tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182398682024-03-13T14:24:25.735-04:00Susan Gets Native"Spanking the Birder stereotype
until it calls me Mama"Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.comBlogger1329125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-77846533828301882862016-02-05T10:05:00.004-05:002016-02-05T10:05:57.294-05:00A tiny voiceI haven't posted anything here for nearly three years. <br />
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This blog used to be my daily journal, my far-reaching arms to hold close to my friends. Facebook happened and stole my attention and my time. <br />
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A lot has happened. Here's the list:<br />
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1. I got a job and separated from my husband in the beginning of 2012. I moved into the new RAPTOR facility. <br />
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2. I got a divorce at the end of 2012.<br />
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3. In between those events, I met someone. His name is Mark.<br />
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4. I struggled. I tried. I failed. I tried again. I always got up after being knocked down.<br />
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5. I hated many aspects of my job. I just kept at it.<br />
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6. In 2014, I moved to Indiana, presumably to give myself a break. That move just made everything more difficult.<br />
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7. I struggled. I tried. <br />
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8. I started applying for jobs in Louisville. Because that's where Mark is.<br />
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9. In October 2015, I was offered a job with the Louisville Fire Department.<br />
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10. I moved to Kentucky.<br />
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11. I fell in love with my job.<br />
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12. In December of 2015, we bought a house.<br />
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And here we are, 2016. <br />
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I lost something of myself in these years. It's a part I could have used to great effect during the hard times. That part that people love me for, that part that burns hot when I need protection from the storm that is life. <br />
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But as I look back and see that I never quit, even when it seemed that I was screwing up every day or making the wrong turns at every turn, I see something. Maybe that part of me that I thought I lost isn't really lost. <br />
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Maybe the fire sometimes chooses to be a small voice saying,<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"It's okay. Stand up, dammit. You've got this."</span></i></b><br />
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Maybe that tiny voice is what got me through it.<br />
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<br />Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com131tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-10432026961587948582013-06-13T22:01:00.000-04:002013-06-13T22:01:19.274-04:00This Last YearOn Father's Day, 2011, Geoff and I came to the conclusion that we didn't want to be married anymore. <br />
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We cried, we talked. We asked ourselves, "What happens now?" <br />
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To make a very long story short, it came down to this.... I would move out and the girls would live with Geoff. (More on that in a minute). RAPTOR was building a caretaker cabin at our new facility and I was offered the position of caretaker. Unfortunately, the position of education director was taken from me at the same time.<br />
Great. Now what? I needed a job.<br />
After pestering the owner of our local Wild Birds Unlimited, I was hired.<br />
The cabin was completed in February of 2012. Eight months after we decided to divorce. I thought at the time those eight months be the most stressful time of my life.<br />
I was wrong.<br />
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The euphoric cloud of freedom I was initially floating on quickly plummeted to earth and I found myself thinking, "What have I done??"<br />
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The divorce became final in December, 2012. It was anti-climactic, after all the drama of getting there. <br />
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This has been nothing like I thought it would be. Sure, I'm now a free-wheeling single woman. But that doesn't even begin to cover what I am. I'm not really free. I'm more trapped now than I was when I was married. Pressures and stress and outright fear. I never feel....safe.<br />
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Would I do it again? Absolutely.<br />
Would I do things differently? Probably.<br />
Have I learned from my experience? Yes. And no.<br />
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They say what does not kill you, makes you stronger. I'm not dead yet, but am I stronger? In some ways, I am. I can look back at This Last Year and say, "I survived that. I can do this." But I feel a hardness in me...a sharp edge I didn't have before. I'm jaded and it's hard or me to trust. I've dated, and there's one man who stands above the rest. But how good can I be for someone if I feel the way I do? I don't know what will come of it, and I guess for now, that's okay. I hate the thought of ever getting married again or even living with someone, and my body is prematurely shutting down the baby-making equipment, so what's left for someone who loves me? I don't know yet.<br />
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Moving away from my children..... Hardest thing I've ever done. I'm only two exits away and I see them everyday. But I feel that some of the connections I had with them are gone. Forever. All I can do is hang tight to the ones we still have and do my damnedest to forge new ones. <br />
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This Last Year. I've been ground under the heels of things I can't control and I still stagger to my feet. I keep saying to myself, "This is going to get better. I'm going to improve my life and when I get smacked down, I'm going to get up again. And again. And again."<br />
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And again.<br />
Alis volat propriis. She flies with her own wings.<br />
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<img src="webkit-fake-url://802E2C23-129E-4306-B055-A7E9D58060FF/imagejpeg" /><br />
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<br />Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-53438387309940544022012-04-29T13:46:00.000-04:002012-04-29T13:47:12.062-04:00Something awesome this way comes!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Spring migration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Those words make me giddy.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5D9cUi4PTxg/T5197v2bkAI/AAAAAAAABII/aeJX84hyBfc/s1600/BLBW-M-ASY_eiseman_sp04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5D9cUi4PTxg/T5197v2bkAI/AAAAAAAABII/aeJX84hyBfc/s320/BLBW-M-ASY_eiseman_sp04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo by Charley Eiseman)</span></div>
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Next week, I'm attending the <a href="http://biggest%20week%20in%20american%20birding/" target="_blank">Biggest Week in American Birding</a>. It's been too long since I got to experience the absolute wonder of Lake Erie's marshes and shore in May. <br />
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I'll be blogging live from the festival, (I'm an "<a href="http://www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/blog_team.htm" target="_blank">Official Blogger</a>", woohoo!) so stay tuned to this blog for all the news!<br />
<br />Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-2118686507850433582012-01-16T20:08:00.000-05:002016-02-05T10:57:30.501-05:00Harriers against the sunsetThis past weekend I enjoyed my first OOS Winter Raptor Extravaganza at The Wilds in Muskingum County, Ohio. <br />
History of the Wilds:<br />
(From <a href="http://thewilds.org/" target="_blank">The Wilds website)</a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6d4722; line-height: 18px;">Around the world, habitats are being severely degraded and overexploited-forests are being clear-cut, wetlands are being drained, and land-use patterns are changing to accommodate suburban sprawl, agriculture, and mineral extraction. Nowhere is this more evident than in southeastern Ohio where forests were destroyed to accommodate agriculture, and agricultural areas were subsequently destroyed by extensive surface-mining for coal. While subsequent efforts at reclamation were largely successful at restoring ground cover, controlling erosion, and providing areas for recreational activity, questions remain as to the biological functionality of these areas. What appears to be “green and lush” to the casual observer, may instead be an area of decreased biological diversity, with assortments of invasive species, and may not be returning to a functional ecosystem.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6d4722; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span style="color: #6d4722; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The landscape of the Wilds has undergone a series of major transformations, from the open surface mining to the reclaimed grasslands and now areas are being converted to healthy, high diversity meadows.</span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The Wilds is home to a diverse list of raptors in the winter, and I had heard about this event for years and decided it was time to bundle up and subject myself to </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Arctic</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> temperatures and howling wind for the sake of seeing so many birds of prey.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Raptors seen this day:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Northern Harrier</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">American Kestrel</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Merlin</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Red-tailed Hawk</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Dark and light morph Rough-legged Hawk</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Great Horned Owl</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Short-eared Owl</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">(And there were a bunch of songbirds around, too. I was more interested in the birds of prey.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">With very little narrative, here are some photos from the day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It was cold.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Meeting point, in lower parking lot:</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710969677/" title="cold parking lot by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="cold parking lot" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6710969677_759a2b6aea.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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It was around 20 degrees as we all convened, with a wind chill of "Holy crap it's cold!"<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710977697/" title="erik and cold birders by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="erik and cold birders" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6710977697_388710c11f.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://boringbirding.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Erik Bruder </a>and other cold birders.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710965499/" title="tricia wilds by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="tricia wilds" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6710965499_4d02bb8f05.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
Tricia West! I was so happy to have her in our group. For all of our Facebook banter, we have never birded together.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710979109/" title="kathi and tricia by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="kathi and tricia" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6710979109_cf7cbbc6dd.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://katdocsworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kathi</a>!!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710987289/" title="jeffrey point by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="jeffrey point" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6710987289_203a250136.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
The view at Jeffrey Point<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710991089/" title="hood ornament by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="hood ornament" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6710991089_e0341a7669.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
Someone left me a hood ornament while I was out pacing through a pine stand looking for Long-eared Owls. The lower mandible of a six month old deer. Thanks a bunch, guys!<br />
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One of the highlights of the day was this:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710993235/" title="rhino eye by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="rhino eye" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6710993235_9399c23e00.jpg" height="482" width="500" /></a><br />
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The Rhino Barn. OMG.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710992629/" title="tricia and rhino by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="tricia and rhino" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6710992629_dc2e141ab8.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
Tricia acted like she pets baby rhinos all the time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710994395/" title="rhino and me by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="rhino and me" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6710994395_11fe2eefa1.jpg" height="357" width="500" /></a><br />
This was the Asian rhino...the ones with the prehensile lip. And this one kissed me. I loved it immensely.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710995411/" title="mama rhino and me by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="mama rhino and me" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6710995411_a54d17bd0a.jpg" height="389" width="500" /></a><br />
This mama rhino enjoyed having her ears scratched, and leaned against the rail to get closer. <br />
This was one of those moments in my life that I will never forget....and the back of a rhino's ear is softer than you would imagine.<br />
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Ack! Baby rhino!!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710996229/" title="mama and baby by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="mama and baby" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6710996229_3bfd506835.jpg" height="416" width="500" /></a><br />
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I took very few bird photos. The cold and wind and shivering on my part did not lend itself to good photography conditions. <br />
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This Short-eared owl was good enough to sit still for a minute or two.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710996663/" title="SEOW by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="SEOW" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6710996663_24b3989d84.jpg" height="500" width="490" /></a><br />
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The setting sun made a vista out of a field of hay bales. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6711000469/" title="hay bales by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="hay bales" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6711000469_3ec85c7b36.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6711004653/" title="tricia and lifer merlin by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="tricia and lifer merlin" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6711004653_a18a1ee27d.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
Tricia got her life Merlin, spotted by Phoebe Thompson.<br />
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We welcomed the sight of the sun finally coming through the clouds, and said goodbye to it in nearly the same breath.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6710997979/" title="caravan sunset by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="caravan sunset" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6710997979_f20a0dcd8c.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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As harriers coursed over the fields in front of the setting sun, I was thankful for the heat in my car, the love and laughter of my friends, the dinner waiting for me, and the fact that I am a birder and can experience days like this one.Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-80104742644540476702011-11-14T16:09:00.000-05:002011-11-14T16:09:35.452-05:00There aren't too many poems about Red-tailed Hawks. But this is a pretty good one. I mean, it's Yeats. Can't go wrong there.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/423618716/" title="Two Socks by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Two Socks" height="500" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/423618716_f109e679a2.jpg" width="384" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125em; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-top: 0.6em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">'Call down the hawk from the air;<br />
Let him be hooded or caged<br />
Till the yellow eye has grown mild,<br />
For larder and spit are bare,<br />
The old cook enraged,<br />
The scullion gone wild.'</div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/1002200478/" title="Can I help you by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Can I help you" height="375" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1436/1002200478_9b7ba41da0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125em; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-top: 0.6em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">'I will not be clapped in a hood,<br />
Nor a cage, nor alight upon wrist,<br />
Now I have learnt to be proud<br />
Hovering over the wood<br />
In the broken mist<br />
Or tumbling cloud.'</div><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/441411513/" title="RT07-02 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="RT07-02" height="375" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/441411513_c055edeb05.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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'What tumbling cloud did you cleave,<br />
Yellow-eyed hawk of the mind,<br />
Last evening? that I, who had sat<br />
Dumbfounded before a knave,<br />
Should give to my friend<br />
A pretence of wit.'<br />
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Williams Butler Yeats</div>Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-48570400624867750022011-10-15T18:55:00.000-04:002011-10-15T18:55:50.991-04:00What does a birder look like?There's been a recurring theme lately in the birding world, and this post has been slowly and steadily building in me. It's about birders and how the world sees us, if we even care about their opinion, and where we are going as a group.<br />
It's been a mission of mine, at least informally, to wipe out the classic stereotype of "birder" or "birdwatcher". Just look at the header of my blog. I've never ever been considered "uncool" or a "nerd". And frankly, I hate labels anyway. But to make things easier for all of us, we do tend to lump people together.<br />
So for the sake of argument, let's just accept the fact that there are labels.<br />
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A non-birder, or anyone who has seen a movie or TV show depicting birders, knows the stereotype.<br />
Nerdy, nooby, contemptible and socially awkward people who wear silly pants and/or hats, wear binoculars around their necks and spout the Latin names of birds. That sounds familiar, right?<br />
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What part of that description is accurate for EVERY birder you know? <br />
<i>"wears binoculars around their necks</i>"<br />
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I won't get into the psycho-social aspect of labeling and stereotyping, but I've learned that even if a stereotype is a positive one, it can still be harmful in the fact that it lessens the individual it pertains to. It limits your ability to see the whole person.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053810/">The Big Year</a> came out yesterday, and it kind of felt like birders came out, too. I enjoyed it immensely and didn't care that they got a few things wrong. It's a work of fiction. But I liked the story pulse behind each main character. Crazy about birds? They sure were. Prissy, Latin-spouting noobs? They sure weren't.<br />
Lots of birders were in a froth about using it as a springboard to bring in more birders, and I think that's valid. But I stayed out of the discussions that quickly degenerated into nit picking about bird IDs. It's a MOVIE.<br />
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What about the <a href="http://www.aba.org/">ABA</a>? An organization that is supposed to be for us, by us? Have they represented us well in the past? It seems not. I was ignorant of the ABA until <a href="http://jeffreyagordon.com/">Jeff Gordon</a> took the helm, and most of what I have heard has been the same...."I feel that it isn't an organization for ME. I don't do hardcore listing or get into fights about wear on a gull's tertials." I hope that birders will see the ABA in a different light, to forget about the stereotype that seems to be following the organization. I'm a member of the ABA. Does that make me a hardcore lister or rude know-it-all?<br />
There was a little kerfuffle on Facebook a few weeks ago...I was talking about a certain bird we all saw at <a href="http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ottawa/">Ottawa NWR</a>, and someone wanted to see photos. I chose not to post them, because they did not capture what we SAW through our binoculars. It rapidly spiraled into a war of doctrine and flat-out rudeness, from someone I don't know personally. When I said that this kind of thread was what was wrong with birding, all Hell broke loose. There was even a threat made by this pompous birder to use the thread in an article. This seems to be a facet of the ABA that lots of people recognize. The snooty, uptight and belligerent tone that some "old school" birders affect just rubs me the wrong way. Isn't this supposed to be fun? Sure, there needs to be record committees and people who keep track of stuff. But what about the joy of it all?<br />
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<i>(This next part has to do with race. Please spare me any gripes about my verbage or labels. I'm the most non-racist person in the world and I am using typical terms for people of colors and creeds different than me, so just don't go there.)</i><br />
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Another aspect of this theme is diversity. Okay, birders. Count on your hands ten birders you know. Now, put down a finger for each non-Caucasian birder you named. How many fingers went down? <br />
I know lots of different people. All colors and nationalities. But I know zero non-white birders. No African Americans, no Latinos, no Asians...everyone is very much like me. I've seen black and Latino birders, so I know they exist. But they are so few and far between they are noticeable. I think most birders, or even just decent people in general, would be highly offended to think that their hobby is all-inclusive, snobby and white-elitist. But it's a fact that we tend to be white, middle to upper class folks. "Tend" to be....and that's the problem with stereotypes. None of us "tend" to be anything. We are what we are.<br />
I'm attending the <a href="http://www.fledgingbirders.org/CFABregister.html">diversity conference in Philadelphia</a> next week and I am excited to learn about what can be done about the disparity. To understand it more, to change it, to bring more people of all sorts to the wonderment of birding.<br />
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I leave you to think on this, but in closing, I am including photos of birders. First, think of the stereotype. Then look at the people. Then put the stereotype down and never pick it up again.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224298175/" title="rain crows by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="rain crows" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6224298175_ecc596bc8b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5783963676/" title="kathi lynne drinking by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="kathi lynne drinking" height="444" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/5783963676_7b92f3a10a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5783926674/" title="Beth and Bus by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Beth and Bus" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5783926674_80a3d4073c.jpg" width="324" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5681797767/" title="laura by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="laura" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5681797767_81ac47a73c.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5682361720/" title="dawn by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="dawn" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5682361720_72c75df083.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5681786279/" title="cheers by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="cheers" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5681786279_e1bfa7eb34.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5076551445/" title="Jeff G. Farmhouse chillin' by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Jeff G. Farmhouse chillin'" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/5076551445_3e9068695a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/4669312249/" title="Laura the stinker by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Laura the stinker" height="500" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1291/4669312249_7d846818ee.jpg" width="209" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/4577093538/" title="DSC00916 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00916" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4577093538_6f17535a9d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/4430425009/" title="Delia and Hooper by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Delia and Hooper" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4430425009_28360d00b3.jpg" width="341" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/3982398162/" title="OYBC banding by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="OYBC banding" height="478" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3982398162_43a67625e2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/3513786206/" title="Paco the Cabana Boy by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Paco the Cabana Boy" height="333" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3658/3513786206_b8fd6e985c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/3544233336/" title="JulieChetOpossumCreek by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="JulieChetOpossumCreek" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2020/3544233336_8cdb46dff2.jpg" width="307" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/3743803795/" title="Taking nets down by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Taking nets down" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2612/3743803795_4fd6a58c83.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/3508996138/" title="Do not throw things over overlook by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Do not throw things over overlook" height="333" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3508996138_32833f3839.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5783965568/" title="The Flock 2011 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="The Flock 2011" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/5783965568_c711932c9d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/3604501069/" title="sunbathing by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="sunbathing" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3604501069_b45fab0bd0.jpg" width="500" /></a>Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-66758548208358379202011-10-08T21:22:00.001-04:002016-02-05T09:41:27.343-05:00People photos from the Midwest Birding SymposiumI'm going to spare you my excuses for not updating my blog more.<br />
<br />
So September brought the <a href="https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/mwb2011/main2011.php">Midwest Birding Symposium</a> in Lakeside, Ohio. My arm got twisted (Thanks, <a href="http://jeffreyagordon.com/">Jeff!</a>) and I am so glad I gave in. Not only was it a birding event, it was full of faces I wanted to see, people I love to spend time with, and lots of new and wonderful people to meet.<br />
There are a bazillion photos to share....here are about, oh, forty of them.<br />
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First, Palito:<br />
Palito got to meet lots of new people and see new places.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">..</span><br />
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The <a href="http://www.bsbobird.org/">Black Swamp Bird Observatory</a>!!!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224307935/" title="palito and BSBO sign by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="palito and BSBO sign" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6044/6224307935_5f4ed49a42.jpg" height="500" width="406" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ottawa/">Ottawaa National Wildlife Refuge</a>!!!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224819664/" title="palito at ottawa by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="palito at ottawa" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6173/6224819664_fda8d769d0.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
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He got to meet (and be blown on by) the President of the ABA!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224307629/" title="jeff and palito by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="jeff and palito" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6096/6224307629_3856a9f42a.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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And Liz!!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224306795/" title="liz and palito by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="liz and palito" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6224306795_d413fa4312.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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Palito doesn't like cole slaw. He's an owl.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224826562/" title="feeding palito by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="feeding palito" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6224826562_a498a855cd.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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The Birder's Gang Sign:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224825496/" title="palito gang sign by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="palito gang sign" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6108/6224825496_3eedc7ea08.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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He got to meet <a href="http://birdingwithkennandkim.blogspot.com/">Kim Kaufman</a>! He was so nervous.....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224294201/" title="kim and palito by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="kim and palito" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6119/6224294201_64b7d4a7c4.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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And Barb!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224303721/" title="barb and palito by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="barb and palito" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6224303721_a6a0015983.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224815650/" title="sherrie and palito by susangetsnative, on Flickr"></a><br />
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And beer!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224302825/" title="palito and bud lite by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="palito and bud lite" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6224302825_ca868bcef0.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
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And Gentleman Jack!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224295349/" title="palito and Gentleman Jack by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="palito and Gentleman Jack" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6155/6224295349_69ffe728c6.jpg" height="500" width="230" /></a><br />
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Here, <a href="http://10000birds.com/">Corey</a> taunts him with a knife. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224815898/" title="corey and palito by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="corey and palito" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6224815898_bb414f111e.jpg" height="500" width="357" /></a><br />
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And now the people:<br />
Okay, I was totally innocent this time. I was INNOCENTLY taking photos of<a href="http://hastybrook.blogspot.com/"> Lynne </a>and <a href="http://katdocsworld.blogspot.com/">Kathi</a>, and what happens? Up goes the FINGER.<br />
And look at the hairy eyeball she is giving me too!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224299983/" title="lynne birding me by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="lynne birding me" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6222/6224299983_139fd66419.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
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Okay, funny story. <a href="http://albatt.net/">Al Batt</a> told a hilarious story the last night of the symposium, and here's a short synopsis:<br />
When he was a teenager, he and a friend let some Muscovy ducks loose in their high school. They put tags on the wings of FOUR ducks: Duck #1, Duck #2, Duck #3 and Duck #5. And the next day, the school was in an uproar because they "couldn't find the last duck". <br />
Well, we found Duck #4!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224300195/" title="duck number 4 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="duck number 4" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/6224300195_3438ede595.jpg" height="453" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/The-Rain-Crows/166591416686605">The Rain Crows</a>!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224298175/" title="rain crows by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="rain crows" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6224298175_ecc596bc8b.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224817656/" title="gang at auditorium by susangetsnative, on Flickr"></a><br />
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Ann Oliver's KICK ASS shoes:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224817968/" title="ann's kick ass shoes by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="ann's kick ass shoes" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6100/6224817968_60190d093a.jpg" height="500" width="301" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/">Bacon</a>!!!! Yes, he's a people!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224817438/" title="chet by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="chet" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6045/6224817438_8e0f580c42.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
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I went birding with the guys, and it was so great....<br />
(<a href="http://www.10000birds.com/">Corey Finger</a>,<a href="http://www.picusblog.com/"> Christopher Ciccone</a> and Greg Miller....yeah, <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1053810%2F&ei=RfSQTpD8BK2JsAL1tuGiAQ&usg=AFQjCNEGVG_yuMu_AoUSlr0jTpl_4jqX4w">THAT Greg Miller</a>!)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224812946/" title="corey greg chris by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="corey greg chris" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/6224812946_76d68c66c9.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
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Corey liked the back of my car.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224812020/" title="corey and my car by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="corey and my car" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6224812020_a012f34c44.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />
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Here's Kathi being all volunteery at her post at the information/registration booth:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224286447/" title="Kathi being volunteery by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Kathi being volunteery" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/6224286447_20d7a25842.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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Ah, the boat ride on Thursday night. Lynne and <a href="http://rjknits.blogspot.com/">Ruthie</a> had JUST gotten there as the boat was leaving. <br />
It was a fun, albeit rocky trip. And it was GREAT to finally meet Ruthie...we actually got her to Ohio!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224810680/" title="the boat people by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="the boat people" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6224810680_613928d91f.jpg" height="393" width="500" /></a><br />
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Oh, and here's a random bird photo:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224289219/" title="BE over Lakeside by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="BE over Lakeside" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6103/6224289219_05654b4893.jpg" height="500" width="381" /></a><br />
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Do yourself a favor and mark your calendars for the next Midwest Birding Symposium....<br />
In 2013!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6224811110/" title="sunset over Lake Erie by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="sunset over Lake Erie" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6109/6224811110_f07a2b01ab.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a>Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-75818531436542598632011-08-23T22:06:00.000-04:002011-08-23T22:06:59.478-04:00Introducing my new mascotA few of my birding friends have mascots. Little stuffed animals or toys that accompany them on their travels, who are the subject of photo shoots at ever-changing locales.<br />
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Well, I wanted one too. I'm special enough to have a freakin' mascot. I was going to get the BEST mascot. A PROPER mascot.<br />
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I laid out the idea on my Facebook page, and among the more racy suggestions, a friend reminded me about my Mom's owl collection. Mom gave me lots of her old owl knick-knacks and sit-abouts when I started at RAPTOR, and one in particular came to mind.<br />
(Little owl figure...sounds perfect for me, right? Wait. It gets better.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6074479751/" title="Palito 1 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito 1" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6074479751_a16dc585c4.jpg" width="490" /></a><br />
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Back story:<br />
About 30 years ago, Mom got a present from a friend, and when she opened it, it looked for all the world like a small ceramic penis. As it turned out, it was upside down and it was really a terra cotta owl from Mexico.<br />
But the back of it....yes, it resembles a penis.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0THLYu4TQb8/TlRU5CvjfhI/AAAAAAAABGE/FibA9Q4cedc/s1600/303109_2033516269921_1004583642_31845531_6128248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0THLYu4TQb8/TlRU5CvjfhI/AAAAAAAABGE/FibA9Q4cedc/s320/303109_2033516269921_1004583642_31845531_6128248_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So I had a little owl with an (albeit unintentionally) obscene body part.<br />
(Sounds perfect, right? Wait. It gets better.)<br />
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Now this little thing needed a name. Not just any old name like George or Stavros or Boris. It needed a Latino name. Preferably one that captured the true essence of this singular item. <br />
(Yes, I wanted it to give a nod to the phallic nature of the thing.)<br />
<a href="http://dugfresh.blogspot.com/">Doug</a>, one of our newest members of the Flock, came through for me. I described it to him, and his suggestion was "Palito". Which means in Spanish.....wait for it....<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Little Stick.</span><br />
(Sounds perfect, right? Wait. It gets better.)<br />
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So. Obscene yet cute owl, named Palito. I took him to Starbucks with me this morning for his first photo shoot with one of the baristas. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6074480105/" title="Palito and Rachel by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and Rachel" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6074480105_5bc81c37e6.jpg" width="440" /></a><br />
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Rachell, a favorite of mine. And as dirty-minded as I am.<br />
She looked him over, and said, "It's a whistle?" I laughed and said, "No...of course not.". Then I looked at the holes in the back. And put the obscene part of the owl in my mouth. And blew.<br />
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Well, I'll be dipped. He IS a whistle.<br />
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So I have a mascot in the shape of an owl, with a backside shaped like a penis, named Palito, and you can blow him. Perfection. It made my day.<br />
(What cracks me up to no end is the....look of utter terror on his face. Makes the locales seem so sinister)<br />
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Palito's first day out consisted of:<br />
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Sitting on a fallen sycamore tree by the Little Miami River...<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6074481755/" title="Palito and sycamore by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and sycamore" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6074481755_50c661f7f8.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Wondering if he was brave enough to go for a swim...<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6075284922/" title="DSCN0957 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCN0957" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6075284922_183b675259.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Meeting a tiny toad.....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6074480699/" title="Palito and toad by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and toad" height="313" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6074480699_d3b710cace.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And also meeting Hooper....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6075022482/" title="Palito and Hooper by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and Hooper" height="430" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6075022482_20ca62aa1a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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He went with me to pick up dinner.....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6075023472/" title="Palito and pizz by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and pizz" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6075023472_7f73bccb3d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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We kicked back in the hammock for a bit....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6074483909/" title="Palito on hammock by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito on hammock" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6074483909_006939f2c4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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He climbed a tree.....and immediately thought, "Holy crap!".....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6075025258/" title="Palito maple tree by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito maple tree" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6075025258_1d8ebd39eb.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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He was terrified by the young milkweed bugs.....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6074485853/" title="Palito and milkweed bugs by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and milkweed bugs" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6074485853_181ffeb4b0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<br />
And the lone milkweed tussock moth caterpillar.....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6075026910/" title="Palito and milkweed tussock cat by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and milkweed tussock cat" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6075026910_b303a5ab7f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The monarch caterpillar made him feel faint....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6075027550/" title="Palito and monarch cat by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and monarch cat" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6075027550_18c2454811.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The purple martin house (vacant) perplexed him............<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6075028426/" title="Palito and PUMA house by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and PUMA house" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6075028426_4ac98c3b83.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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He wants to know what kind of gall this is...........<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6075029318/" title="Palito and weird gall thing by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito and weird gall thing" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6075029318_70c23fabc5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And he thought he could be brave enough to explore on his own, but he's just too terrified....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6074492075/" title="Palito in grass by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Palito in grass" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6074492075_f6f7438570.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
So that's Palito. Look for him at birding festivals near you! And let's see how many famous birders I can get photos of while they are playing his whistle.<br />
<br />
Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-60424440412286586942011-08-14T19:27:00.000-04:002011-08-14T19:27:31.677-04:00Go find a KITE!For the second year in a row, a small community in rural Eastern Ohio has hosted "Kite Day", a special opportunity to view confirmed nesting Mississippi Kites. Now, if you aren't a birder...<br />
<br />
1. I feel so bad for you. The wonders you are missing out on...<br />
2. Come hang out with me. I'll turn you onto birds....<br />
3. You might be thinking, "Pfft. Whatever. What's so special about some birds making babies in rural Eastern Ohio?"<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's why it's so special. As the name implies, this is a bird that is found in the southern U.S. Its breeding range is roughly from Oklahoma east to South Carolina, into the southern states. They winter in interior South America. The birds we saw today are in OHIO.<br />
Okay, so it's a big deal.<br />
<br />
When Kite Day was advertised, <a href="http://katdocsworld.blogspot.com/">Kathi</a> got our names on the list (the nest is inside a gated community and they were gracious enough to allow a small number of birders in today). She was good enough to drive us out to the site and it just added a fun element to what was a stellar day. When we drive anywhere together, we are blah blah blah for hours. Helps the time go faster.<br />
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Should we just get to the photos? Yes, let's.<br />
<br />
We drove in, parked, and followed the other birders. And there was the chick, teed up in a tree, pretty as you please.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043669502/" title="MIKI chick in tree by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="MIKI chick in tree" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6074/6043669502_40e25d0595.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
LIFE BIRD # 244. And LIFE RAPTOR# 18 (not including vultures)<br />
WHOOT.<br />
<br />
The recently fledged chick just sat in the tree, and as one of the adults came into its line of sight, it would start to call....which made my heart melt.<br />
Here's a recording of their call:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="160" scrolling="no" src="http://www.xeno-canto.org/embed.php?XC=1388&simple=1" width="340"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043111483/" title="MIKI chick1 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="MIKI chick1" height="421" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6043111483_531d26d3ca.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<br />
Here's Kathi, with her "I'm a serious birder, so it's important that I turn my ballcap backwards. 'Cause that's how I roll" pose:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043112779/" title="DSCN0778 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCN0778" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/6043112779_fc68d842f0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We also got to see<a href="http://heather-heatherofthehills.blogspot.com/"> Heather of the Hills</a>!!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043665168/" title="DSCN0789 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCN0789" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6043665168_7ed9123c8d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043120791/" title="Heather looking at MIKI by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Heather looking at MIKI" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/6043120791_71ce4259be.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
And <a href="http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/">Jim McCormac </a>(he's behind the scope):<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043125117/" title="Kathi and Jim by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Kathi and Jim" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/6043125117_9481ac1363.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We watched over and over as the adults would bolt into view and hand over a fresh cicada to the calling chick....and then got to watch the chick nom nom nom on the thing:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043665558/" title="MIKI chick eating by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="MIKI chick eating" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6206/6043665558_e5beb78aa4.jpg" width="437" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043665928/" title="MIKI chick eating 2 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="MIKI chick eating 2" height="464" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6043665928_037595d0a7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043119005/" title="MIKI chick with cicada by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="MIKI chick with cicada" height="486" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6043119005_d080706edb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<br />
The adults were busy, even with just one chick to feed. Constantly hunting for cicadas and other little critters to bring in.....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043670564/" title="Adult MIKI sil by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Adult MIKI sil" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6043670564_8923e91280.jpg" width="478" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
And then I was finally looking at the right moment with my camera raised when an adult came in with food.<br />
Check out the rufous shine in the adult's wing. They aren't just black and gray birds....A lot of color hidden in there:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/6043122635/" title="Adult MIKI bringing food by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Adult MIKI bringing food" height="395" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6043122635_2424c154d6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I'm a happy girl. It's been a LONG time since I got a new raptor on my list. And this was extra special, being able to sit and watch for so long, actually getting to "know" the birds. <br />
Thank you, small gated community in rural Eastern Ohio, for hosting this day for us!!Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-43865165046224932272011-07-09T20:52:00.000-04:002011-07-09T20:52:53.520-04:00Duck nuggets and pelletsI was at the <a href="http://www.midwestnativeplants.org/">Midwest Native Plant Conference</a> today with some of our birds. <br />
<br />
Invariably, someone asks, "Why have raptors at a native plant conference?" I don't answer the question for them, I let them answer it themselves. <br />
Put native plants in your yard.<br />
This attracts lots of great insects and other animals who depend on the native plants.<br />
Raptors and other predators come and eat the prey that is attracted to the insects, etc, that are attracted to the native plants. And the balance is achieved. Easy.<br />
<br />
<br />
So enough about native plants for now. Let's get to the gravy of my day. I'm going to keep the words short because frankly, the photos and video stand well on their own.<br />
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I set up by some doors that led to a courtyard. Well, there were ducks. A mama duck and BABY DUCKS.<br />
Baby ducks are my Kryptonite. This loud and obnoxious gal turns into sugary goo when baby ducks are involved.<br />
<br />
Here they are:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5919900619/" title="babies and mom duck by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="babies and mom duck " height="377" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5919900619_7b359ceab5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5919900181/" title="baby ducks3 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="baby ducks3" height="269" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5919900181_c282e9dd14.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5919876937/" title="mom and baby ducks2 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="mom and baby ducks2" height="433" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5919876937_965447fb39.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5920462330/" title="baby ducks2 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="baby ducks2" height="352" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/5920462330_7030ac7136.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And after all the squealing and melting was done, I went back inside, where Sylvester was trying to cast a pellet.<br />
Check out the laughing in the background...this woman seems to be a little bit off-balance. <br />
But anyway....pellet time:<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwMiSbNSmZ2h91M1hpyqAmVqUBs561jQa6HXtD6b3vgugbf4bJNg8GpmZkXuUwuuReFdKrVKSN3EF4' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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And I can never adequately express what <a href="http://www.birding-wv.com/">this festival</a> means to me. Or what these people mean to me.Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-29881764117508789442011-05-17T22:45:00.000-04:002011-05-17T22:45:47.562-04:00We interrupt these posts about New River, to bring you a dumb.The other day, I was sitting in the park around the corner from RAPTOR. Not a great day weather-wise, but a nice place to get my paperwork done before picking up the birds for a program.<br />
There were plenty of birds to listen to....towhees, cardinals, a parula, and the high thin whistle of broad-winged hawks. If you think you've never heard a BWHA, think again. You might have just thought, "Oh, that's some songbird". Their call is very un-hawk-like:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/sounds">Have a listen</a></span>.<br />
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<br />
So I'm enjoying the avian ambiance when I notice something on the roof of the shelter at the end of the parking lot. <br />
Huh. Too big to be a leaf. Looks....sort of bird shaped.<br />
Aw, hell. Is that a hawk???<br />
(For the record, it really and truly did look like a headless hawk)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5731874251/" title="Mystery1 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Mystery1" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/5731874251_9b809e4ec4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I squinted hard. And then my mind turned it into an <i>injured</i> broad-winged hawk. A hawk that needed my help, by Gawd!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I took a few photos of it, then got out of the car to plan my next move, namely how to get on the roof. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I was just about to try and drag a picnic table across the lawn when I stopped. Wait....it didn't have feathers. It had a .....husk.</div><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5732424828/" title="corn husk by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="corn husk" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/5732424828_ce10423cb9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Oh snap. It's corn. <br />
I was about to risk life and limb to climb onto a roof to rescue <i>corn</i>.Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-30588350801478740002011-05-14T23:58:00.001-04:002011-05-15T00:01:46.065-04:00You Verklempt me.<div style="text-align: center;">More from the <a href="http://www.birding-wv.com/">New River Birding and Nature Festival</a>!!!<br />
<br />
Remember the last scene in Jerry McGuire?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8A_4vGzGEQ/Tc8pgAXtkjI/AAAAAAAABFA/kOhyBMIecio/s1600/cruise+jerry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8A_4vGzGEQ/Tc8pgAXtkjI/AAAAAAAABFA/kOhyBMIecio/s320/cruise+jerry.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"You.....complete....me."</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you don't remember it, just think back to before Tom Cruise went bat-shit crazy permanently.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, it's a good segue into my post tonight.</div><br />
Muddlety Magic:<br />
So, Saturday of the festival was Muddlety, my absolute favorite trip of all. For a refresher on my first day at Muddlety back in 2009, go<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://susankwilliams.blogspot.com/2009/05/wednesday-april-29th-best-day-i-have.html"> here.</a> </b>Seriously. Go read that post. You'll understand the title of this post better.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
This time around, we got Julie as our guide (plus Rudy, who comes up in a later post) and Geoff Heeter. Click <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://susankwilliams.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-in-heck-would-you-want-to-go-to.html">here</a></span></b> for an interview with Geoff.<br />
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The weather was fantastic. The group was fantastic. The guides were fantastic. The birds were fantastic.<br />
I guess you can see a theme here, right?<br />
Blah blah blah.<br />
It's hard sometimes to really convey the wonderment of this place. It's not only birdy, it's also full of butterflies and very cool flora, and if you're lucky you might get a bear. Bear. BEar. BEAr. BEAR!!<br />
:)<br />
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I was yet again verklempt. Choked with emotion, holding back tears all day. This special place just rips me apart on the inside, and as it goes through me, sews me up again into something new.<br />
I warned Beth R. that I would be a mess, and she warned me that she would be a mess.<br />
And she gave the quote of the day: "YOU VERKLEMPT ME."<br />
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Let's run through some photos. And you may notice a lack of bird photos. Well, I'm still working on my new camera. There are too many settings. And the camera has a higher IQ than I do.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720377735/" title="muddlety sky2 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="muddlety sky2" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/5720377735_05ec7cfa22.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
We couldn't have asked for a better day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720897656/" title="geoff's serious birder face by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="geoff's serious birder face" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2660/5720897656_2d8b61efa0.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Geoff Heeter, our host with the most.<br />
(This is his Serious Birder face. I was so shocked to see him actually being serious, I had to get a photo of it)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720921048/" title="rudy in the grass by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="rudy in the grass" height="378" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/5720921048_7e61fdd96d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.plumaverdetours.com/">Rudy</a>, who is nearly 7 feet tall, avoids Warbler Neck all together by just laying down....<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720902216/" title="nina side of the roa by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="nina side of the roa" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/5720902216_78970de280.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://natureremains.blogspot.com/">Nina</a>, down alongside the road, as usual. :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720352753/" title="Beth and Bus by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Beth and Bus" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3660/5720352753_7f0d8a9919.jpg" width="324" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.eclecticbeth.wordpress.com/">Beth G</a>., with a big bus and a big lens. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720354877/" title="lichen muddlety by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="lichen muddlety" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/5720354877_8c38381e1d.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720354877/" title="lichen muddlety by susangetsnative, on Flickr"></a>I like lichen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720933054/" title="azure I think by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="azure I think" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/5720933054_452ef406b9.jpg" width="482" /></a><br />
Can't remember which Azure this is....<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720361221/" title="muddlety rocks by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="muddlety rocks" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2419/5720361221_4e08cd850e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720358813/" title="jz beth listening for CEWA by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="jz beth listening for CEWA" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2728/5720358813_19c8ca4b9a.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<a href="http://mylifewithbirds.blogspot.com/">Beth Russell</a> has spent five years trying to get a look at a Cerulean Warbler. Here, Julie is trying to call one in....<br />
And finally, down the road.....we got it. <br />
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When we got back on the bus, I made Beth do the Life Bird Wiggle, which she did...with some extra "White Girl From Philly" Flare:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720364429/" title="turkey nest photo shoot by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="turkey nest photo shoot" height="441" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/5720364429_34326ef2c6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
We flushed a turkey from her nest along a hill side, so <a href="http://dugfresh.blogspot.com/">Doug </a>and <a href="http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/">Julie</a> hopped up the rocks to take photos of the thirteen eggs, well hidden in the brush.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720375021/" title="lunch spot muddlety by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="lunch spot muddlety" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/5720375021_93fc8b26ce.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Where lunch is served.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720958470/" title="BS lichen and deer hair by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="BS lichen and deer hair" height="485" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/5720958470_6f4e53cb6f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
British Soldier Lichen (and a bit of deer fur stuck to it)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720928660/" title="kathi julie doug butterflies and scat by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="kathi julie doug butterflies and scat" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3531/5720928660_efab5ae142.jpg" width="402" /></a><br />
Everyone jumped out of the bus to take photos of this...a pile of coyote scat covered in butterflies.<br />
If you don't know about why butterflies do this...the males need certain minerals to complete their reproduction cycles, and this is why you will find hordes of them at puddles of mud and piles of poop.<br />
<br />
<br />
Slow motion video of the butterflies getting their tasty on:<br />
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<br />
<br />
The largest Tulip Popular tree in West Virginia:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720951102/" title="Heeter and Big Tree by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Heeter and Big Tree" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/5720951102_a94d2abfc4.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Geoff loves this tree.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720400455/" title="Laura Big Tree by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Laura Big Tree" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/5720400455_5b000dac26.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Laura loves this tree.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5720938738/" title="Me and The Big Tree by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Me and The Big Tree" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/5720938738_68196ed192.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I love this tree.<br />
We all love this tree.<br />
<br />
<i>I love this place.</i>Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-85846921991541923262011-05-10T22:56:00.001-04:002011-05-10T22:58:32.256-04:00Some birders should not botanize.I'm starting my posts sort of in the middle. I have to go with what moves me, and I've tried to write a post about ten times. It's just ridiculous.<br />
<br />
So I'm jumping in right on Thursday morning. It was a good day, because all of the Flock had finally arrived. <br />
Oh, I never did a list of the Flock this year, did I?<br />
Here you go:<br />
<a href="http://dawnandjeffsblog.blogspot.com/">Dawn and Jeff </a><br />
<a href="http://natureremains.blogspot.com/">Nina</a><br />
<a href="http://heather-heatherofthehills.blogspot.com/">Heather</a><br />
<a href="http://katdocsworld.blogspot.com/">Kathi</a><br />
<a href="http://hastybrook.blogspot.com/">Lynne</a><br />
Moi<br />
<a href="http://somewhereinnj.blogspot.com/">Laura</a><br />
<a href="http://www.birdjam.com/catalog/index.php?ref=susan_goes_native">Jay</a><br />
<a href="http://dugfresh.blogspot.com/">Doug</a><br />
<a href="http://amarkonmywall.wordpress.com/">Vicki</a><br />
Diana <br />
<a href="http://www.eclecticbeth.wordpress.com/">Beth G.</a><br />
<a href="http://mylifewithbirds.blogspot.com/">Beth R.</a><br />
Donna<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fkentuckyrambling.blogspot.com%2F&h=29cfb">Mary Ann</a><br />
Debra<br />
<br />
SEVENTEEN of us. Scattered between the Farmhouse, the hotel, a motor home and two separate cabin rental places.<br />
Most of us were there all week, but we had some stragglers.<br />
Beth R. and Doug came in Wednesday night, so Thursday morning found us Birding by Butt on the Opossum Creek property. After getting my lifer Black-Billed Cuckoo:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5709094066/" title="bb cuckoo by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="bb cuckoo" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/5709094066_c32a8c989f.jpg" width="376" /></a><br />
<br />
(thank you, <a href="http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/">Julie</a>!).....the three of us decided to go see this cool flower that Nina had found earlier in the day.<br />
We hadn't even gotten to the top of the driveway before the shenanigans had started. <br />
For the record, I wasn't really sure that Doug knew what he was getting into. He's a friend of <a href="http://marys-view.blogspot.com/">Mary's</a> and has heard all about this festival for years, and while he's a grown man and can take care of himself, I still worried. I mean, the Flock can be pretty raunchy and off-color, if you know what I mean.<br />
Turns out, I didn't have to worry at ALL. He fits right in. Beth was slinging jabs at him and he was batting them back at her like a pro.<br />
They actually made me blush a few times, and we all know how impossible that is.<br />
<br />
Oh, yeah. The flower.<br />
<br />
So there we are, trudging up the hill to find this tiny yellow flower. A yellow lady's slipper, to be exact, a small, pretty, native orchid.<br />
I've seen lady's slippers before, but I wasn't sure if Beth or Doug had. So I tried to describe it. And unfortunately, I compared it to a scrotum. Well, you'd have thought the two of them were gonna die.<br />
<br />
Now, look at this photo....it does look, well, sack-like, right?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5709048240/" title="yellow lady slipper by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="yellow lady slipper" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2457/5709048240_c4c5ab1a3b.jpg" width="372" /></a><br />
<br />
So yeah. The fact that I said the word "scrotum" was enough to keep them going until we actually found the thing. <br />
A very small, but gorgeous flower.<br />
Then.<br />
One of them (not sure who) said that the curly thingies on the sides looked like peyos (also <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>peyot</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>payos</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>payess</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>peyess)</b></span> on a Hasidic Jew.<br />
And then it began again. They lumped it all together and came up with a combination that I am frankly afraid to type.<br />
<br />
During the commotion, Beth decided to toss her camera down the hillside. When we had all wiped our eyes and took some deep breaths, Doug did the chivalrous thing and went in after it.<br />
I really don't remember what he was doing as I took this photo, but I remember laughing hysterically about it. Remember, this was mid-week already. I was hung over and running on about 3 hours of sleep a night.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5709055242/" title="doug goes for beths camera by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="doug goes for beths camera" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/5709055242_f970da3871.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
And as her camera was being retrieved, Beth got to hold Doug's big huge long lens.<br />
Is it really necessary to add that this sent us around the bend once again?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5708485735/" title="holding dougs lens hehehe by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="holding dougs lens hehehe" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2716/5708485735_019231f7b2.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Ooooh, two-handed hold there, Beth? Wowsa.Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-87178375925796853462011-05-02T21:53:00.000-04:002011-05-02T21:53:13.122-04:00New River 2011 People pixSo it's begun...the <a href="http://www.birding-wv.com/">New River Bird and Nature Festival</a>. It's only day one, so we don't have a bounty of hilarious stories and photos yet. <br />
<br />
It's been a long day, so for tonight I'm going to just show some people photos, so you all can see who's here:<br />
(I don't have photos of everyone yet....and some of the ones I do will get me in trouble)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://somewhereinnj.blogspot.com/">Laura:</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5681797767/" title="laura by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="laura" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5681797767_81ac47a73c.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dawnandjeffsblog.blogspot.com/">Dawn:</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5682361720/" title="dawn by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="dawn" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5682361720_72c75df083.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://natureremains.blogspot.com/">Nina</a> and <a href="http://hastybrook.blogspot.com/">Lynne</a></span>:<br />
(I don't remember what was going on. But I bet it was hilarious)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5681791439/" title="funny faces by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="funny faces" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5681791439_600e003e11.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sigh....Mary Ann and Debra.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5682353344/" title="mary ann debra by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="mary ann debra" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5682353344_e1b221ddd8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
First night together....a toast to the Flock and to nature blogs!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5681786279/" title="cheers by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="cheers" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5681786279_e1bfa7eb34.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
More to come....much, much more. We haven't even STARTED.......Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-11779208187563454672011-04-26T19:17:00.000-04:002011-04-26T19:17:04.287-04:00A new toyAfter taping my camera together since the last time it was broken, I really thought I could get by with it. It still took photos. The camera was just ugly. Then, the last straw: The shutter button fell off. I tried to repair it with rubber cement, but the mojo was gone.<br />
<br />
So goodbye Dear Sony, who got me through 2 <a href="http://www.birding-wv.com/">NRBNF</a>, and 2 trips to New Jersey, countless bird walks around here, and some good years with the girls. <br />
<br />
But I shall not mourn. Because I got a new one.<br />
<br />
A Nikon P500. This is a point and shoot camera that thinks its a DSLR. <br />
<br />
I still have to figure out all the settings, the bells, the whistles. But I'm very happy with it. <br />
36x zoom. Crazy macro. It's just overwhelming.<br />
Here are some preliminary shots:<br />
(We haven't had any sun for about 2 weeks, so the light has been BLAH.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5658932323/" title="beginning of a serviceberry by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="beginning of a serviceberry" height="417" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5104/5658932323_1c11c3d580.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The beginning of a serviceberry<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5658931881/" title="blue jay by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="blue jay" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5658931881_e697c56b4a.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
Blue Jay (from about 30 feet away)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5659503334/" title="carpenter bee by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="carpenter bee" height="428" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5659503334_1f6e7311f4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Peek-a-boo carpenter bee on the mailbox<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5658930199/" title="Jake! by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Jake!" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5658930199_babdd891bf.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Jake, my favorite Starbucks barista<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5659498214/" title="girls scooters by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="girls scooters" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5659498214_08c675240d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The girls at the end of the driveway (they were about 100 feet away)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5659498614/" title="frog isabelle by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="frog isabelle" height="465" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5659498614_c4a44fe37c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Kermit<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5659489384/" title="macro white pink by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="macro white pink" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5148/5659489384_2c6965a82f.jpg" width="453" /></a><br />
Spring-Beauties<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5658924327/" title="garter snake maybe by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="garter snake maybe" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5658924327_9055f98df4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Garter snake, I think....he didn't want to be photographed<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5658926089/" title="bee and grape hyacinth by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="bee and grape hyacinth" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5104/5658926089_c118bd83d3.jpg" width="444" /></a><br />
Honey bee on grape hyacinth<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5658931389/" title="prothonotary warbler singing by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="prothonotary warbler singing" height="444" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5658931389_9f29b5b551.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
And a Prothonotary Warbler, singing his bright yellow butt off at Lake Isabella.<br />
SWEET SWEET SWEET SWEET!!!Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-29011972798066873662011-03-29T19:09:00.000-04:002011-03-29T19:09:36.825-04:00Bird. Drink. Eat. Laugh. Drink. RepeatThis is my third attempt at a post. The first two times, I was trying too hard and it came out stiff and unnatural. And boring.<br />
<br />
Spring is here. Time to talk about the <a href="http://www.birding-wv.com/">New River Bird and Nature Festival</a>, and all that comes with it. I could write in a professional and solemn style, but who are we kidding here?<br />
<br />
Sure, it's about the birds. Glorious warblers and thrushes and sparrows and some raptors thrown in and so many others. Lots of birds. LOTS.<br />
<br />
Sure, it's about the guides. World-class guides. Both "big" names and local experts. <br />
<br />
Sure, it's about the food. Hot breakfasts packed with protein (BACON!), spectacular dinners, cold but yummy lunches perched on a rock in the middle of nowhere. All of it is good. <br />
<br />
But what's the real reason I go to this festival every year? What's the cherry on this fantastic sundae?<br />
<br />
The Flock. (Click <b><a href="http://susankwilliams.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Flock">HERE</a></b> to read about The Flock) <br />
<br />
Though the beginning of The Flock was on the shores of New Jersey back in 2007, the ball really started rolling in 2009 when we all signed up for our first New River festival. Stayed at the Farmhouse, keeping late hours and <a href="http://susankwilliams.blogspot.com/2009/05/altitude-sickness-yep-thats-what-we.html">peeing in raspberry canes</a>. Gossiping into the cold night air <a href="http://susankwilliams.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-jersey-girl.html">on the front porch swing</a> with Laura.<br />
<br />
And this year, the group grows more. It's going to be insane fun, even more laughter, even more people to love. Hear that fizzing sound? That's the promoters taking lots of Alka-Seltzer.<br />
<br />
There's so much that I have written about this festival. So if you want the real dope, go to<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://susankwilliams.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20River"> this list</a></span></b> of NRBNF posts. And if you want to join us this year, it's not too late. There are, as of right NOW, five spots left for each trip. And lodging options are still open....a few, anyway. <br />
<br />
I am packing Poise this time.Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-56421893023296132502011-03-23T23:03:00.000-04:002011-03-23T23:03:26.193-04:00A new Me. (Or an old Me, revisited)I'm not one for maudlin and weary posts about what I did or did not accomplish in the previous year. I usually just list what I did and move on to the next circuit around the sun.<br />
As I celebrated my 38th birthday at the beginning of the year, I found myself frankly shaken by the number. Thirty eight? WTF? When did this happen? <i>I feel like a 20 year old</i>. This is wrong. Someone made a mistake.<br />
But there it is. If you're born in 1973, it stands to reason that in 2011, you would be seeing forty not too far down the road. My fellow Flock members and anyone else reading this blog are free to roll your eyes, and call me a baby and tell me to put on my big girl panties.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TTSTzu6AK9I/AAAAAAAABDc/e71rVHyR2Yw/s1600/big+girl+panties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TTSTzu6AK9I/AAAAAAAABDc/e71rVHyR2Yw/s1600/big+girl+panties.jpg" /></a></div>But. <br />
You were here once, weren't you? Approaching forty and wondering how it could have happened? Feeling a bit like time was running out to do something crazy, maybe?<br />
That's how I feel. Now, I certainly don't want to "revisit my high school days" or even think about them very much. I think I would rather have <i>too few</i> hormones, like now, instead of having too many like back then. Remember what <i>that</i> was like??<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-p5npR_w6Yfk/TYqwLMcj4gI/AAAAAAAABEs/LoISi9lKdAQ/s1600/porkys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-p5npR_w6Yfk/TYqwLMcj4gI/AAAAAAAABEs/LoISi9lKdAQ/s200/porkys.jpg" width="142" /></a></div><br />
<br />
My thirties have been really good. I got two great kids out of it. I discovered birding and RAPTOR. I have made the closest friends I have had since high school. Closer, even. (We know how fickle teenagers are)<br />
So no whining there.<br />
Even though forty is lurking over the next rise in the road, am I sad? Bitter? <br />
As I reflect, my gut instinct is to say NO. For the reasons I stated above, and for so much more. <br />
<br />
So I'm 38. Big deal. It's how you feel, right? And since I border on grossly immature, I'm ahead of the curve. I'm already cantankerous, so I don't have to learn as I go.<br />
Yeah, my knees aren't as quiet as they once were. My ability to stay up all night, while not completely gone, is a bit diminished. I fell asleep sitting up the other day, a la Grandma. My boobs don't look anyone in the eye anymore.<br />
I find myself saying things like, "Just because your best friend has a phone doesn't mean YOU get one" and "Because I'm your mother!" and "Geoff, pass me the Geritol". <br />
<br />
(Geoff, to give the man some street cred, still calls me his trophy wife. He's a big fat liar, but it's the thought that counts.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HVKzm6vym0w/TYq0MsvXcBI/AAAAAAAABEw/TQ8kapfEmwk/s1600/trophy+wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HVKzm6vym0w/TYq0MsvXcBI/AAAAAAAABEw/TQ8kapfEmwk/s320/trophy+wife.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm not letting all this stop me, though. In fact, I'm better than I've ever been. I'm still fun enough to be enjoyable, but I have all this responsibleness that will keep me out of jail, most of the time. I still make friends easily, but the friends I am choosing now are stellar, steadfast and true. <br />
So this was less of a bitch-fest and more of a thinking out loud post. Thanks for reading through it. <br />
<br />
Next post: Preparing for this year's <a href="http://www.birding-wv.com/">New River Bird and Nature Festival</a>, which fits neatly behind this post, because the Flock makes me feel young and free and giggly and sloshy. <a href="http://susankwilliams.blogspot.com/2009/05/paco-cabana-boy-and-other-people-we.html">Paco</a>! More vino, por favor!!Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-10761038787735073302011-02-24T22:55:00.000-05:002011-02-24T22:55:51.755-05:00Five minutes of observation from an observant observationist**I totally stole that line from a <a href="http://dugfresh.blogspot.com/">favorite blog</a>. <br />
<br />
I backed up the driveway today, and opened the door to unload the groceries.<br />
In front of me was a tableau of bird behavior that was fascinating...not just because it was happening, but because I could recognize the players.<br />
We have Pink Spot, who is a male Northern Cardinal who I've watched for two years. He has a small leucistic spot on his right wing that makes him distinctive. We also have Orange, who is a newcomer here, and low and behold, he's orange. <br />
PINK:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5474965907/" title="Pink spot cardinal by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Pink spot cardinal" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5474965907_09dd0243b2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<i><b>"The ladies dig this freaky little spot I got. Chicka chicka wow wow....."</b></i><br />
<br />
And ORANGE:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5474967445/" title="I'm horny and no one likes me because I'm different by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="I'm horny and no one likes me because I'm different" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5474967445_317794b61f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<i><b>"I'm horny and no one likes me because I'm different."</b></i><br />
<br />
So there was a bit of male fluffery going on. In between these two very different males, there was a female. <br />
A normal female cardinal who had a choice to make. Or maybe she didn't. The reddest fellow seemed to have the upper hand. I will be very interested to see if Orange gets a mate this year. He is NOT a typical, bright red, healthy-looking cardinal, and with many bird species, that matters if you are going to get any nookie.<br />
<br />
Orange got close to her....<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5475562060/" title="Orange and Lady by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Orange and Lady" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5475562060_84e2c329d6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
...but after a few swipes from Pink, Orange had to back off.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5474964425/" title="Orange and Lady facing away by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Orange and Lady facing away" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5474964425_9523287d5f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
And Orange was gradually scooted off the driveway.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5475572714/" title="Standoff by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Standoff" height="250" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5475572714_148f9a8cf2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
...and up into the mulberry tree, where his very posture showed how much he really wanted that female:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5474994051/" title="Orange banished by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Orange banished" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5474994051_32639c2472.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Meanwhile, a lone turkey vulture zoomed down so low I could hear the creak if its wings:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5475570282/" title="TV watches by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="TV watches" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5475570282_796ace5c84.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The Lord God Almighty Mockingbird even pushed Orange around and then sat on the cheery tree and glared at me:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5475567688/" title="Lord Mocker by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Lord Mocker" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5475567688_d167884a22.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Oh. And then a stray dog showed up.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5475569302/" title="Stray by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Stray" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5475569302_5a1d8605c2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
A cute little chi-chi mix, who was confident enough to eat the food I put out, but was too skittish to let me look at his collar. <br />
<br />
<br />
Hooper was watching the whole affair and starting yodeling at the top of his lungs:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5474972733/" title="Hooper yodels by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Hooper yodels" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5474972733_98a78a287e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Eventually, the stray bolted into another yard, Hooper shut up, the turkey vulture moved onto another thermal, the <i>chip-chip-chip </i>of the cardinals faded. All this was only five minutes of my day, but it was a good five minutes.Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-59491405360323272432011-02-23T21:29:00.000-05:002011-02-23T21:29:33.538-05:00It's time to play everyone's favorite game...."Where'd THAT Bone Come From??"Two posts in a month? Can you keep up? Can ya?<br />
<br />
I went on a trip recently to southern Kentucky, and I surprised myself by getting up before dawn and going on a bird hike. Those of you who have birded with me can vouch for the incredulity of that statement.<br />
<br />
Bird action was quietly promising....some circling red-tailed hawks, a phoebe, sparrows out the wazoo.<br />
<br />
As a Junior Science Chimp, I felt that it was my duty to entertain with my scat-chimping and poking around in the weeds for fun and gross secrets.<br />
<br />
Okay, fellow Learning Lemurs. Let's play "Where'd THAT Bone Come From??"<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5472773134/" title="jaw 1 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="jaw 1" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5472773134_10a026355c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5472183159/" title="back of teeth by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="back of teeth" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5472183159_933d9e7454.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
A few shots of a removed tooth (Yes, I yanked one out of the socket)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5472184527/" title="tooth 1 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="tooth 1" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5472184527_33ee1f3dca.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5472777750/" title="tooth 2 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="tooth 2" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5472777750_81f38e9a31.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
So. What do you think, my Chimps?Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-27191176087618731682011-02-01T21:26:00.001-05:002011-02-01T21:31:43.407-05:00Owls and Poetry<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">Oh, if you still come to my poor blog, thank you. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">I think there have been a shortage of really good or funny stories lately, and with it being February now, not much going on in the bird department.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">The good thing about winter is the start of nesting season for Great Horned Owls. I have been checking my local nest every day, but thus far, no eggs. This got me thinking of a poem by Charles Baudelaire. <i><b>Les Hiboux</b></i>. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">A somewhat haunting poem, yet straining to find light.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">Here it is in French (which is the best way to read it of course) and below, with a selection of delicious owl photos, one of many English translations. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">Enjoy. And go out and look for owls!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Les Hiboux</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">Charles Baudelaire</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Sous les ifs noirs qui les abritent<br />
Les hiboux se tiennent rangés<br />
Ainsi que des dieux étrangers<br />
Dardant leur oeil rouge. Ils méditent.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Sans remuer ils se tiendront<br />
Jusqu'à l'heure mélancolique<br />
Où, poussant le soleil oblique,<br />
Les ténèbres s'établiront.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Leur attitude au sage enseigne<br />
Qu'il faut en ce monde qu'il craigne<br />
Le tumulte et le mouvement;</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">L'homme ivre d'une ombre qui passe<br />
Porte toujours le châtiment<br />
D'avoir voulu changer de place.</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Owls</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">by Charles Baudelaire</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi5mVGfgGI/AAAAAAAABDg/hDDhl7ChQSM/s1600/great_horned_owl-20080126-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi5mVGfgGI/AAAAAAAABDg/hDDhl7ChQSM/s320/great_horned_owl-20080126-1.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">Under the overhanging yews,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">The dark owls sit in solemn state,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">Like stranger gods; by twos and twos</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">Their red eyes gleam. They meditate</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi6DHom5kI/AAAAAAAABDk/L3CE5IPYBJw/s1600/ggo+jim+anderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi6DHom5kI/AAAAAAAABDk/L3CE5IPYBJw/s320/ggo+jim+anderson.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Jim Anderson</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">Motionless thus they sit and dream</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">Until that melancholy hour</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">When, with the sun's last fading gleam,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">The nightly shades assume their power.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi6Duil41I/AAAAAAAABDo/O8jOYEU-Uz8/s1600/long+eared+owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi6Duil41I/AAAAAAAABDo/O8jOYEU-Uz8/s1600/long+eared+owl.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi7PkUqmMI/AAAAAAAABD0/CwqlbmSnBUc/s1600/25214_1265606873452_1028164642_30617838_6054747_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi7PkUqmMI/AAAAAAAABD0/CwqlbmSnBUc/s320/25214_1265606873452_1028164642_30617838_6054747_n.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by<a href="http://dugfresh.blogspot.com/"> Doug Sanchez</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">From their still attitude the wise</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">Will learn with terror to despise</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">All tumult, movement, and unrest;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi7QsUfGWI/AAAAAAAABD8/p6mqWKSuMCI/s1600/species-Ptilopsis-granti-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi7QsUfGWI/AAAAAAAABD8/p6mqWKSuMCI/s320/species-Ptilopsis-granti-1.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">For he who follows every shade,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;">Carries the memory in his breast,</span></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;">Of each unhappy journey made.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi7QLX3lDI/AAAAAAAABD4/n-tA0uih6s8/s1600/shakespeare+looking+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TUi7QLX3lDI/AAAAAAAABD4/n-tA0uih6s8/s320/shakespeare+looking+up.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Doug Sanchez</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">.</span>Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-60343357401479651912010-12-08T17:01:00.000-05:002010-12-08T17:01:34.136-05:00My poor neglected blog (a.k.a. What I've been doing)My poor blog. It used to be like a friend I would visit every day, and I would trip lightly to my computer, switch it on and pour out my rants and share my photos. I connected with people in far-flung locales, I made friends, I made enemies thanks to the fact that I have opinions....<br />
And now. Seems like I can barely squeeze out three posts a month. I blame Facebook. <br />
I think Facebook was made for me. I can sling my diatribes and share my goofier moments, and I get instant gratification. The blog, well, it's different. <br />
<br />
I'm not going to make a promise that I will post every day, but I think it's safe to say I can try harder. I can't try any less, can I?<br />
<br />
What I've been up to:<br />
I recently went to North Carolina for a family wedding. I was hoping to see dear <a href="http://marys-view.blogspot.com/">Mary</a>, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. She was out of town that weekend, so I missed her. A lot. Though I only spent two days in North Carolina, I fell for the state immediately. The mountains, the rivers. I wish I had had more time to really know it, to plumb the depth of its valleys and climb its peaks, to learn its heart. I hope I can go back soon. I'm going to try...the Carolina Raptor Center is there!<br />
<br />
Big news at the house: After months of being forced to be Amish, we finally bought a new washer and dryer. I spent a week just catching up to all the towels, blankets, random socks and sweaters that I had been just shoving into the bottom of the laundry baskets all summer.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5245041016/" title="washerdryer by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="washerdryer" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5245041016_5fa0e43ff5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<br />
I got to meet some famous bird people last month....<a href="http://birdingwithkennandkim.blogspot.com/">Kenn and Kim Kaufman</a>. I was invited to bring some raptors to the <a href="http://www.ohioyoungbirders.org/">Ohio Young Birder's Club</a> annual conference. And I was thrilled to be there. Even got to hang out a little with <a href="http://www.lamestbirder.blogspot.com/">Les</a>, which is always a fun time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TP_5c_UWRWI/AAAAAAAABDU/L7o7Ql1Zqa8/s1600/tim-daniel-group-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F7oVbX-PFfw/TP_5c_UWRWI/AAAAAAAABDU/L7o7Ql1Zqa8/s320/tim-daniel-group-photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">(Photo by Tim Daniel)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We had to deal with the eradication of a family of voles who somehow blundered into our house. Seven of them, all caught and killed by either Hooper, who is an excellent rodent hunter, or one of the five cats. I hated it, and blocked every conceivable route into the house at ground level. They need to stay out in the prairie and feed the owls and hawks, not die slowly because one of our cats is "just doing what comes naturally".<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5245031734/" title="meadow vole by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="meadow vole" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5245031734_bf36ce3758.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Isabelle has a new pet. A small, adorable little leopard gecko named Griffin (I sure hope he's a boy):<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5244436663/" title="Griffin2 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Griffin2" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5244436663_ba7041dd54.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
I found very fat chickens and a donkey who needs extreme dental care:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5244438015/" title="fat chicken by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="fat chicken" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5123/5244438015_143a69d196.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5244439345/" title="bad donkey dental hygiene by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="bad donkey dental hygiene" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5244439345_2600b78ecf.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
We had a marvelous and fattening Thanksgiving dinner, which was capped off by my four pies:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5244441105/" title="four pies by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="four pies" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5244/5244441105_63091174d2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Lake Isabella's resident Great Horned Owls, and their sweet fuzzy babies:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5245042338/" title="empty GHOW nest by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="empty GHOW nest" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5245042338_7e9466f89f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<br />
We watched Isabelle's basketball team lose their first game (Boo!):<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5245043500/" title="we are the losers by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="we are the losers" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5245043500_47a968e6aa.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
A massive flight of Sandhill Cranes invaded Ohio the other day, and a few flocks coursed through the sky over our house:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5245047882/" title="sandhills by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="sandhills" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5245047882_3c9da616b2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And just yesterday, I got up close and personal with a Bald Eagle. This bird (we assume it's the same one) comes into town every year around this time and even sits in the same tree every day. A very cooperative and calm bird, it doesn't mind humans being nearby (and the tree in which it sits is right next to a busy, noisy road). <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5244451871/" title="BE eye contact by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="BE eye contact" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5244451871_ba60cd4a8f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
So I might not get back to my every-day, every-moment-of-my-life sharing. But I can occasionally give out these long, rambling posts that encapsulate a month and a half.Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-53591672732411978922010-11-30T19:07:00.000-05:002010-11-30T19:07:04.524-05:00You're good for me<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S9easvNewSM?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S9easvNewSM?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-65870313870545989582010-11-13T21:27:00.000-05:002010-11-13T21:27:20.504-05:00Cape May Post #3: Three Little Birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6vJX631Lxy5bTuqivh1TEfSKAdO4fGBkKoBZMV5rJ5yrzIz4s9hFaOHNIWLXUaHRSl2jsqidMPbw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239868.post-42161115924044574192010-11-04T21:51:00.002-04:002010-11-13T21:14:57.822-05:00Cape May 2010 Post #2: A Jeff sandwich on Flock bread. With a Liz pickle (and a hell of a lot of name-dropping)Let's go back to Thursday. I had gotten into town late (12 hours in the car and punchy as hell). <a href="http://beginningtobird.blogspot.com/">Delia</a> and I were in our jammies when a text came from Jeff asking if we were staying up late. We were invited to <a href="http://www.mgnature.com/mgnature/HomePage.html">Mark Garland</a>'s house where <a href="http://jeffreyagordon.com/">Jeff</a>, Liz, <a href="http://billofthebirds.blogspot.com/">Bill</a> and a few others were happily imbibing some Scotch. <br />
<br />
There were introductions all around...I don't remember a few of them, but one stuck in my head. But not until later when Delia started hollering about it. The one that had us cussing and squealing was <a href="http://media.barnesandnoble.com/?fr_story=b0fe6cf356d314717eb5af9eca5412f32dec249b&rf=sitemap">Richard Crossley</a>. Yeah ,the Richard Crossley who writes field guides. Well, we geeked out totally and for the rest of the weekend, we called him "Richard Freakin' Crossley!".<br />
<br />
I didn't really want to drink, having come off a twelve hour drive, but as the Scotch was poured and re-poured, I thought I might like to try it. I didn't like it. So I sipped a little more.<br />
<br />
It was so, so, so very cool to be sitting in a living room with all of these massively talented birders and authors. (Delia told me later that I looked like a kid at Christmas, sitting on the floor just smiling at everyone.)<br />
<br />
A call came in. The words "massive flight" were used. Everyone got up.<br />
<br />
Into the cars and down to the boardwalk on Beach Ave. We looked up, and there were hundreds of birds overhead. Now, remember...this is 11 o'clock at night. The birds were lit up from underneath by the street lights and they resembled fireflies...blowing leaves....embers from a camp fire. Hundreds and hundreds of them. Some were falling into the street, exhausted. I got my lifer Savannah's Sparrow right there on Beach Ave. In the dark. <br />
Robins. Chipping sparrows. Yellow-rumped warblers. Woodcocks. And many others that were not identified. The biggest bird spectacle I have ever seen.<br />
<br />
<br />
I have never birded at night, unless there were owls involved. This was something completely different.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5147533092/" title="watching the flight by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="watching the flight" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/5147533092_3a76d54674.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Wow. I don't know who has the better legs, Jeff or Delia.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5147535422/" title="Morrow's Nut House by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="Morrow's Nut House" height="375" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1163/5147535422_378a899e99.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
We were right outside Morrow's Nut House. Seemed fitting.<br />
<br />
The lights were getting in the way...<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5147534214/" title="watching the flight2 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="watching the flight2" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5147534214_f0ff8303fb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
We moved behind the convention center to get out of the light.<br />
<br />
There in the dark, it was much easier to see the birds. They were lit up but the lights were no longer in our line of sight. <br />
My neck was getting sore, so I had the brilliant idea to lay down on the boardwalk to enjoy the birds in comfort. And everyone else eventually joined me.<br />
<br />
Somehow Delia and I were lucky enough to snuggle up to Jeff for warmth, and Liz completed the dish.<br />
A Jeff Gordon sandwich on Flock bread. With a Liz pickle on top.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangetsnative/5146935301/" title="JeffGsandwich2 by susangetsnative, on Flickr"><img alt="JeffGsandwich2" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/5146935301_a4576a958d.jpg" width="500" /></a>Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.com5