we could arrive as early as possible. We departed Wilmington at three o’clock in the morning. As I drove the 4.5 hours to the Outer Banks we counted three Barred Owls perched along the highway, illuminated by street lights. It was too dark for photos, but we knew that seeing these noble raptors was a good omen that the bird gods were smiling down upon us.
We arrived at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge at 7:00am. As the sun crested the horizon we spotted a massive black bear ambling into the tree line. Around the corner we spotted two Red Wolves! I have never seen a wolf before but have always felt a connection to them. There are less than 300 Red Wolves remaining in the world. They are an endangered species. Through telephoto lenses we watched them observe us with ears perked, then saunter across the field in the golden light of morning before they vanished like phantoms into the thicket. It seemed like magic. We were of no threat to them as they were of no threat to us. They are protected.
Before we left Alligator River I discovered a flat tire in my car. I installed the spare tire. Corie offered to take over the driving in her van. I figured it wouldn’t be a big deal to get a new tire. It turns out my car has an uncommon rim size and I ended up having to order not one but two tires to get us back to Wilmington, but we’ll get to that. For now, I was just happy to have a ride so we could keep moving. Over the next three days we proceeded to take photographs from sunup to sundown. The tire was the least of my concerns.
During the course of the day we were again notified by the seabird tour company that they were now going to postpone the trip until Friday. This was heartbreaking information. The manager where I work was being inflexible about working with me to complete this goal. For a moment I feared the project would be a failure, that I would have to return to work without having completed my year long goal. The seabirding trip was my ace in the hole to see the last half dozen birds I needed. After having awoken at 2:30am, running off only a few hours sleep and straining my eyes though the long lens of a camera from dawn to dusk, we decided to have a nice dinner before making our decision. After some fresh seafood, we felt revitalized and decided that by-golly we are going to accomplish this goal on our own, without the help of the pelagic bird tour. We formed our team. Now all we needed was a name. And some new birds. We knew they both would come.
I came up with a list of 20 birds recently seen in the area that I had not yet observed. All we needed was five. Meticulously, we drove from Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge to Alligator Island National Wildlife Refuge, then Jennette’s Pier, Oregon Inlet, Bodie Island Lighthouse where we searched for an elusive Marsh Wren, then to Hatteras Island where we walked miles along the beach in search of the Icelandic Gull, California Gull, and Glaucous Gull. All three had been spotted there yesterday amidst a flock of hundred of gulls loafing around the large concentration of surf fishermen, the birds not so discreetly begging for handouts. The thing about gulls is that they all look more or less the same. We likely saw the seagulls we were searching for but without definitive information we couldn’t count them. We wound up at Good Winds to feast on some fresh seafood and laugh about the day. We didn’t confirm any new birds, but still had a wonderful day photographing wildlife and coastal landscapes in great company. We had hope for Thursday.
I have the metabolism of a hummingbird and can not make it past morning without some form of breakfast. I will snack on beef jerky or granola all day long, but when I am in the field I don’t want to stop for a real meal until all the good light is gone. By that time, no amount of trail mix will do the trick. I need real food and a lot of it. My eyes are bigger than my stomach when I look at that gleaming menu, but I pay my stomach no mind. After dinner, the belt is loosened. Now I am ready to stretch out on my king sized bed back at the Comfort Inn. I tell Sally and Corie “I can’t wait to get back to the hotel room and take off my pants”. Without realizing it, I had just discovered the name of our team. We agreed this no pants notion is familiar with anyone who has ever partaken in an adventure, and everyone can relate. It’s the simple pleasures in life we have to look forward to.
I called every tire shop in the vicinity. They told me it was like looking for a purple unicorn. Finally I found a place that said they could “vulcanize” the tire by fusing a piece of rubber to the inside of the puncture. Since the shop didn’t open until 8:30 we decided to go to the closest hotspot, Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve, where pretty quickly we saw the first bird I needed, the Orange Crowned Warbler. After dropping off the tire we headed down to the Pocosin Lake National Wildlife Refuge to search for some shore birds but they didn’t seem to be out. On the drive back I discovered that a Sandhill Crane and Rough Legged Hawk had been seen that very day at Alligator River, so we raced up there with high hopes. The bird gods were smiling upon us once more, as we saw them both within the first 30 minutes. I have wanted to lay my eyes upon a Sandhill Crane for a long time. They look like they are straight out of a Japanese painting. They evoke feelings of peace and tranquility.
Afterwards we spent some time at Oregon Inlet looking for the Snow Bunting that apparently had been a common frequenter of the area recently before my arrival, but seemed to have moved elsewhere. We did see some Ruddy Turnstones and a talkative pair of Greater Yellowlegs, which unlike the name suggests, actually have purple legs. I am joking, they do have yellow legs. Back to Bodie Lighthouse to look for that silly Marsh Wren. We heard him, but their sound is so similar to the various other types of wrens we needed to see it to confirm. We also got a lead on a “snipey type of bird”, which we knew to be a Wilson’s Snipe, so we weaved in and out of the crowded boardwalk up to the observation deck to discover a common Clapper Rail. Why couldn’t it have been a Virginia Rail, King Rail, or even a Sora?
This day had flown by faster than a sea bird in the gulf stream and the sun was on the setting side. I still hadn’t heard from the tire repair shop and we needed that tire so we could get out of there after dark and back to our normal lives. I called and got some bad news: they were unable to patch the tire. There was absolutely no way we were leaving the island that night. It was getting cold and we were running out of places to look for the last couple birds. I felt pressure from work to return home asap, but I felt more pressure to complete this goal that I have been so passionate about. I would figure out what to do about the tire after the last light has faded and we accomplish the challenge.
The nearest hotspot was Jennette’s Pier. Piers are common places for fish to dwell, and where there’s fish there are hungry birds. There’s no telling what will be spotted near a pier. There could be loons, gannets, eiders, scoters, razorbills, or dovekies, which look a lot like penguins. We did not see any of these birds, but we did see a long haired, sandal wearing birder posted up at the end of the pier, looking through a hefty spotting scope on a tripod with a long lens slung across his shoulder.
Of course our group befriended him, Steve B as it was. Steve B was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. When we explained our quest and our targets, he told us about a nearby hidden gem where the Virginia Rails and Soras are commonly seen. With many thanks, off we went for a final push. As the last light of the day faded, around the Wanchese Marsh we walked, scanning the shores with laser focus and trying to call out these last two birds I needed. Sure enough, they were there.
We did it! Our team succeeded. I identified 200 species of birds before the year’s end. Against the odds including my manager putting the pressure on me to return, the seabirding tour getting postponed to Friday, my flat tire, our little team came together, bonded like glue, and manifested an amazing adventure. We came, we saw, we conquered.
Ironically, if we knew about the tire delaying our departure until Friday, we may not have cancelled the seabirding trip. As a double irony, had we not cancelled the seabirding trip we would not have seen the whale, otter, bear in a tree and the cute little nutrias which look like large aquatic gerbils. Corie left Thursday after our mission success and returned to her family. She dropped us off at the tire shop right before they closed and they were able to order some tires for me that would be delivered first thing Friday morning. (As my car is all-wheel drive I had to order two tires or else the difference in tread depth would cause the tires to rotate at a slightly different speed which can damage the transfer case.)
We had a delicious celebratory dinner at Tr3s Tequilas Mexican restaurant and went back to the Comfort Inn South Oceanfront for the third night. During this time we had made friends with the assistant GM, Jennifer LeVine, who is the nicest person imaginable. She upgraded us to the 6th floor with an oceanfront balcony.
The pressure was off, and I would have my new tires installed at 8:30am, so we rested. We sat on the balcony at night watching a string of fishing boats rocking in the waves while the birds flocked around them. Friday morning we awoke and decided to have our coffee on the balcony while we watched birds and dolphins down below. It was the perfect vantage point. With cameras at the ready, we spotted a giant whale rolling around several hundred yards away! The fog was dense, but the remarkable scale of the whale was unmistakable. There was even a dolphin swimming with the whale, which looked so tiny compared to the massive whale.
It was New Year’s Eve. I was expected at work two days ago, and Sally had to get back to her kids. We had to head back to Wilmington, but wanted nothing more than to stay and keep living the adventure. We decided to take the scenic route along the coast. Not long after departing the Outer Banks, Sally spotted a bear in a tree along the side of the road. I slammed on the breaks and parked immediately. We walked as close as we could get and watched the bear watch us while we snapped away. After getting our shots we gleefully returned to the car while the bear remained relaxed and stretched out in the crook of a tall pine tree. He knew we were no threat.
Our next stop was Lake Mattamuskeet. It is the largest natural lake in North Carolina. Its average depth is 2.5 feet. Its deepest point is a mere five feet. It sits three feet below sea level. Due to this low elevation, all the farmlands in the area drain into the lake. In 1913 the world’s largest pumping station was constructed as an effort to “dewater” the lake. Nine thousand acres of lake bottom and surrounding marshes were transformed into farmlands and entire communities were built in the dried up lake bed. It was some of the most productive crops ever cultivated in the Carolinas. Regardless, by 1934 the pumping station was shut down and the federal government declared the lake a waterfowl sanctuary.
Almost a century later and the waterfowl still flock by the thousands to these shallow waters for refuge and replenishment. In addition to the avian abundance, the lake is home to a wide variety of wildlife such as American Alligators, White Tailed Deer, Black Bear, Bobcats, Otters, Nutria, six types of frogs, 29 types of snakes, totaling 240 species of animals in all. I had my heart set on seeing a Nutria. Sure enough, at the end of the long dirt road Sally led me to a quiet overlook where we spotted two Nutrias swimming across the cove.
In the early 19th century they were introduced to the United States from South America for their fur. They proliferate rapidly and damage not only the vegetation which the native wildlife rely upon but also the root systems of the vegetation, which are necessary to hold the marshland intact from erosion. It is kind of the opposite of beavers building dams, which in turn create wetlands and stimulate habitat growth. It is too bad those Nutrias are so darn cute.
We left this magnificent lake and it’s fascinating history as dusk set in. Finally, after four days of driving or riding in a car, I took the camera off my lap. We drove home thinking about all the magic we experienced in nature over the course of our expedition and discussed plans for our future adventures. Our team, No Pants Birding, is hungry for more. Our kind is not meant to sit behind desks or work for the man. We are explorers who yearn to make a living doing what we love, amidst nature where we feel most natural, and to share it with you, our beloved friends and family. It is the joy of sharing our experiences that propel us to pursue our passions. We hope to instill inspiration, imagination, and initiative in caring of Mother Nature. On behalf of our team I would like to thank all our followers for keeping us moving forwards. Expect to see our smiling faces on Netflix in the future as we go Birding Across America!
I knew it would take me about a week to compose this article to the best of my I knew it would take me about a week to compose this article to the best of my abilities. It has been a week since our return to the “normal world”. I have begun the new year by identifying 50 species of birds in the first week of January. I think by the end of December I can make it to 300, and I won’t let anything get in my way.
About: Isaac McShane is a birder, travel writer and photographer based in Wilmington North Carolina. To read more of Isaac’s latest adventures, see his galleries and order prints visit his website at https://isaacmcshane.com/
BIRDING LOCATIONS FEATURED IN THIS POST SHOWN BELOW
RESTAURANTS & HOTEL ACCOMMODATION LOCATIONS SHOWN BELOW
PLUS THE BEST DAMN COFFEE IN THE OBX IS SERVED AT Ashley’s Espresso Parlour & All-Time Roasting Co. in Kill Devil Hills
Spending time with a Common Eider on Jennettes Pier in Nags Head NC
By: Sally Siko
Last week, I returned to the OBX of North Carolina to lead a birding trip.
As always, I arrived a couple of days early to scout out the area to make sure all of the expected species were where they were supposed to be.
After spending the day on Pea Island, I headed up to Jennettes Pier to see if I could catch a glimpse of some sea birds hunting for a meal on the Atlantic.
There was plenty to see including Black Scoters, Common Loons, Gulls and Grebes but most of them were flying far offshore. Only the Brown Pelicans were swooping in at close range.
By 4:45, daylight fading fast I was about to leave when this lovely Common Eider hen flew in and landed alongside the pier.
Although I certainly wish I could have photographed this beautiful bird from a lower vantage point, the last few minutes of golden hour light was simply too good to pass up for catching these portraits.
Measuring 25-27 inches in length with a wingspan stretching 41 inches, Common Eiders are the largest species of duck in the northern hemisphere.
Their size non withstanding, Eiders are agile swimmers. They spend a great deal of their time at sea diving beneath the waves in search of mussels, clams, scallops, sea urchins, starfish, and crabs resting on the ocean floor or clinging to rocks and jetty’s.
Because their prey is often located in shallow water, they are more easily found then other sea duck species when birding on the shoreline.
Common Eiders are a wintertime visitor to the coastal areas of NC.
Interestingly, 95% of sightings of this species in the Tarheel State comprise of adult females and immature males while the bulk of adult males appear to spend the winter in New England and Newfoundland.
Look for Eiders in coves, near inlets and especially around bridges, piers and rock jetties. Basically anywhere along the oceans edge where mussels and crabs are present.
These beautiful ducks will stick around NC until early April so we’ve still got plenty of time to enjoy them.
Aren’t they wonderful?
🙂
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5
North Carolina Rare Bird Alert-Sandhill Crane at Alligator River NWR
By-Sally Siko
Admittedly these aren’t the best photos I’ve ever taken, but I had to grab a few ‘far away shots of this Sandhill Crane I spotted while birding with @isaacmcshanephoto & @calatta this past week at the Alligator River NWR in eastern NC.
While I wish this lovely bird was a bit closer, I was so excited to share this rare sighting in the field with friends!
Sandhill Cranes breed in Siberia, throughout central Canada as well as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.
Their are even small year round populations of Sandhills which nest in Florida, Mississippi and Cuba.
Each autumn, thousands of them migrate south to spend the winter in northern Mexico, California, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
Luckily for us, a handful of Sandhills show up right here in eastern NC at Alligator River NWR & at the Pocasin Lakes NWR each winter.
Standing nearly 4ft tall, Sandhill Cranes are large birds with long, thin legs and necks. Though it’s hard to see in my photos, the bird’s cheeks are white and its forehead has a bright red patch, which is one of their most noticeable features.
Though they are covered in mostly grayish plumage, the shade of those gray tones can vary widely from bird to bird.
In fact, if you look closely at these photos sometimes Sandhills can display a reddish-brown appearance. This is because they preen themselves by rubbing mud on their feathers and mud from iron-rich environments is often red.
Though most would expect a Sandhill Crane to be spotted near water, these elegant birds are usually found in wide open places, especially plowed or stubble (preferably corn) fields; closely mowed fields, soggy & grassy pastures, shallow pools, and around the edges of impoundment margin areas.
Look for them feeding with flocks of Tundra Swans at the Alligator River NWR and at the Pocasin Lakes NWR in NC from December through early February.
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5
Want to find the Sandhill too?
Google Maps pin drop to the locations of the 2 fields along Miltail Rd & Sawyer Lake Rd at ARNWR where this bird likes to hang out linked below.
Dropped pin off of Miltail Rd
&
Dropped pin off of Sawyer Lake Rd
Found a bird with a band on it? Here is how to report the sighting
By: Sally Siko
Check out this Snow Goose I encountered this past week while birding at the Pea Island NWR in NC. She’s sporting a bright yellow collar.
Although I photographed many Snow Geese (including this family digging for food in the mud together shown in the subsequent photos) I made sure to capture several photos of this one so that I could report the sighting to the USGS.
Bird banding is important for studying the movement, survival and behavior of birds.
Data from banded birds are used in monitoring populations, setting hunting regulations, restoring endangered species, studying effects of environmental contaminants, and addressing such issues as Avian Influenza, bird hazards at airports, and crop depredations.
If you see a banded bird, try and get a clear photograph of the band or collar.
Then visit www.reportband.gov to submit your sighting to the USGS.
Results from banding studies support national and international bird conservation programs such as Partners in Flight, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and Wetlands for the Americas.
This is why it’s so important to report what we’re seeing out there.
Once you’ve submitted your report, you’ll receive a certificate of appreciation from the USGS which will include details about the bird you found which is pretty neat too!
According to the certificate, this goose is a female who hatched over 4 years ago in Quebec Canada.
It’s incredible to think that this bird made it all the way down to North Carolina to spend the winter.
I can certainly understand why though because the Pea Island NWR is a special place. One that I always look forward to returning each year as well 🙂
The Snow Geese know what’s good!
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5
A Brown Pelican rescue on Jenettes Pier in Nags Head NC
Eastern Towhees at Cape Fear Shiners Park in Lillington NC
When walking through the woods in central North Carolina the air is filled with sounds of bird song, most especially so via the Eastern Towhee.
These handsome birds are quite vocal and are relatively easy to find by their familiar “drink your tea” calls emanating from the brush.
Occasionally they’ll pop out from the tangled undergrowth to provide you with a good look and may even follow you on the trail.
I spotted this one while birding yesterday at the Cape Fear Shiners Park in Lillington NC.
Eastern Towhees come in two different varieties, the white-eyed and the red-eyed seen here.
Years ago, they were known as the Rufus-sided Towhee but today both white & red eyed birds are lumped together under the Eastern moniker.
Eastern Towhees are best found foraging for a meal in dense brushy areas along the edges of fields, in suburban backyard hedges and in deciduous forests.
They are also one of the few species of birds which nest from the Appalachian mountains all the way to the coast.
Happily Towhees are a year round resident of NC so keep an eye (and ear!) out for them every time you step outside.
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5 & my beloved beast of a DSLR the #5Ds
A Hermit Thrush encounter at Cape Fear Shiners Park in Lillington NC
By: Sally Siko- Admin BWNC
A couple days ago, I went out into the rain to go birding at the Cape Fear Shiners park in Lillington, NC.
This is a relatively new birding hot spot designated by eBird and I was eager to explore the woods, fields and marsh to see what I could find.
One of the first birds spotted was this Hermit Thrush perched on a branch just off the trail.
I was thrilled to be able to snap off a few photos of this feathered gem from a relatively close vantage point.
The cloudy diffused lighting, misting rain and those lovely golden leaves provided (IMO) a superb backdrop for these portraits.
Just gorgeous!
As a few of you know, winter is my favorite season to go birding in NC and species like the Hermit Thrush are the reason why.
These pretty thrushes breed in the conifer forests in the mountains of the western part of the state but only show up in central & eastern North Carolina in October-early April.
They are best found in open coniferous and mixed deciduous forests, near berry and fern thickets and along pasture edges. Their habitats preferences are led by their diet which includes insects, spiders, snails, and earthworms, plus considerable amounts of berries during the fall and winter.
Look for Hermit Thrushes foraging for insects on the ground and munching on berries in the shrubs and low canopies of trees in central NC from now until early April.
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved beast of a DSLR the @canonusa #5Ds
The Passion of Birding
By: Isaac McShane
Birds have fascinated me all my life, but it wasn’t until I began developing my skills as a photographer that I realized I am a birder. Traveling to seek out birds of a certain species, continually adding to my life list, obsessed with anything avian related, these are some of the qualities that define me as a birder. First and foremost I am a nature lover. Whether photographing, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing or mountain biking, I am happiest amidst the natural world.
While I was kayaking along the Wild and Scenic Red River some years back a curious group of River Otters appeared nearby and lingered long enough for me to pull out my phone and snap some pixelated photos and videos. That experience inspired me to buy a quality camera so that I could be ready for my next wildlife encounter. That otter interaction was the catalyst for a snowball effect which has fueled my passion for nature photography and addiction to birding.
My camera equipment goes everywhere I do. Every time I neglected to bring my camera I regretted it, so eventually I just committed to bringing it everywhere. Sometimes I am inspired to take landscape photography, other times I dabble in macro photography of flowers and insects. Animals are my favourite subject. I think wild animals see a lot more humans than humans see wildlife. It takes a certain mindset to slow down enough to discover wildlife, which is a gift that helps nourish my positive mental attitude. Photoing wild animals is a challenge, and with great challenges comes great rewards.
On the other hand, one of the reasons I have spent more time photographing birds than other types of wildlife is simply due to their availability. If bears and bobcats came to my yard everyday I would gladly photograph them as well. For anyone interested in developing skills of photoing uncooperative moving subjects, birds are a great place to start! But there is so much more to it than just their availability. While I admire their diversity of plumage, patterns, habits and habitats, their flight is what fascinates me the most.
When I look up in the sky and see a buzzard soaring along the thermals, it seems like they have it all figured out. Sometimes it looks like they are consciously enjoying their ability to fly. Other times I watch them soaring effortlessly on autopilot and wonder if perhaps they are taking a nap. Their ability to maneuver through woodlands with such agility and confidence it will not crash or injure itself is amazing. They have evolved to be lightweight enough to counteract gravity yet durable enough to withstand a beating of the magnitude capable only in nature.
Birds are dinosaurs! Or was it dinosaurs who were birds? Both are correct. The development of gravity defying winged creatures was perfected long before humans began to record history. That is super cool. What’s more, humans have been attempting to replicate the gravity defying qualities of birds since the dawn of history. While we have learned to harness the physical properties of lift and drag sufficient enough to pilot aircrafts, we will never be able to flap our arms and lift off.
When I wander through creeks I find myself skipping stones and when I hike through the woods I might climb a tree or jump across a small gulley. To me, nature is the ultimate fountain of youth, distracting me from the rigors of reality, immersing myself in something so pure, raw and real that I feel connected to everyone and everything, my soul nourished and replenished. If time spent in nature is the fountain of youth, birds are my conduit to understanding the building blocks of who I am.
As long as I live, the sight and sound of a pileated woodpecker will bring me back to my early childhood, visiting my grandma in Roanoke, VA, who taught me to identify birds not just by sight but also by their sound. Goldfinches will always take me back to Plattsburgh, NY where my other grandma instilled upon me the importance of winter feeders. During the past few weeks I have had a lot of Goldfinches at my Thistle Seed Finch feeder and I sometimes wonder if they have ever been through Plattsburgh, and what is the likelihood they are the descendants of birds who have fed from my family’s feeders so far from here?
Then there’s the Robins. The Robin’s song was my NY grandmother’s favourite song. Her loyal son, (my dad) used to call her every night while taking his evening walk. When he heard a Robin he would hold the phone up to it, wandering through yards with his phone high overhead, looking quite peculiar to uninformed observers. When she perked up and said “Oh yes, I hear it!” It made both of their days. It’s been a joke in the family for years and I will forever smile at the sight of a Robin. Isn’t it funny how life comes full circle?
While that person gave the gift of birding to multiple generations, her son returned the favor to her, and her grandson (me) took it to the next level. As my dad’s passion for birding had waned over the years, my contagious passion has infected him and revived a dormant love. He had a detached retina several years ago and after surgery he was unable to use binoculars. One day while I was checking out a new birding “hot spot” I saw someone not wielding a camera or binoculars but instead she had on a tripod a large monocular. A lightbulb went off. I gave my dad a monocular for Christmas (one small enough to carry while on his daily walks). He carries it everywhere, his peeper, as he calls it!
Birding is in my blood. I have always loved birds but only realized within the past few years that birding is my Eden. When I am sad, birding makes me happy. When I am happy, birding makes me happier. When I am confused I find answers while focused on birds, answers often having nothing to do with birds! When I am lonely the birds provide me with great company and insight.
And do you know what is best about birding? The joy of birding expands as it is shared. The only thing I love as much as birding is talking about birding and inspiring others to find themselves in the world of birds. I hope to see you out there one day.
About: Isaac McShane is a birder, writer and photographer based in Wilmington North Carolina. To read more of Isaac’s latest adventures, see his galleries and order prints visit his website at https://isaacmcshane.com/