tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66228115141484575332010-02-04T20:44:38.288-08:00Mike's Birding & Digiscoping BlogDigiscoping, Information, News and Adventures in Wisconsin BirdingMike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.comBlogger940125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-38354522924839457242010-02-04T14:20:00.000-08:002010-02-04T14:20:44.798-08:00Nothing more to see here!<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blognewloc.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I've moved everything over to the <b><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/">blogspot address</a></b>. There's nothing more to see here! <br /><br />Update your link to: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/"><b>http://www.birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/ </b></a><br /><br />Thank you,<br /><br />Mike McDowell<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-3835452292483945724?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-25370660067237915822010-02-03T08:10:00.000-08:002010-02-03T09:53:55.346-08:00The Blog Borg!<a href="http://birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogborg.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Dear Readers,<br /><br />This blog will be affected by Google’s <b><a href="http://blogger-ftp.blogspot.com/">recently announced plan</a></b> to eliminate FTP (File Transfer Protocol) from Blogger. Google will no longer provide a method for bloggers to transfer and store content files (images, videos, etc.) on their own servers. Instead, users opting to stay with Blogger will have to use Google’s servers. Though I pay Veiro a monthly hosting fee for <b>www.birddigiscoper.com</b>, Google’s new policy requires me to store templates and posts on their servers, however, I will still be able to keep my images on <b>www.birddigiscoper.com</b> and link to them from Google’s blogspot.com domain. On March 26th, Google will pull the plug on FTP, but I’ve already migrated my blog to blogspot.com so I won’t have to deal with this during spring migration.<br /><br />For the foreseeable future, my blog will be located at <a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/"><b>www.birdigisicoper.blogspot.com</b></a>. I have migrated all 939 posts, but it will take me awhile to customize the new template so that it contains all the links and articles found at my original blog. For the time being, my original blog will remain at <a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blog.html"><b>www.birddigiscoper.com/blog.html</b></a>, but I will no longer be updating it.<br /><br />I’m aware there is a way to use Google’s custom domain Blogger, but the necessary DNS modifications exceed my technical ability. Nevertheless, this would still require my blog files (except images, etc.) to be hosted on Google’s servers. <br /><br />Resistance is futile. I have been assimilated by The Blog Borg!<br /><br />Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Mike McDowell<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-2537066006723791582?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-22926988875844122802010-02-01T14:22:00.000-08:002010-02-01T16:04:14.496-08:00Wintering Robins of Pheasant Branch<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb102b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb102a.jpg" /></a></div><br />Welcome to February! This blog celebrates the beginning of its 6th year of publication this month. So, how many of you have been here for the whole tour? As some of you know, I experienced a pretty grim start to 2009, but this year I sense a whole new level of rebirth and commitment to birding and nature photography. By the end of May, I knew I was having one of my best seasons ever; this continued into summer and fall. As this spring gets closer and closer, I can already <i>feel</i> its arrival in the form of longer days and by male Northern Cardinals breaking into full song. By the end of this month, Sandhill Cranes will return to the conservancy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb103b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb103a.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cool combination of color on a rock.</span></b></div><br />I worked on Saturday, but managed to find a little time on Sunday to go birding at Pheasant Branch. The snow-covered fields were still and quiet. Except for a Red-tailed Hawk soaring over the drumlin, there wasn't another bird in sight. I briefly heard the flight call of a Horned Lark, but failed to see it as it flew by overhead. Scanning across the prairie with my binoculars, I spotted several bird nests, exposed by the absence of foliage. These particular nests likely belonged to Song Sparrows, Clay-colored Sparrows, and Field Sparrows. With no sign of the shrike, I decided to move south to a nice "hot-spot" just before the bridge behind the Conservancy Condominiums that attracts a diversity of birds. There, they have a natural springs that doesn't freeze, plenty of food, and good cover from predators - everything a resourceful songbird requires! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb104b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb104a.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>American Tree Sparrow</b></span></div><br />As I traversed the icy path through the oaks, I began to hear Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Cedar Waxwings, and American Robins. Finally! Birds! The pair of Fox Sparrows I found a few weeks ago were still present, same for several White-throated and American Tree Sparrows. I was somewhat surprised by a first-year White-crowned Sparrow that briefly popped into view just long enough for me to confirm its ID. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb101b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb101a.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">American Robin</span></b></div><br />Part of my entertainment was pointing out robins to other people on the trail whenever they asked what birds I was seeing. Naturally, there's almost no reaction when I run down the various sparrow species, but the moment I get to "American Robin" I'm either met with incredulity or <i>"Oh! There are still robins here? Where!? I want to see one!"</i> As Wisconsin birders know, American Robins can be found in our state throughout winter, but these are probably not the same robins that nested in our backyards, parks, and local natural areas during the spring and summer. To me, a January robin is always worthy of photographing, even if only for digiscoping practice. That said, judging from its remarkable beauty, this particular robin seems to be doing exceptionally well this winter.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb105b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogffeb105a.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">House Finch</span></b></div><br />All images © 2010 Mike McDowell<p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-2292698887584412280?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-87301327388836495552010-01-28T12:00:00.000-08:002010-01-28T13:55:38.427-08:00January Juncos<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogjansnojunc1a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogjansnojunc1b.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We finally have sunny weather after what seems like weeks of overcast skies, but bitter cold temperatures have returned with the clearing. I haven’t been out birding since my last blog post, and it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to get out this weekend either. At least I have sprightly juncos outside my window at work to keep me company! <br /><br />© 2010 Mike McDowell<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-8730132738883649555?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-75184227665188578732010-01-17T19:16:00.000-08:002010-01-17T19:44:06.048-08:00Winter Fox Sparrow<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox1a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox1b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />I looked out my window this morning to see everything in the courtyard and beyond covered in beautiful frozen white crystals, giving an impression of a three-dimensional black-and-white photograph. Though meteorologists predicted sunshine for the weekend, it was once again overcast with light fog. Lighting conditions were less than optimal for digiscoping, but I was beckoned by the frost to check in on the woods and the feathered ones who call it home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox2a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox2b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />I entered Pheasant Branch at 8:00 a.m. from the overlook parking area and headed down the trail toward the bridge at the bottom of the hill. Just before the stream crossing, I found myself surrounded by a mixed-flock of spritely songbirds. I spotted Dark-eyed Juncos, American Tree Sparrows, a few White-throated Sparrows, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, American Robins, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, and other birds typically found this time of year.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox6a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox6b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />As I made my way along the trail adjacent to the springs, I recognized an alert call that belonged to a Fox Sparrow. I quickly spotted the bird through dense thicket below the oak trees. The curious sparrow briskly made its way up the branches to a higher perch so it could inspect the danger (me). Shifting my spotting scope for a better glimpse, I found a relatively unobstructed view of the bird through the tree branches and managed to get a few photographs.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox3a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox3b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox4a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox4b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />Sometimes these I'm-looking-at-you-looking-at-me moments feel like a staring contest. I know I'm being watched, but <i>which of us would win?</i> The Fox Sparrow stretched, puffed its feathers, and settled into its perch. Though anthropomorphizing this fictional match, the sparrow seemed pretty confident. But as it turned out, my imaginary game ended when a Cooper's Hawk buzzed through, sending all the songbirds for cover.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox5a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwintfox5b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />All images © 2010 Mike McDowell<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-7518422766518857873?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-57846814372743812882010-01-15T07:41:00.000-08:002010-01-15T18:08:42.228-08:00Getting "The Tail" from a Sedge WrenI was organizing images and videos from 2009 this morning and came across this gem:<br /><br /><object width="400" height="323"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WPwXKe3cWFs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WPwXKe3cWFs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="323"></embed></object><br /><br />I'm not sure exactly what this Sedge Wren was trying to convey, and I might have felt a little insulted if it wasn't so hilarious! <br /><br />Here are a few other digiscoped videos from 2009:<br /><br /><object width="400" height="323"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b0H7syP5CaI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b0H7syP5CaI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="323"></embed></object><br /><br />Watch carefully. The fish escapes between the heron's legs.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="323"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jk-fc9l6lzE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jk-fc9l6lzE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="323"></embed></object><br /><br />A Lark Sparrow just being ... a sparrow.<br /><br />© 2010 Mike McDowell<p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-5784681437274381288?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-65276989452274595512010-01-12T20:43:00.000-08:002010-01-12T20:43:16.331-08:00No Adapter? No Excuses!<object width="400" height="323"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EXZuMFV-Yhw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EXZuMFV-Yhw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="323"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-6527698945227459551?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-24074681599528349052010-01-08T08:55:00.000-08:002010-01-08T16:10:04.146-08:00This is Shrike Country<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogshrikecty2b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogshrikecty2a.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />Shrike country is open country. Shrike country has peripheral perches, scrubby habitat, and lots of prey items. For as long as I've been visiting Pheasant Branch Conservancy, a Northern Shrike has claimed its snowy prairies throughout the winter months. Occasionally there's been more than one shrike. Even though I've observed a shrike there just once so far this winter, I enjoy the thought that it's there, perhaps perched atop a skinny branch protruding from the dogwood or willow thickets, intensely surveying its territory. I can also picture it hovering over the field and calling as it searches for a meal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogshrikecty1b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogshrikecty1a.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />I know it isn't the same shrike that's been visiting, because there's been a mix of adults and juveniles over the years. But I think this speaks to the suitability of this particular habitat for shrikes. If there have been repeat visits by a particular bird, its sort of fun to imagine the prairie belonging to it. (Or do shrikes <i>belong</i> to the prairie?) I'm unsure what the lifespan is for these sojourners from the north, but I would assume it's longer than your typical songbird.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogshrikecty3b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogshrikecty3a.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />I was astonished and shocked to discover that Northern Shrikes were once shot in Boston Common to protect newly introduced English Sparrows. Such a fact causes me to ponder how future environmentalists will view our present conservation efforts decades from now. Might we be viewed as misguided as <i>that</i>?<br /><i><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Hark - hark - from out the thickest fog</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Warbles with might and main</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The fearless shrike, as all agog</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">To find in fog his gain.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Hi steady sail he never furls</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">At any time o'year,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">And perched now on winter's curls,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">He whistles in his ear.</span><br /></i><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Henry David Thoreau</span><br /><br />All images © 2010 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-2407468159952834905?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-36607204552743404242010-01-05T09:12:00.000-08:002010-01-06T14:15:58.975-08:00Vortex Razor 20-60x85 HD Spotting Scope!<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev1a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev1b.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vortex Razor 20-60x85 HD</span></span><br /><br />We'll begin 2010 with a spotting scope review!<br /><br />I recently spent a few hours evaluating the <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/spotting-scopes/vortex/vortex-razor-hd-20-60x85-angled-spotting-scope"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vortex Razor 20-60x85 HD spotting scope</span></a> alongside some of its market rivals. Considering the comparatively friendly price of the Vortex Razor scope at $1,599.99, I was curious how it would stack up against my personal favorite high-end spotting scopes. Under overcast lighting, I compared it with a Swarovski 80 HD, Zeiss 85, Kowa 88 Prominar, and Leica 82 APO on a resolution chart placed at 100 yards.<br /><br />To my critical eye, the Kowa Prominar and Swarovski HD offer marginally better detail at 60x, viewing a resolution chart at 100 yards. Compared to the other scopes, the Zeiss 85 exhibits a distracting warm colorcast, with whites tinged yellow. The Leica and the Kowa beat everything else in terms of brightness under low light. All but the Zeiss 85 has excellent edge-to-edge sharpness. These were the obvious differences in optical performance that most scope observers should be able to discern. For an 85mm aperture scope, the Vortex Razor HD is very compact. At 65.7 ounces, it may feel a little heavy when holding it in your hands, but it's well-balanced when mounted on a tripod. The Leica APO 82 is the heaviest at 68.16 ounces. Typical of other high-end spotting scopes on today's market, the Razor HD has a dual fine and coarse focusing knob.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Digiscoping with the Razor HD</span><br /><br />Of particular interest to me was the <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/digital-camera-adapters/vortex/vortex-razor-digital-camera-adapter"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Razor's digiscoping adapter</span></a> (sold separately). Like the extremely popular Digital Camera Adapters made by Swarovski and Kowa, the Razor DCA is thread-based and includes adapter rings in these sizes: 30mm, 37mm, 43mm, 52mm, 55mm, and 58mm. This adapter will support the best point-and-shoot digital cameras for digiscoping as well as a DSLR coupled to the spotting scope's eyepiece.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev2a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev2b.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vortex Razor Digiscoping Adapter</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev5a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev5b.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vortex Razor digiscoping setup</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Digiscoping Samples:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev3a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev3b.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev4a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogrzrev4b.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The top feather was digiscoped with a Swarovski 80 HD and the bottom through a Vortex Razor HD, same digital camera (Nikon Coolpix 8400) and settings. I can tell the top image is a little sharper in some detail areas, but admit they're pretty close. Again, when considering the price difference by performance, the Vortex Razor HD is a very attractive option even for digiscoping. So, if you're in the market for a new spotting scope but want to keep the price tag under $2,000.00, there's nothing out there that'll beat the Razor HD in its price class. At the same time, you'll enjoy optical performance that's right up there with the top scopes!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Strengths:</span><br /><br /><ul style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><li>Optical views comparable to rival high-end scopes at a fraction of the cost.</li><li>Vortex HD System: XR coatings, XD Objective lens elements, XT Optical Design.</li><li>Digiscoping Friendly!</li><li>Eyepiece included!</li><li>Waterproof & Fogproof (Argon gas purged).</li><li>Dual (fine and coarse) focusing system.</li><li>Unconditional Warranty.</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weaknesses:</span><br /><br /><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><li>A bit heavy at 65.7 ounces.</li><li>At present, only available in an angled body format.</li></ul><br />© 2010 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-3660720455274340424?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-80773839719616515682009-12-22T09:38:00.000-08:002010-01-15T17:26:13.526-08:00That's all for 2009!Keeping it relatively green, I kept close to home for the majority of my birding excursions in 2009. In terms of numbers, I had my best year ever at Pheasant Branch Conservancy with 167 bird species in 75 visits. (eBird's total for the conservancy is up to 209 species.) My Wisconsin 2009 year list stands at 207, my lowest on record (a good thing). My longest drive to watch birds was Horicon NWR to attend the annual festival as a volunteer field trip leader. I also led several field trips for Madison Audubon and one for The Nature Conservancy. Birding locations outside of Dane County included Baxter's Hollow, Spring Green Preserve, and Cook Arboretum. I donated to several conservation groups, including Operation Migration, Raptor Education Group, Inc., and The Nature Conservancy. While the overall output of my digiscoping was down, I was fortunate to experience one of my most productive years in terms of quality. Here's a sampling of 2009's beautiful bird memories:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwwcrossb4a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogwwcrossb4b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogsongsp091a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogsongsp091b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogdrinkbirds2a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogdrinkbirds2b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogetowhee1.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogshare8b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogthrush2a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogthrush2b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogyrwa091a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogyrwa091b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogbwk093a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogbwk093b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/sedgewren2009a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/sedgewren2009b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogsprggrn092a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogsprggrn092b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogbearthaa.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogbearthab.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogmspond4a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogmspond4b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogpope37a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogpope37b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blog9shoreb8a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blog9shoreb8b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogperbowl1a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogperbowl1b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogpbcfall096a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogpbcfall096b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">All of these birds were photographed in their natural environment. No playback devices were used to attract them. Songbirds were not provided with birdseed or any other food items to lure them into the open. Birds of prey were not baited with living animals. </span><br /><br />See you in 2010!<br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-8077383971961651568?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-78974149186056639852009-12-17T09:51:00.000-08:002009-12-19T13:36:14.026-08:00Digiscoper of the Year!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/birdSEWR06.html"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogsavp2b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Winning Shot!</span></span><br /></div><br />"Jersey Digiscoper" <a href="http://jerseydigiscoping.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin Bolton</span></a> notified me this morning via email that I'm one of ten winners of Swarovski's 2009 <a href="http://www.bwd.digiscoperoftheyear.com/en_us/winners"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Digiscoper of the Year Contest!</span></a> The 1st place prize went to Steve Berliner for <a href="http://www.pbase.com/sberliner/image/118018594"><span style="font-weight: bold;">his fabulous shot</span></a> of a Pileated Woodpecker sipping from a pool of water with a nice reflection. Of the images I submitted, I thought my <a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/birdEATH2.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eastern Towhee shot</span></a> was the best, but I'm also very fond of the Sedge Wren (above) the judges selected.<br /><br />Check out all the contest <a href="http://www.bwd.digiscoperoftheyear.com/en_us/winners"><span style="font-weight: bold;">winners</span></a> at the Digiscoper of the Year website!<br /><br />Link: <a href="http://bc.digiscoperoftheyear.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">More Winners! (Birdchick's)</span></a><br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-7897414918605663985?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-2690151570460217172009-12-16T07:49:00.000-08:002009-12-16T08:06:56.464-08:00Record Year for Fledged Bluebirds!<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/birdEABB4.html"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogsgbb1a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />"A record-breaking 28,814 fledging bluebirds were reported by BRAW monitors in 2009. This is 7,435 more fledglings than last year and slightly better than the previous all-time record two years ago when 28,244 fledglings were reported."<br /><br />Link: <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.braw.org/">Bluebird Restoration Association of WI</a><br /><br />Link: <a href="http://www.braw.org/PDFs/Records%20for%202009.pdf"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Report (Adobe .PDF)</span></a><br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-269015157046021717?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-57828350763872031472009-12-14T14:17:00.000-08:002009-12-14T14:19:27.143-08:00Barrow's Goldeneye in Madison!<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/madisonbarrows.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/madisonbarrows2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />While birding Madison area lakes yesterday, Aaron Stutz found a Barrow's Goldeneye on University Bay, probably the first Dane County record for the species. Jesse Peterson stopped by to pick me up on his way to see the bird. Knowing it was going to be too far from shore for a close-up, I went along to at least try for a documentation photograph.<br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-5782835076387203147?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-34117490962549084232009-12-10T03:42:00.000-08:002009-12-10T03:45:24.210-08:00After the Blizzard<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard1a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard1b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />So, what do you do when Mother Nature drops 18 inches of snow on you? Go snowshoeing! Madison, and the entire state of Wisconsin, was pretty much shut down Wednesday. After doing a few chores around my apartment, I began to get restless. I needed to get out and do some exploring and photography.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard3a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard3b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />I managed muster up enough courage and energy to go for a 3 mile snow hike before the winds picked up and temperature dropped. It's Thursday morning as I write, and the wind chill is a bitter -16 degrees Fahrenheit. Now the temperature matches the forlornness of woods under a fresh blanket of snow with a grey canopy. Snow is pretty for a little while, but by early January I'm ready for spring.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard5a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard5b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard6a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard6b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />Birds were fairly scarce, but I managed to find a Red-tailed Hawk, American Crow, Brown Creeper, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, and a few Dark-eyed Juncos. Scanning carefully through the few conifers dotted along the creek corridor, I found a roosting Great Horned Owl. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard7a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblizzard7b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />All images © 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-3411749096254908423?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-90663734879700489362009-12-08T07:50:00.000-08:002009-12-08T07:59:18.443-08:002010 Phenology Calendar<a href="http://www.pheasantbranch.org/2010Calendar/index.html"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogphencal.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This year's calendar includes images from local photographers Mike McDowell, Elizabeth Thompson, Eric Peyrot and Colette Kolker Wagner. Eric Peyrot's wetland scene is featured on the cover. You can see more from Mike McDowell in his <a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blog.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">digiscoping blog</span></a> on birds and nature, and Colette Kolker Wagner's photos are on exhibit in <a href="http://ebling.library.wisc.edu/events/details.cfm?session_id=578"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elegance in Nature</span></a> at the University of Wisconsin Library December 3, 2009 through January 21, 2010.<br /><br /><ul style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><li>Full color photos by local photographers</li><li>Checklists of animal and plant events</li><li>Climate and sunrise/sunset data</li><li>Monthly nature notes</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great gift for nature enthusiasts!</span><br /><br />Link: <a href="http://www.pheasantbranch.org/2010Calendar/index.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 Phenology Calendar now available</span></a><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-9066373487970048936?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-30291689844183469212009-12-07T11:58:00.000-08:002009-12-07T12:36:48.691-08:00Calm before the Storm<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogearlywinter91b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogearlywinter91a.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">American Goldfinch<br /></span></div><br />From now until early March, Pheasant Branch Conservancy will be home to around 30 bird species. These are the birds able to endure the brunt and bitter cold of Wisconsin's harsh winters. To find them all, one must bird the stream corridor and the prairie parcel, taking 3 to 4 hours to accomplish on foot. However, notably absent on Saturday was Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Wren (no owls or shrikes, either), but there were American Tree Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creeper, Black-capped Chickadees, Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, etc. A highlight was discovering a lone Fox Sparrow, a good find and a charming bird to admire.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogearlywinter92b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogearlywinter92a.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">American Tree Sparrow<br /></span></div><br />While the expected species were present, I felt overall numbers were a little lower than usual. A different day and weather can vary the abundances of birds; some go on a feeding frenzy right before a storm front moves in. Saturday's weather was very tranquil and calm, but we have a significant snowfall event (up to 12”) forecast for early this week. I'm anticipating this will change the present lack of activity at my bird feeders due to the scarcity and inaccessibility of food buried beneath deep snow.<br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-3029168984418346921?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-84020584170147365792009-12-03T09:37:00.000-08:002009-12-18T07:19:40.954-08:00Aperture and Digiscoping<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogapertureart2.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogapertureart1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">60, 65, 77, 80, or 88mm?</span></span><br /><br />Though digiscoping has opened the doors of nature photography for thousands of birders and other outdoor enthusiasts, it's still not a "silver bullet" when it comes to obtaining great results. This can be somewhat subjective, as people aren't necessarily seeking a particular level quality when it comes to digiscoping. However, I do feel it's a compliment to digiscoping whenever it is compared, albeit somewhat skeptically and critically, to high-end super-telephoto setups that cost thousands of dollars more. A common question is what effect will a smaller aperture scope have versus a large one when it comes to digiscoping.<br /><br />Due to a typically large focal ratio (between aperture and focal length), spotting scopes are inherently optically slow even before you attach a camera. Light gathering is crucial when digiscoping. A small aperture spotting scope lets in less light, which directly results in slower shutter speeds, so if you're unable to achieve a shutter speed of at least 1/125th of a second, it will be very difficult to freeze subtle movements of even a perched bird. Low shutter speeds often result in blurry images, one of the most common pitfalls facing both novice and seasoned digiscopers.<br /><br />Less light being gathered also means an overall decrease in color, contrast, and resolution (nearly 20% when going from a 80mm to a 65mm scope). Post-processing your work with image editing software and tweaking contrast levels, brightness, and sharpness can restore some aspects of this loss. While I've seen exceptional results taken with some of the high-end APO, HD, and ED 60mm to 66mm spotting scopes, I personally recommend 80 millimeters or greater for the best possible digiscoping results.<br /><br />Smaller aperture spotting scopes are made for a good reason; they're smaller and lighter in weight. Lugging around a large spotting scope and tripod can become burdensome on long hikes, and the relatively nominal lighter weight scopes do seem to make a difference for many individuals, especially those with neck or back problems. It essentially comes down to a question of priorities: are you going to place an emphasis on photography, or would carrying a lighter weight spotting scope benefit your outdoor excursions? It's ultimately up to you, but now you know what the tradeoffs are to make a more informed decision before purchasing a scope.<br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://leicabirding.blogspot.com/2009/12/will-smaller-65mm-scope-fit-my-needs.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Will the smaller 65mm scope fit my needs?</span></a><br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-8402058417014736579?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-83910933970356405372009-12-02T11:47:00.000-08:002009-12-02T17:51:23.754-08:00Atlas Optics Sky King 8x42<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogskyking2.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogskyking1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Apart from its lack of name recognition, the <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/atlas-optics/atlas-optics-sky-king-8x42-binocular"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atlas Optics Sky King 8x42</span></a> at $199.99 is one of the best binocular deals on the market right now. Its optical quality compares very favorably, and sometimes exceeds, binoculars that cost nearly twice the price. When I bought my 8x42 EO Rangers nearly ten years ago, I would have loved to have had the Sky King as an available option. A view through the Sky King makes it obvious that improvements in optical engineering and technology have come a long way since that time. Compared to other binoculars in its price class, the Sky King topped out on features like contrast, edge-to-edge sharpness, and center resolution. Other specifications, like Eye Relief (17mm), Close Focus (6 feet), and a Field of View of 365 feet at 1,000 yards are well within the ranges that qualify it as a winner. The Sky King’s only negative characteristic is its 26.7-ounce weight, but this is still lighter than a typical high-end binocular.<br /><br />Link: <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/atlas-optics/atlas-optics-sky-king-8x42-binocular"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atlas Optics Sky King 8x42</span></a><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-8391093397035640537?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-6508792985460019282009-11-30T11:51:00.000-08:002009-11-30T11:56:22.782-08:00Great Gift Books!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crow-Planet-Essential-Wisdom-Wilderness/dp/0316019100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259610837&sr=8-1"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogbookrec1.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I totally loved this book!<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Wings-Illustrated-Anthology-Poems/dp/0231150849/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259610858&sr=1-1"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogbookrec2.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great bird poems, wonderful Sibley illustrations!</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Watching-Answer-Book-Ornithology/dp/1603424520/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259610878&sr=1-1"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogbookrec3.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Just like the title says!</span></span><br /></div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-650879298546001928?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-8358401567312079382009-11-29T20:05:00.000-08:002009-11-29T20:27:02.074-08:00Not for the Prairie<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogdcujunco1a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogdcujunco1b.jpg" /></a><br /><br />A visit to the prairie on Saturday revealed Dark-eyed Juncos, American Tree Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Sandhill Cranes, American Goldfinches, one Red-winged Blackbird, a few Blue Jays, and American Crows. It was chilly, but the warming sun combined with a lack of wind rendered it a gorgeous morning to be outside. I love the calmness that allows every subtle sound to be heard; wing beats of nearby songbirds, and the geese flying overhead.<br /><br />As Dottie Johnson and I walked our usual route around the main field, we pondered what the scenery might look like in a few years. I learned through the grapevine that the Ackers are not at all interested in selling their farmland (shown boxed in red below) to Dane County Parks for the purpose of increasing the size of Pheasant Branch Conservancy's prairie. What will likely become of this parcel? Have a look to the lower-right to get an idea. There's more money to be made in development. But more houses mean more window collisions during nocturnal bird migration, and more roaming cats.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogacker1a.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogacker1b.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I don't think one could place a housing development at a worse location, so near where tens of thousands of songbirds stage throughout spring and fall. From the heart of my anguish, I suppose I ought to just be thankful there's even any conservancy at all. What presently feels like an expanse will seem more enclosed and encroached upon. Some will say I'm rebelling against change, and that change is a constant in our world. Others will call me selfish. Whatever my motives are, I want to know why it remains so intensely difficult and time consuming to teach even just one person the value of a songbird's life.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogscenast2.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogscenast1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It will also ruin the view looking north!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">"Where is the power of our error? We find it was after all not in the city, but in </span><i style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ourselves</span></i><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">--Thomas Merton</span><br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-835840156731207938?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-55214579266758708472009-11-27T12:38:00.000-08:002009-11-27T17:36:16.082-08:00American Tree Sparrows<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogfallend8b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogfallend8a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I opened my blinds to a fresh sunny morning after several consecutive days of gray skies and rain. Though I've not been to the prairie in a few weeks, I plan on making a visit sometime this weekend. Now the tan and russet fields of Pheasant Branch are decorated with American Tree Sparrows. They'll conspicuously perch and feed atop "dead" goldenrod and other wildflowers. These particular sparrows won't return to Canada until March - there's plenty of food here to sustain them through the winter (but the diminutive birds are also food to shrikes and kestrels).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/janatree7.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/janatree7b.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The cold weather they deserted in September is slowly catching up with them, and soon much of their quarry will be buried beneath snow. Out of curiosity, I've visited the prairie during blizzard conditions and witnessed the hearty sparrows at work. Surprisingly, the foraging flocks are a little tighter despite the wind. If a few take off, the rest immediately follow. If they can manage, they'll still perch on tall plants, but under extremely harsh conditions they tend to feed around fallen stalks within reach of the snow-covered ground.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blog121507a5l.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blog121507a5s.jpg" /></a><br /><br />A snowstorm in December or January might last the remainder of the day and duration of the night, whereupon the weary birds are likely to roost communally in snow cavities. With a storm ending before first light, their familiar <i>tweedle tweedle</i> calls can be heard all across the prairie by morning. Quickly replenishing their energy is critical for survival as they endure subzero temperatures 24 hours a day during cold snaps lasting a week or longer. The American Tree Sparrows that come to your backyard feeders certainly have it easier, so my respect and admiration goes to those facing winter the old fashioned way.<br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-5521457926675870847?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-66648267050358606472009-11-25T18:14:00.000-08:002009-11-25T18:26:14.156-08:00Operation Migration hangar vandalized<a href="http://cs.birdersworld.com/brdcs/blogs/field_of_view/2009/11/25/operation-migration.aspx"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogcranes.jpg" /></a><br /><br />From Operation Migration's on-line <a href="http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Field Journal</span></a>...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date: November 25, 2009 - Entry 2 </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reporter: Joe Duff</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject: STEALING FROM A CHARITY </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Location: Livingston Co. IL</span><br /><br />Keeping a small non-profit afloat is never easy and in this economic climate it is considerably more challenging. When times are tough, people understandably have other priorities demanding their attention, and charitable donations must take a back seat. Even in the best of times, conservation causes like ours attract only three percent of all the philanthropic dollars given by Americans.<br /><br />Operation Migration is a lean organization with a small staff and a 600 square foot, one room, basement office. Everyone works long hours for modest pay, and none us have a job that doesn’t demand multiple talents. We each cover all the bases from working with the birds, to fundraising and public speaking. We design our own equipment, build our own pens, write our own copy, and prepare our own presentations.<br /><br />We are conscientious about every dollar we spend. Accountants audit the financials at the end of each year and we answer to our membership and a volunteer Board of Directors. That is why it hurt so much to hear that sometime after we left Necedah in October, the hangar we use during the summer was robbed and vandalized.<br /><br />What we don’t need with us on the migration is left behind locked up in the hangar, as are some of the crew’s vehicles. Both Bev and Geoff left their cars there until they could return to pick them up once we got the birds to Florida. Their tires were slashed and lights smashed.<br /><br />Brooke lives with the bird all year long. He moves to Patuxent for the hatch and early training, spends the summer in Necedah, and the fall en route to Florida. He helps to monitor the birds over the winter at St Marks, returning once again to Patuxent in the spring. His entire life is spent on the road so he uses the hangar to store all the belongings that the rest of us would keep at home. Most of them are now gone or destroyed in some distorted expression of violence that we simply can’t comprehend.<br /><br />Thanks to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund we have new wings for our aircraft. The old Zoom wings had a king post protruding out the top that supported all the wires that keep them ridged in flight. The new ones don’t need that superstructure and our birds are safer because of it. Because the old wings fly slower, we use the them during the summer to train the fledgling birds. All four of these wings were slashed. A few minutes of senseless destruction by a mindless hooligan(s) and we’re looking at a bill for $20,000 to replace the wings.<br /><br />When Richard van Heuvelen is not flying with birds he bends metal to his own whims. Out of solid steel he creates lifelike sculpture, and if he were not trying to safeguard an endangered species, he would likely be a famous artist and far richer. One of his pieces was a full size Whooping crane. He told me it was his hardest work because he knows so well what it was supposed to look like. He captured it perfectly. Now, the wings are broken, the body smashed and the rest spray painted in an obscene gesture of cowardice.<br /><br />We still have two of the original aircraft originally purchased for the making of Fly Away Home. They were used first to lead geese, then swans and eventually Sandhill cranes. I flew one and Deke Clark flew the other when we led the first flock of Whooping cranes from Wisconsin to Florida. In fact we only have one now because the other was donated to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. The second aircraft was in the hangar and has now suffered the ravages of someone with too much anger and too little self-control. Hopefully it can be salvaged as it cannot be replaced.<br /><br />It’s hard to understand why anyone would do this. The things destroyed were worth far more than the things stolen. Was Operation Migration targeted and if so, for what? What could we have done to deserve such vengeance? Or were we just an easy target for the same kind of displaced aggression we see so often in the birds.<br /><br />All of us lost something in that willful destruction of property, but mostly we lost faith. Who knows what motivates such unrepressed anger. I know what motivates mine. So now it’s time to prove that we are made of better stuff. Instead of lashing out, we will redirect our anger at this cowardly act of destruction into more resolve.<br /><br />Link: <a href="http://cs.birdersworld.com/brdcs/blogs/field_of_view/2009/11/25/operation-migration.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Read the story on Birder's World Blog</span></a><br /><br />Link: <a href="http://www.operationmigration.org/contribute.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Donate to Operation Migration</span></a><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-6664826705035860647?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-21838315116179927572009-11-23T17:42:00.000-08:002009-11-23T17:43:41.468-08:00First Fifty<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/bloghome1.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/bloghome2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here are the first fifty bird species observed from my 'new' apartment since March 30th, 2009:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Canada Goose</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Mallard</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Great Blue Heron</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Turkey Vulture</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Bald Eagle</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Sharp-shinned Hawk</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Cooper's Hawk</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Red-tailed Hawk</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Sandhill Crane</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Killdeer</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Solitary Sandpiper</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Ring-billed Gull</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Mourning Dove</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Great Horned Owl <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(atop my roof!)</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Chimney Swift</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Ruby-throated Hummingbird</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Belted Kingfisher</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Downy Woodpecker</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Hairy Woodpecker</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Eastern Phoebe</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Blue Jay</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">American Crow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Tree Swallow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Northern Rough-winged Swallow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Barn Swallow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Black-capped Chickadee</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">White-breasted Nuthatch</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Carolina Wren</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">House Wren</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Eastern Bluebird</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Gray-cheeked Thrush</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Swainson's Thrush</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">American Robin</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">European Starling</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Cedar Waxwing</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Yellow Warbler</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Yellow-rumped Warbler</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Common Yellowthroat</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Chipping Sparrow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">White-throated Sparrow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">White-crowned Sparrow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Dark-eyed Junco</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Northern Cardinal</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Rose-breasted Grosbeak</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Red-winged Blackbird</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Common Grackle</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Brown-headed Cowbird</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">House Finch</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">American Goldfinch</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">House Sparrow</span><br /><br />© 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-2183831511617992757?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-42448852534963296652009-11-04T20:25:00.000-08:002009-12-04T07:59:50.826-08:00Retirement<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogblogbreak.jpg" /><br /></div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-4244885253496329665?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622811514148457533.post-4034239796792345702009-11-03T19:01:00.000-08:002009-11-04T19:24:41.156-08:00November Full Moon<a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogfullmoon2009b.jpg"><img src="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/blogfullmoon2009a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Celestron Ultima 40mm Eyepiece</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nikon Coolpix 8400</span><br /><br />CAMERA : E8400V1.1<br />METERING : CENTER<br />MODE : A<br />SHUTTER : 1/247sec<br />APERTURE : F3.2<br />EXP +/- : -0.7<br />FOCAL LENGTH : f10.0mm(X1.0)<br />SENSITIVITY : ISO100<br />DATE : 02.11.2009 18:50<br /><br />Full Moon © 2009 Mike McDowell<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6622811514148457533-403423979679234570?l=www.birddigiscoper.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Mike McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04194226420675958288noreply@blogger.com0