The 2024 Review
Happy holidays from Tucson, Arizona! Another year has passed. For over 13 years, I was actively out every day looking for birds. As my life changed; so did my connection with the birding community. It has been a more reflective year for me focusing on my home and personal connections with friends. That's not to say I didn't look at birds or study them. Here are some beautiful or interesting moments from the year. From a desert island, to cold beaches and swampy bug filled mangroves......
Time to Say Good-bye
One of the hardest things to do was let go of the birding community. Older birders had given me the heads up that there would come a time when it's almost necessary to take a step back from the birding community. Some said it might be a year break from intense birding. For others, they told me that it might take years. I know myself well enough to know that it won't take years. But pulling back was needed to focus on a new relationship with myself and my home. I was sad to let go of the guiding portion of birding along with the interviews and podcasts because birds are really fascinating to explore and talk about! For now, the break is needed from the community as I go solo like I once did in the beginning of this grand adventure.
Resentment and Anger
This year I took 2 major summer treks. My first trek was comfortably planned in west Africa. I was alone and did most of my birding that way. My second trip was to western Mexico and it was heavy on the guides. Don't get me wrong. I loved our 2 guides but I wasn't in the mind set to explore with other people. To make it worse, the weather was nasty and the bugs were horrible. For the first time with my birding passion, I felt like it was more work than enjoyment. To make matters worse, I earned extra money that would have helped me get ahead of my finances at home since I am newly divorced. What ended up happening? A lot of that money went to the second trip and it felt like I was being irresponsible with my money. Don't get me wrong. We saw a lot of incredible birds and I added a few lifers. Plus the guides were great. It was me. And I knew that after that Mexico trip, I would not be doing many more trips with others until I can get myself together. NEVER have I felt that way nor did I want to be seen in such a fashion. The trip was planned a while back and paid so I couldn't cancel. I apologize to Mark and Jon for not being my best me. I didn't feel in control and right now, I need to be doing my own thing. I felt bad with the others that I was with because there were days, I just shut down. All I can do right now is maintain my feeders at work and teach the kids how to clean them and enjoy the birds around our classroom. That's where I am at. And I wasn't into the photography as much. I just wanted my binos and look at stuff.
Armchair Ticks
What about the birds??!!! Let's talk about them:) This year MANY splits occurred. I picked up 5 new bird species by just paying attention to that lovely subspecies section on ebird. I picked up Southern House Wren(Panama). It looks slightly different and lighter from our Northern House Wren but not by much.
In Wales, back in 2019, I added European Herring Gull. Again, just slightly different.
My Cape Verde Barn Owl from 2000 became the Western Barn Owl. Are you picking up the theme this year? Western, European, Southern.....:)
Another bird that wasn't on my split list was the Brown Booby. I had always thought the Brown Boobies did look different in our part of the world around Mexico and Southern California from the eastern ones. Turns out, they were. So our common "Brown" Booby turned into the Cocos Booby. And I picked up the REAL Brown Booby in Cape Verde this summer! And the 5th and final addition was the Guatemalan Flicker down in Guatemala and Chiapas back in 2013 and 2015.
The moral of the story? Listen to the local experts and take notes. I did that with my own guiding groups when it came to the meadowlarks. I'd always say, "Pay attention to this bird as it will be split into its own species one day." Some did. Others didn't. In any case, these "new" birds were not accidental adds. I had heard that they may be split down the road. Well, at the end of the road, I added 5 new birds by paying attention. And it continues. I saved myself some work by not chasing the Common or Hoary Redpolls after finding a Lesser Redpoll in Wales because I knew that they'd collapse all 3 species into one, the Redpoll. There are more splits coming in the upcoming years and I am ready for them. There's nothing more fun than picking up new birds after investing time researching them and listening to lectures. It's like a bonus check.
Arizona State Birds
Back in Arizona, it was a slow year. I'm still waiting for my lifer and Arizona tick, the Aztec Thrush. It has become a nemesis bird. I added 5 new species beginning in February with a Little Gull.
It was a very moody and cold day out for this mega rarity with my friend Janine. I called her up and said, "Get ready! I'm picking you up!" We drove through some crazy weather to see that bird, and we saw it well!!! It was the most moody, cold, windy, dark day ever! Later in the year, an Eastern Wood-Pewee showed up in June. Not the most exciting bird but it was a very good add. That bird, along with Philadelphia Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Nutting's Flycatcher and Great Crested Flycatcher, were not my favorite chases. However, they were necessary finds to reach my 500 bird species goal for the state. I enjoy seeing those birds in their natural habitats back east.
My first sighting of a Little Gull on the shores of Lake Michigan in the city of Sheboygan where there is a small breeding population.
Then in July and October, we all had fun chasing sandpipers. The Curlew Sandpiper in July was a hot and sweaty one in the middle of a desert dairy farm. It was also a lifer. Even better? It was in its beautiful rusty red breeding plumage! So it stood out against all the other peeps. Then in October, another mega rarity, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper showed up at a sod farm. With a scope, I had looks but this is still a bird I'd like to get a better picture of. It was only the second time I've seen the bird in my life with the first being seen in the distance in Texas around the Austin area.
The final AZ bird for me was a Yellow Grosbeak. I've seen this bird well in Mexico but never in Arizona. It was a relaxing and enjoyable day observing this bird in October. I am only 3 away from joining the 500 club in Arizona. Which 3 will they be? Only time will tell. Currently I sit at 497 species for the state.
Pima County Birds
Back in Pima country, it was a pretty slow year. I added three new species to my county list, Rose-throated Becard, Laughing Gull and Sprague's Pipit. These 3 species bring my total to 417 in Pima County.
Favorite New Bird
It's a toss up between the Cream-colored Courser and Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark of Cape Verde or the Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow of western Mexico. And let me be honest, anything with manakin, gull, parrot, grouse, sparrow or lark just gets my blood pumping.
Favorite Experience
Going out with Jon and Mark on the Tovara river in San Blas for the Common Potoo was an incredible experience. I love mangroves and seeing this healthy waterway in Mexico gives me hope. In this country, there are many places with garbage everywhere like in the pic below. Cool? Black Vultures, White Ibis and Magnificent Frigatebirds up close. Not cool? That overwhelming rotten seafood stench to trigger my gag reflex on a hot humid summer day. 💩🤮
And then there are places like the Tovara River which are breathtakingly stunning. I know much of the country as I went to school there and lived in Jalisco and DF for some time. There is progress but it is slow. Mexico is a lot of things all at once. Navigating the country with an expensive camera can be tricky, but it is worth the effort. There are so many incredible birds waiting to be seen. I have been fascinated with this country most of my life. This was the first time I explored an actual mangrove inside of Mexico. I've seen them in Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Trinidad. They are all fascinating in their own ways. Western Mexico was no exception. The American Crocodiles stole the show. Once they were almost considered extinct; today their comeback is a remarkable success story for the mangroves of Mexico with their population on the rise.
Oconto Harbor
It was an absolutely fantastic first day to start the 2024 year in Wisconsin with the Gills as we went looking for Snowy Owls and Snow Buntings in the cold. I was struggling with the end of my 19 year marriage. It was so sad. But for a brief moment, I forgot about it all with the Gills as we went searching for these beautiful birds. What a wonderful present and I will always be appreciative to these two for their kindness. We were even rewarded with a lone Snow Bunting!!! WOW!
Ahhh Wisconsin. How I do miss you and your beauty! Lake Michigan will always have my heart.
On our last day in Wisconsin, my Dad and I took a special trip out to Collin's Marsh to see the Short-eared Owls at sunset. That was a fun road trip with my Dad. He's not one to walk too far but he does love a good road trek around our area for some easy birding.
There were many Short-eared Owls out hunting. The pic below is not altered in any way and it shows how dark it can get when these birds fly. I think I took about 500 shots to get this rather lovely moment. Most were just blurs.
World Lifer Totals
I like going to places that are not birded often, or at all, and with smaller new lifebird species numbers so that I can study them in great detail instead of chase chase chase. Plus, I kinda like having a normal vacation as well. I enjoy adding life birds but I like learning about them as well. It has aided me well over the years because I don't forget their calls, etc. However, on our Darien tour a few years back, I was overwhelmed on the lifer ticks and I couldn't keep up with them like I have with the other places I've visited.
Mangrove Vireo, a first record in July for San Blas on ebird. Why? No smart birder goes and birds there in the summer!!!
While in the San Blas region, we discover a "subspecies" of Rufous-backed Robin that will most likely get split down the road. We take pics to document. This subspecies does not have the rufous back like the other subspecies does. This bird below is also known as the Grayson's Robin. Thanks to Mark Stackhouse for pointing out this bird to us and letting us know why this subspecies is different. A future armchair tick? Very likely.
This year I added 42 new birds, reclaimed 2 species that ebird took off my list due to being listed as escapees, the Rose-ringed Parakeet and Lilac-crowned Amazon, and added 5 armchair ticks giving me a grand total of 49 new birds. Overall not a bad haul for focusing my energies on revisiting old birds that I counted on my list in the 90's in Cape Verde like Cape Verde Sparrow and Brown-necked Raven. It felt good returning to the islands again with sharper birder eyes.
Cape Verde, Portugal, Wisconsin, Arizona and Mexico
Travel has become a pain. So here are my recommendations. If you go somewhere, give yourself some extra time in the country or state you are staying to let yourself relax and not stress out. Make that travel hassle worth it. Also if you've overdone the international travel and need a break, travel somewhere closer the next time.
At 1374, I still have a long ways to go. For me now, it's not about the numbers and more about living and enjoying the adventure. I will say that I love islands a lot. Puerto Rico is in the near future. Tufted Jay in Sinaloa is another trek soon. A 3 week adventure in Sydney, Australia, the South Island of New Zealand and a return to Wellington on the North Island are also in the works over the next 2 years. As I get my house in order and have to put the bird treks off to the side for now, I can still research and organize my dreams. I might even be able to fit in a trek to Ecuador or Colombia for a rest and vacation next year. Just have to do the research. Life is short.
Happy New Year to all! Thank you for reading and wishing you a wonderful and safe holiday season.
Comments
Post a Comment