Russell Cannings (and Lydia) in New Zealand.
Now that it is 2008, we are ramping up the excitement about our Bird Day Challenge (BDC). Each week we will profile a new BDC particpant…
May 20th: Russell Cannings (who normally lives in British Columbia) will do his Bird Day Challenge in New Zealand. He writes “Like you I have been madly racing around the country looking at birds and wonderful scenery! I tried a city bus BIG DAY in February and got 56 species. I realize that the longer I wait, the less birds I will probably see! It's fall here, so many of the Arctic waders are leaving and NZ's only migrant passerines (Shining and Long-tailed Cuckoo) are also on their way. But you don't need to set species records to raise money of course, so I think the best time for me will be May since I am very busy with both school (and of course) travelling around NZ via hitch-hiking. I suppose most people will be doing their big days in May too, welcoming all the new migrants while I greet the cold of an Antarctic winter. I figure I should be able to raise some support though... I will walk the entire route with one or two city buses in between and possibly some biking.
May 16th: Hello from Suzanne Crawford!
Hope you are well today. I continue to enjoy your adventures and admire your commitment to a better planet.
Well, spring in Vancouver has been unseasonably cold this year and it has been difficult to find a day warm enough to sit on the porch and enjoy the birds. In fact we had a snow storm on April 19th (see picture) The odd day there have been a few blackcapped chickadees and lots of crows but generally its too chilly.
So......my friends Rhiannon and Trudy and I chose Stanley Park as our bird day challenge lookout. I was the car person (sadly), but they rode their bikes from Point Grey to 2nd beach. We made our way over to Lost Lagoon where we picked out a bench near a nesting Trumpeter Swan. It was a lovely spot and we were happy to see a Rufous-sided Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird (R's favourite, a Fox Sparrow and an Arctic or Orange-Crowned Warbler as well as the ever present and welcome American Robin.
Of course there were many Canada Geese, Common Raven and Crow, Common Coots and Mallards, Lesser Scaups, a lovely Great Blue Heron and a Bald Eagle. And we had the extra joy of watching turtles sunny themselves on the rocks and logs.
It was such a pleasure and Rhiannon commented that it is so seldom that we sit and wait to see who comes to visit..........
I'm still waiting for a warm front porch day and hope that Pileated Woodpecker comes to call once again.
Please sign up for the Bird Day Challenge! Here is what to do…
We salute the following people from around the world who are also taking part. Please click their name for more information…
"All Tuckered Out" a group of 6 birders from Tallahassee, carpooled on April 19 to count birds and raise money for Apalachee Audubon. The "All Tuckered Out" members are:
Mike Tucker, team leader
team members:
Elizabeth Platt (president of Apalachee Audubon),
Fred Dietrich, Pam Flynn, Fran Rutkovsky,
Tracee Strohman
Sea and Sage Audubon are planning to cover Orange County, California during their Bird Day Challenge on May 10th. They are excited to spread the low carbon message!
The Tucson Mt. Lemmonheads are planning an ambitious 24-hour Birdathon that involves bicycling up and back down the Mt. Lemmon Highway in the Santa Catalinas in Tucson.
Connie Adler and Judith Nelson hope that a MacGillivray’s Warbler finds its way to their bird-friendly yard in Silver City, New Mexico.
Irene Alexakos and Ben Kirkpatrick live in the independent Republic of Mud Bay (near Haines, Alaska). They'd love to see one of the owls that call in the spring (Northern Pygmy, Boreal or Great Horned) — and dream to see a Marbled Murrelet in the forest.
Tony and Julie Battiste run "Battiste's Bed, Breakfast and Birds" in Hereford, Arizona. For their Bird Day Challenge, they will do a "yard day" (staying home to see how many species visit their home).
Louise Bauck from Atlanta, Georgia will be happy for a close-up view of a Turkey Vulture.
There are several versions of Bigby's, but it's basically a big year where you count birds that you find after walking, cycling or using public transport from your home. Richard Gregson came up with the Bigby concept.
Sa Boothroyd and her two daughters Lucy (age 7) and Pippa (age 4) will go birding near Gibsons BC. Lucy and Pippa probably know more bird names than Sa does, but a BDC is about having fun, not how good a birder you are.
Wendy Boothroyd of Team Bird Year will do her Bird Day Challenge on the Ides Of March!
Thea and Gerry Brown live near Perth, Australia. they hope to see a Scarled Robin and a Bronze Coockoo.
Chris Borg found 113 species during his cycling big day at St. Marks NWR in Florida. More details soon!
The Christie Family of Orlando, Florida did a successful Bird Day Challenge, rowing around a lake near their home, identifying 13 species and raising $2,000 for bird conservation!
One glorious day a Plieated Woodpecker visited the fir and cedar trees in Suzanne Crawford’s yard in Burnaby, BC. She hopes it returns again on her Bird Day (or any time!).
Sue Bumbaugh, of Orrtanna, Pennsylvania hopes to see a common loon.
Peter and Linda Enticknap live in Cabo Pulmo, Baja California. They'd love to see a Blue or Red-footed Booby in the Sea of Cortez.
Keith Hansen, bird artist extraordinaire and inventor of the "Bigfoot Hour."
Christianne Hinks from Albuquerque, New Mexico wants to watch American Avocets sweeping the water in the Rio Grande with their bills.
Tim Leach who lives near Palmer, Alaska, dreams about seeing a Bluethroat.
Neil & Hazel MacMillan who live in the Hokianga, New Zealand hope to find a Kereru (native Wood Pigeon).
86-year-young Katy Madsen from Victoria, BC, hopes to see a Red-breasted Sapsucker or a flock of Red Crossbills.
Beth Morris did a successful Bird Day Challenge on March 29th. Have a look at her results!
Stephan Nance is going to ride 55 miles from his home in Eugene, Oregon to Junction City and then to the Fern River Reservoir. He hopes to spot Bald Eagles and Purple Martins.
Monique Richoux and her sons Evan and Liam McCready live in Falkland, BC. They hope to see a Cedar Waxwing, a Clark’s Nutcracker and/or a Lazuli Bunting.
Martin VonMirbach from Chelsea, Quebec wants to see & hear a Piliated Woodpecker.
Barb and Leah Walker from Clearwater, Florida will check on Osprey nests as well as looking for other birds.
Ann Wiley lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and plans two Bird Day Challenges, one at home, watching for Painted Buntings and others, and other via her bicycle and with a friend.
Polly and Kirsten Madsen and Sam Skinner and friends held a party in Whitehorse for their Bird Day Challenge.