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UMichBirders for Sunday, March 23, 2008
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Subject: [birders] Binocular basics for birding, with remarks on
spotting scopes
From: "Bob Bethune" <poihths(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 2:36am
Probably the most important thing to remember is that resolution (the
ability to see fine detail) and light-gathering power are the key points,
NOT magnification.
Case in point: I was recently side-by-side with someone who had a 36x
spotting scope. My scope is 27x. I could easily read handwriting at 100
yards that was invisible through the higher power scope. Why? My scope
happened to have better resolution, because it had significantly larger
aperture and better quality lenses.
However, for binoculars, the most important aspect of magnification is that
it magnifies everything, including any shakiness in the hands. Relatively
few people can really enjoy hand-holding a 10 power binocular, not very many
can hand-hold anything much more powerful than that. Most people are much
better off at about 7 power; many are much more comfortable with 4 or 6.
Both resolution and light-gathering power are a direct function of aperture.
The bigger the aperture, the greater the resolution and light-gathering
power. Of course, the bigger the aperture, the greater the weight. It is
harder to hold a heavy binocular steady. You see the trade-off.
Resolution in particular is also a direct function of manufacturing quality
in design, materials and workmanship. So, you get what you pay for. However,
there is a law of diminishing returns. After a certain point, it costs a lot
of money to buy a small increment in performance.
The bottom line - expect to pay pretty decent money, buy as large an
aperture as you can in a magnification that is easy for you to hold steady.
As you try out lots different makes and models, you'll start to see where
the envelope lies for you, depending on your hand size, hand and arm
strength and steadiness.
For some people, the classic 7x50 (7 power, 50 millimeter aperture) in a
well-made binocular with the best quality lenses you can afford is a good
starting point. For smaller or shakier hands, start with smaller models and
go from there. Buy from a place with a favorable return policy.
In spotting scopes, because rather few people understand resolution, and
almost everybody understands magnification, most consumer optics
manufacturers market their products on the basis of magnification. In some
cases, particularly with zoom spotting scope optics, the manufacturer
cynically designs the unit to provide levels of magnification that are in
fact useless, that magnify the objective image well past the practical
limits of the quality and size of the lenses used. The maximum usable
magnification for a telescope is about 50x per inch of aperture. Reputable,
high-quality manufacturers stay within or around this limit.
Increasing magnification does NOT increase resolution. The front lenses of a
binocular or telescope create an image; that image contains a certain amount
of detail, which depends on the size and quality of the front lenses. The
eyepiece lenses magnify that image. If you use a more powerful eyepiece
optic or zoom in a zoom eyepiece in the same scope, you are still looking at
the same image, still looking at the same amount of detail. Up to a certain
point, greater magnification makes it easier to see the detail that is
there; after that point, there is no more detail to be had, no matter how
much magnification you use.
It it impossible to overstate the importance of a solid, stable tripod for
use with a spotting scope. When looking through the scope, tap the tripod.
How long does it shake? Try to pan and tilt the scope. Can you make it move
steadily and smoothly, without jerking and without moving the tripod? Very
few of the tripods supplied with spotting scopes pass such simple tests.
Avoid the package deal. Plan on shopping for the tripod separately.
Bob Bethune
Freshwater Seas
http://www.freshwaterseas.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Russell Emmons [mailto:birdeland(AT)pasty.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2008 3:03 PM
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Cc: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] Re: birds is birds...
John: You are not the only birder "rigidly" stating regards quality
binoculars that I've heard of. Wondering though your opinion as to where
the line is drawn between "professional" quality optics and sub standard
regards, price, type, brands etc. Also is there an accepted standard among
birders overall as to where the line is? I realize there are MANY
variations as to brands, types, preferences, types of use, sales, etc. etc.
I've noted from the binocs (scopes also) I've looked through that often the
very cheapest are just as good in many cases as the "decent" medium priced
brands. So just where is the line (if there is indeed one) where there is
always an obvious upstage of top of the line quality viewing for the price
difference? OR---- does this all mean one MUST pay in the $1000 range to
get something really worthwhile to see a bird? I don't think so! This has
come up before though amongst birders.
Russ Emmons, St. Clair county
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Lowry" <john(AT)kingbird.org>
To: <birders(AT)umich.edu>
Cc: <birders(AT)umich.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 9:54 PM
Subject: [birders] Re: birds is birds...
> Cendra,
>
> Did I correctly read that you don't own a binocular? I can't think of
> any better use for your tax check than to pick up a decent binocular!
> (By the way, a pair of binoculars is two of the items - I have a pair,
> but I only use one at a time. Semantics...)
>
> Seriously, if there is anyone on this list (therefore presumably a
> bird-watcher of some species) who doesn't own (or have full time access
> to) a modern, professional grade binocular, I can't stress enough how
> much you are missing. You will not learn birds until you have quality
> optics. Period. I'm sorry to be so rigid on this, but a sighted birder
> is missing most of the birding experience without quality optics.
> Everyone has a favorite, and if you start shopping with a reputable
> retailer you'll quickly discover that there are so many models because
> each person's requirements are different.
>
> Anyway, spring is coming. Treat yourself (and your birding partners) by
> upgrading your optics to professional grade. You will never regret it.
>
> Regards!
>
> John Lowry
>
> PS. If you ever bump into me and want to look through any binocular I'm
> carrying, don't be shy! The best way to test binos is in the field.
>
>
> On Mar 21, 2008, at 4:54 PM, Cendra wrote:
>
>>
>> Yesterday while tooling home on Jackson Rd., I realized I was passing
>> the
>> Little Lake area. So I did two Michigan lefts and drove in. No birds
>> visible. Weird, I thought, after all the messages about this spot. So
>> I
>> opened the windows and heard robins and red-winged blackbirds. Then I
>> saw
>> two ordinary, boring, probably-overwintering Canadian geese on the
>> Western
>> pond. Although there were sounds of many birds, only one red-winged
>> blackbird was far enough up for me to see him. The other water-borne
>> animals were two fisherpeople in a boat at the other end of the Eastern
>> lake.
>>
>> Would I see waterfowl? Yes - there were more....DUCKS in a bay to the
>> east,
>> too far away to identify as anything other than ducks. I don't own
>> binoculars. My excitement was easily bearable. They looked like
>> dark-colored ducks. Suddenly there was the loud sound of .... CANADIAN
>> GEESE! They flew in from the South and circled overhead twice, arguing
>> vociferously about whether or not to land. In no formation whatever
>> they
>> circled lower and lower, with the arguing increasing, their back feet
>> paddling the air. (What? Paddling? Is this a new aeronautical
>> manuever?
>> Does it slow them down? Speed them up? Put their chairbacks in an
>> upright
>> position and lock their trays for landing?) At an altitude of about 50'
>> they headed south, still arguing, the last one barely clearing the tree
>> top,
>> and headed over the hill in the formation of a stealth bomber, making as
>> much noise as kids at recess.) Boy! am I ever having a great time in
>> this
>> freezing wind seeing nothing whatever new, and very little of anything.
>>
>> Suddenly I forgot all about birds and the chill as I saw a minute,
>> headless,
>> brown Loch Ness monster chug chuggin out from shore. By the time I got
>> out
>> of the car it had dived. So I watched the riffles above where it, and
>> soon
>> it surfaced, chug chugging back to shore. Ah! At last I am in the
>> element I
>> know: mammals. A beautiful, light brown muskrat, taking a lunch break.
>> S/he went back into her/his den, and though I waited many minutes, as
>> silent
>> as my ancestors, on the bank slightly out of the wind, s/he did not feel
>> inclined to venture back out, undoubtedly having heard my footsteps
>> through
>> the ground.
>>
>> So I got back in the car and headed home, figuring that later on all
>> those
>> birds the rest of this group sees would soon arrive at these little
>> lakes.
>>
>> The sun was still well up, so I didn't see any nighthawks this time!
>>
>> Cendra Lynn
>>
>>
>> ---
>> * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
>> * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/
>> photos.html
>>
>> * To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
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>> line. To
>> resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.
>>
>
>
> ---
> * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
> * photo sharing site -
> http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
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---
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Re: Use of GPS coordinates
From: "Bob Bethune" <poihths(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 2:36am
One thing did cross my mind - if you pick up a GPS for birding, make sure
it's one that stores position information ("waypoints") in such a way that
you can easily retrieve the latitude and longitude numbers. Some GPS units,
especially those made for car navigation, don't do that. I just bought a
Garmin 660 nuvi for car navigation, and it's wonderful for that, but it's a
pain to get waypoint data from the beast. A very simple GPS intended for
boating or hiking will be the best bet for recording location data.
As I think I posted somewhere, you can pick up that sort of GPS unit on eBay
very cheaply.
Bob Bethune
Freshwater Seas
http://www.freshwaterseas.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Bethune [mailto:poihths(AT)comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 9:16 PM
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] Re: Use of GPS coordinates
Degrees and decimal minutes seems to work fine.
I entered "43 8.321, -83 8.543" (without the quote marks, of course) and got
good results. That's just a set of coordinates I made up, they don't point
to anything ornithological.
Actually, the first time I entered 43 8.321, -82 8.543 and found myself
getting my feet wet in Lake Huron--not pleasant in this weather!
Fortunately, they were only Google Maps wet, not real-world wet!
Bob Bethune
Freshwater Seas
http://www.freshwaterseas.com
-----Original Message-----
From: eba(AT)umich.edu [mailto:eba(AT)umich.edu]
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 4:52 PM
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] Re: Use of GPS coordinates
Tom,
Thanks for the suggestion that the geographical coordinates could be
entered directly into the search bar of Google maps. That makes using GPS
data much easier both for those with GPS units as well as those without.
One question which it conveniently resolves is which format in which to
display the coordinates; degrees including a decimal fraction, degrees &
minutes with a decimal fraction, or degrees, minutes, & seconds with a
decimal fraction -- my GPS unit requires me to select the format that it
will use, and various mapping programs have their own choices, & converting
from one to another format is a nuisance. A test of Google Maps showed
that it was capable of reading at least two formats (decimal degrees, &
degrees, minutes, & decimal seconds). I didn't try degrees & decimal
minutes.
Eric Arnold
--On Friday, March 21, 2008 8:37 PM +0000 pavlik(AT)comcast.net wrote:
>
>
> Russ,
>
> I couldn't agree more. GPS units have come down a great deal in price
> and they are easier than ever to use. I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 200W
> for my wife for around $200. Besides the obvious use of getting you
> around town, you can get various points of interest (what birder doesn't
> want to know the closest burger joint after a hard day of birding?),
> create a 'favorite' whenever you find that cool new birding spot and take
> advantage of the many other practical uses of a GPS. Current gas prices
> aside, I think it's easier than ever to justify jumping into the GPS
> market.
>
> Tom Pavlik
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: "Russell Emmons" <birdeland(AT)pasty.net>
>
> Tom: How about if one just gets the coordinates from ones own GPS unit
> while there and passes those on to others?
> Seems more and more folks are getting their own units these days and some
> of the later ones are quite elaborate and sophisticated. We've had our
> Garmin "Legend" unit now for several years and are quite happy with it
> except it does eat up the "AA batterys pretty fast. (Got Ni-MH
> rechargeables now)
>
> Russ Emmons, St. Clair county
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: pavlik(AT)comcast.net
> To: birders(AT)umich.edu
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 1:14 PM
> Subject: [birders] Use of GPS coordinates
>
>
> Birders,
>
> Please take this as a friendly suggestion. I would like to encourage the
> use of GPS coordinates when explaining birding locations. It's fairly
> easy to find the coordinates and/or create a link from any computer.
> I'll walk through an example.
>
> I visited Drayton Plains Nature Center for the first time a couple months
> ago. Let's assume I found a Double-striped Thick-Knee (rare in Michigan
> in the winter) and wanted to let you all know about it.
>
> - I would go to Google Maps http://maps.google.com
> - Scroll around, zoom-in and out until I get close to Drayton Plains
> Nature Center. I know where it is because I was just there.
> - I double-click on the location so it will be centered on my map (when
> I double-click the map it will also zoom in one more level). I've found
> that a good "zoom level" is when the maps indicates 1000ft in the lower
> left of the map.
> - I click the link in the upper right that says "Link to this page".
> Two fields will appear.
> - I copy from the first field (Paste Link in e-mail or IM) and paste it
> into the e-mail and send to you. It looks something like:
> http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.812781,-83.666039&ie=
> UTF8&ll=42.671393,-83.376102&spn=0.022245,0.039911&z=15
> In this example, it still may not be readily obvious where Drayton Plains
> Nature Center is so I might add "On Denby Drive just east of the river".
> It should be in the center of the map. Note that the GPS coordinates are
> embedded in the link. In the above example they are: 42.812781,
> -83666039
>
> When you get the e-mail you can either just click on the link or
> copy/paste the GPS coordinates into Google Maps and the location will
> appear. You can easily zoom out to get a perspective on where the
> location is. You can print To/From directions right from Google Maps.
>
>
> You may find this is much quicker than giving street by street
> directions. Clearly, this wouldn't be necessary for commonly known
> locations such as Pt. Mouillee or Lake Erie Metropark.
>
> Anyway - just a friendly suggestion.
>
> Take care,
> Tom Pavlik---
> * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
> * photo sharing site -
> http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
>
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>
>
> ---
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> * photo sharing site -
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>
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---
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Re: birds is birds...
From: "Bob Bethune" <poihths(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 2:43am
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
You=92re quite right. According to the OED, from the 1400=92s on a =
=93birder=94 was
one who hunted birds; in the 1800=92s it meant one who breeds birds and =
was a
term in some places for a kind of wildcat; the meaning =93birdwatcher=94 =
only
goes back to 1945.
=20
Bob Bethune
Freshwater Seas
http://www.freshwaterseas.com
=20
_____ =20
From: WovenWoman(AT)aol.com [mailto:WovenWoman(AT)aol.com]=20
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2008 9:28 PM
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] Re: birds is birds...
=20
The beauty of language is that like all things, it evolves.
=20
I am sure that if you had called someone a birder a little over a =
century
ago, they would have had a haul of passenger pigeons (or some other =
bird)
hanging down their back, and they were probably sporting a gun, not
binoculars. I am not sure what they would have thought a twitcher was =
back
then. I remember being called a "bird watcher" a few decades ago.
=20
So like, its ok, if you wanna say binoculars, right?
=20
The songs outside today were fabulous. All that snow brought tons of
regulars, and I notice that the goldfinches are becoming more goldyer by =
the
minute. (thats Gold E er) Thats a sure sign of spring, don't you think? =
I
heard , but did not see, a song sparrow, even though I waited and =
waited. I
am pretty sure it wasn't a starling, like some that were mentioned =
earlier
on the list. What a beautiful voice, and if it was a starling it was =
pretty
darn good. Our regular Downy seems to live on the suet feeder, and the
little sacks of seed were swinging wildly from the exchange of house and
gold finches. The little juncos were pretty aggressive, fighting for =
space
and for seed. Nothing fancy, but lots of action.
=20
To John, it must be pretty darn cold out there birding with your kilt or
undressed. Brr. Bet you are glad that Spring is here.
Namaste,
Edie
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
In a message dated 3/22/2008 8:50:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
john(AT)kingbird.org writes:
Eric,
First of all, I don't typically wake up until well past noon, at =20
which point I don a kilt - if I dress at all.
So all right, I think I will have to admit that "pair of binoculars" =20
is acceptable common usage and eat a pair of crow.
So what can I gripe about now? How about the mistaken singular of =20
"species"? Or the abandonment of the singular of "data".
I really need to drink less coffee (or is it fewer?)
Good birding all.
John Lowry
_____ =20
Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. HYPERLINK
"http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=3D15?ncid=3D=
aolhom0
0030000000001" \nWatch the video on AOL Home.
---
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* photo sharing site -
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* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
lyris(AT)listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject =
line.
To
resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.=20
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Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.8/1338 - Release Date: =
3/21/2008
5:52 PM
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.=20
Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.8/1338 - Release Date: =
3/21/2008
5:52 PM
=20
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Interested in joining One Road Challenge Team
From: Kendra Pyle <dreamweaver(AT)buffalodreaming.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 8:36am
I'm new to the Challenge so I'm worth an extra point for your team! If
anyone has room on their team, please let me know. Please contact me
directly. Thanks! --Kendra Pyle
---
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Semi OT - Habitat in Michigan
From: Marie Schatz <marys1000(AT)woh.rr.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 9:01am
I have this map from the Dept of Defense Partners In Flight program.
If you click on the map link below it will hopefully show you the map.
http://www.dodpif.org/Dod_map_jpg.htm
If not you can find it by looking on the main .org website.
http://www.dodpif.org/
Or google DoD Partners in Flight
I have pondered the map and its two main topographic? habitat?
listings for
Michigan - Prairie Hardwood Transition in the bottom 2/3 of the LP and
Boreal Hardwood Transition in the north. I have many questions
such as
are these standard definitions or terminology? Are they sometimes
also referred to
by different descriptive names?
But mostly I wonder - where the two meet and transition would also
seem to be its
own narrow specific habitat - and where is that? Not being much of a
traveler other than
for work, I don't know that area of Michigan well.
Can anyone here take a gander at the map, or just know from their
birding travels,
where that line is (approximately) and tell me where it runs from and
to and what its like, how it differs
from the the two main distinctions above and below?
Do you get the best of both bird habitat worlds in this area?
In any event it seems an interesting program, probably underfunded
and often overlooked (last web update Jun 07).
Yet more important than ever as many species end up retreating to
large military reservations when overtaken by development.
It has become an issue for DoD, balancing training needs and the
protection of threatened species.
I had started birding on Ft Custer, just east of Battle Creek a bit
before I moved. It was a
pretty nice area with a mix of habitats, at the time they had a
biologist on staff if I remember right who's job it
was to do general sorts of surveys and determine impact. I didn't
get the impression that she was a birder though.
They had a very small colony of some sort of rare vole out there I
think.
However, I notice that there are no bird checklists or websites for
any of the
military training areas in Michigan (there are several) or Ohio. On
the Bird Conservation Areas clickable Map (interesting)
the northern Michigan map does not list the Air National Guard Alpena
readiness training area - if thats because its
considered State land, then why is Camp Greyling on there? But I
think I'm getting off topic. Anyway there is a fair
amount of interesting information on the website. Has anyone heard
of Earthspan?
Anyone with any insight to my questions can feel free to email me
privately if this is not a list topic.
Thanks,
Marie, a Michigander, currently living in Dayton Oh
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Subject: [birders] One Road Challenge coming up
From: Catherine Carroll <songsparrow(AT)wowway.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 9:11am
Birders,
Happy Easter, snow and all, to everyone.
The One Road Challenge is coming up - next Sunday, March 30th -
details are on the wesite - www.washtenawaudubon.org. A couple of
folks have posted on birders an interest in finding a team. If you
are interested in participating, please reply to these persons.
Don't be shy - this is birding.
A couple of folks interested in doing the challenge are from out of
the county. This means they would not have a good idea of which road
to select. Please check your county map, DeLorme, or any other map
and have a couple of ideas for your road. A road with a mix of
habitat is typically best - some fields, woodlots, woods, farm ponds,
spring-fed ponds, a dirt road, etc. You might even want to take a
drive down a couple to check them out. The challenge is all in fun,
but it's fun to be at least reasonably competitive, too. With this
in mind, consider an early rise to do some owling. And, don't forget
about adding some waterfowl species to pad your list. (That is, if
we have any open ponds for waterfowl to swim on.) Then, there are
the early spring migrants: phoebe, meadowlarks, and woodcock.
Don't forget about these.
The challenge is on a Sunday morning when traffic is typically
reduced. That said, please be VERY cautious when birding from the
road. That's why I give special mention above to DIRT roads. These
typically have even further reduced traffic. I would avoid, like the
plague, trying to do a road like North Territorial.
Cathy Carroll
Field Trip Coordinator
Washtenaw Audubon Society
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Subject: [birders] RE: song sparrow
From: "Penny" <Jumpthroughhoops(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 10:26am
One song sparrow under feeder 2 days in a row and a tree sparrow in the
same spot for about a week. Juncos have actually increased and RB
nuthatches are still coming, along with titmice. Also more cardinals than
usual. Goldfinches becoming rare now that Grackles are back. I'm not
surprised, given the fact that soon I will be finding the usual "headless"
sparrows and pigeons, or sparrows with their brains eaten by grackles.
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Subject: [birders] mar 23.....way off topic
From: "J. Michael Nolan" <mnolan(AT)rainforestandreef.org>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 10:46am
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
semantics seem to have been a topic of late. interesting stuff.
i am a sports guy and have wondered over the years why stanford's mascot =
is called the cardinal and not cardinals?
thanks and be kind with your responses.
mike nolan
----------
If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your =
number, best time to return your call and/or your e-mail address.
=20
After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request.
Sincerely,
J. Michael Nolan, Director
=20
Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit
*************************************************************************=
*************************
=E2=80=9COutstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest & Marine =
Ecology=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CSpanish/Cultural Immersion Programs: Spain, Mexico, Central and =
South America=E2=80=9D
Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit
P.O. Box 141543
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49514-1543 USA
Local/International Phone: 001.616.604.0546
Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 1.877.255.3721
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Subject: [birders] misbehaving wren
From: Lee Green MD <greenla(AT)daylight.fp.med.umich.edu>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 11:13am
This year for the second time in three years, I have a real brat of a
Carolina wren at my feeder. It sits on the perch at my safflower feeder
and does its best to shovel all the contents out onto the ground! I have
a pair of microphones outside the window, and it sounds almost as if it
were raining. When I look out, it's the sound of a cascade of seeds. The
little stinker will completely empty the feeder, given a chance, over the
course of a couple of hours. Any idea why this bird is on such a peculiar
mission? -Lee
Lee Green MD MPH
Department of Family Medicine
University of Michigan
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Subject: [birders] Re: misbehaving wren
From: Jacob Job <zjrj5(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 8:55am
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Lee,
Where does your feeder sit and what is the ground like below it? If the feeder
is out in the open and the ground offers more cover in the way of bushes/natural
vegetation, then this is a normal behavior for wrens. They are primarily
ground foragers and are naturally skulky (not sure if thats a word). What Im
trying to say is that they prefer some sort of cover when they are performing
any daily activity.
Jacob
Lee Green MD <greenla(AT)daylight.fp.med.umich.edu> wrote: This year for the second
time in three years, I have a real brat of a
Carolina wren at my feeder. It sits on the perch at my safflower feeder
and does its best to shovel all the contents out onto the ground! I have
a pair of microphones outside the window, and it sounds almost as if it
were raining. When I look out, it's the sound of a cascade of seeds. The
little stinker will completely empty the feeder, given a chance, over the
course of a couple of hours. Any idea why this bird is on such a peculiar
mission? -Lee
Lee Green MD MPH
Department of Family Medicine
University of Michigan
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Re: misbehaving wren
From: eba(AT)umich.edu
Date: 23 Mar 2008 12:12pm
Alternative theories ;-^)
1) The wren is looking for something other than safflower in the feeder,
e.g. sunflower;
2) The wren has evolved from a hunter/gatherer to a crop planter...
I've seen somewhat similar behavior in cardinals at tube feeders with mixed
seeds, where they seem to shovel out anything that they don't want to get
at the few that they do.
Eric Arnold
--On Sunday, March 23, 2008 8:55 AM -0700 Jacob Job <zjrj5(AT)yahoo.com> wrote:
> Lee,
>
> Where does your feeder sit and what is the ground like below it? If the
> feeder is out in the open and the ground offers more cover in the way of
> bushes/natural vegetation, then this is a normal behavior for wrens.
> They are primarily ground foragers and are naturally skulky (not sure if
> thats a word). What Im trying to say is that they prefer some sort of
> cover when they are performing any daily activity.
>
> Jacob
>
> Lee Green MD <greenla(AT)daylight.fp.med.umich.edu> wrote:
>
> This year for the second time in three years, I have a real brat of a
> Carolina wren at my feeder. It sits on the perch at my safflower feeder
> and does its best to shovel all the contents out onto the ground! I have
> a pair of microphones outside the window, and it sounds almost as if it
> were raining. When I look out, it's the sound of a cascade of seeds. The
> little stinker will completely empty the feeder, given a chance, over the
> course of a couple of hours. Any idea why this bird is on such a peculiar
> mission? -Lee
>
>
> Lee Green MD MPH
> Department of Family Medicine
> University of Michigan
>
> ---
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>
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>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
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Subject: [birders] Re: misbehaving wren
From: Baba007(AT)aol.com
Date: 23 Mar 2008 1:25pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
I have one that does that same thing! Scratches around until all seeds and
nuts are off the feeder! The pair also spends all winter on my front porch
on a wreath and they have a pile of *#&^ on the floor of the porch. But I
love them anyway!! I consider them a treat! LOL
Barb J
Farmington Hills
In a message dated 03/23/2008 11:14:19 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
greenla(AT)daylight.fp.med.umich.edu writes:
This year for the second time in three years, I have a real brat of a
Carolina wren at my feeder. It sits on the perch at my safflower feeder
and does its best to shovel all the contents out onto the ground! I have
a pair of microphones outside the window, and it sounds almost as if it
were raining. When I look out, it's the sound of a cascade of seeds. The
little stinker will completely empty the feeder, given a chance, over the
course of a couple of hours. Any idea why this bird is on such a peculiar
mission? -Lee
Lee Green MD MPH
Department of Family Medicine
University of Michigan
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Subject: [birders] Kensington Birds
From: "j fisher" <biggrinnell(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 2:26pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
While fishing under Buno road bridge at Kensington Metropark, I was startled
by a splash. Thought maybe a nice fish. No fish. But an awesome, face to
face look at a female LONG-TAILED DUCK! It frantically flew south, but
landed quickly, and I followed with my eyes!
A hurried scramble to my backpack for the binoculars occurred. The bird then
swam about two hundred yards, slowly south. While inspecting it, I found a
Horned Grebe, and seconds later a Pie-billed Grebe....along with many other
"usual suspects".
The Longtailed duck eventually came back upstream, and was close in the
vicinity of the bridge before I left, on the south (downstream) side. This
was about 25 minutes ago, or around 2 ish.
You can park at the Farm Center and walk downhill on the shoulder, or walk
on the hike+bike path.
There is also a great congregation of birds including Red Breasted
Merganser, Common Merganser, Sandhill Crane, Hooded Merganser, Greater
Scaup, and Ring Necked ducks downstream, where the river channel widens to
form Kent Lake. Take the hike bike path south/east to access various sites
affording good views.
Bring your scope...and there may be more reported suprises! Happy Easter!
Love,
Jeff Fisher
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Subject: [birders] RE: mar 23.....way off topic
From: "Cendra" <cendra(AT)digitalrealm.net>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 5:10pm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Oh, yummy! I love semantics.
I'm not a sports person, so I'm not certain here, but off the top of my head
I would say that Michigan's mascot is the wolverine, and that when the
athletes play for michigan they take on aspects of that character, and
collectively are called wolverines. One mascot; many players.
Did this help or just make it worse?
Cendra Lynn
_____
From: J. Michael Nolan [mailto:mnolan(AT)rainforestandreef.org]
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:47 AM
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] mar 23.....way off topic
semantics seem to have been a topic of late. interesting stuff.
i am a sports guy and have wondered over the years why stanford's mascot is
called the cardinal and not cardinals?
thanks and be kind with your responses.
mike nolan
----------
If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your number,
best time to return your call and/or your e-mail address.
After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request.
Sincerely,
J. Michael Nolan, Director
Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit
****************************************************************************
**********************
"Outstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest & Marine Ecology"
"Spanish/Cultural Immersion Programs: Spain, Mexico, Central and South
America"
Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit
P.O. Box 141543
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49514-1543 USA
Local/International Phone: 001.616.604.0546
Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 1.877.255.3721
Skype/MS IM: travelwithrandr
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*Note: Please send inquiries to both e-mail addresses
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Subject: [birders] Cheap GPS units (was: Re: Use of GPS coordinates)
From: eba(AT)umich.edu
Date: 23 Mar 2008 5:42pm
One reason that you can find GPS units on eBay very cheaply, I suspect, is
that manyof the earlier models had insufficient sensitivity to work well in
some of the more difficult situations: around tall buildings, in the woods,
in canyons & mountains, & anywhere where a significant fraction of the sky
is obscured one way or another.
About 3 years ago I got a portable Garmin unit which was supposed to be
near top-of-the-line at the time, and I found that it was useless in the
deep forests of the west and marginal in the woods here at home, and in
many city areas, too, it would not work due to loss of satellite reception.
They came out with an improved model with substantially improved
sensitivity last year, and the difference is profound: I rarely, if ever,
have a problem now with that. I suspect many of the units offered on eBay
may be there for just this reason, so be careful, and know what you're
getting! There are many places I go while birding where the older unit
just wouldn't do the job.
Eric Arnold
--On Sunday, March 23, 2008 2:36 AM -0400 Bob Bethune <poihths(AT)comcast.net>
wrote:
> One thing did cross my mind - if you pick up a GPS for birding, make sure
> it's one that stores position information ("waypoints") in such a way that
> you can easily retrieve the latitude and longitude numbers. Some GPS
> units, especially those made for car navigation, don't do that. I just
> bought a Garmin 660 nuvi for car navigation, and it's wonderful for that,
> but it's a pain to get waypoint data from the beast. A very simple GPS
> intended for boating or hiking will be the best bet for recording
> location data. As I think I posted somewhere, you can pick up that sort
> of GPS unit on eBay very cheaply.
> Bob Bethune
> Freshwater Seas
> http://www.freshwaterseas.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Bethune [mailto:poihths(AT)comcast.net]
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 9:16 PM
> To: birders(AT)umich.edu
> Subject: [birders] Re: Use of GPS coordinates
>
> Degrees and decimal minutes seems to work fine.
> I entered "43 8.321, -83 8.543" (without the quote marks, of course) and
> got good results. That's just a set of coordinates I made up, they don't
> point to anything ornithological.
> Actually, the first time I entered 43 8.321, -82 8.543 and found myself
> getting my feet wet in Lake Huron--not pleasant in this weather!
> Fortunately, they were only Google Maps wet, not real-world wet!
>
> Bob Bethune
> Freshwater Seas
> http://www.freshwaterseas.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: eba(AT)umich.edu [mailto:eba(AT)umich.edu]
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 4:52 PM
> To: birders(AT)umich.edu
> Subject: [birders] Re: Use of GPS coordinates
>
> Tom,
>
> Thanks for the suggestion that the geographical coordinates could be
> entered directly into the search bar of Google maps. That makes using
> GPS data much easier both for those with GPS units as well as those
> without.
>
> One question which it conveniently resolves is which format in which to
> display the coordinates; degrees including a decimal fraction, degrees &
> minutes with a decimal fraction, or degrees, minutes, & seconds with a
> decimal fraction -- my GPS unit requires me to select the format that it
> will use, and various mapping programs have their own choices, &
> converting from one to another format is a nuisance. A test of Google
> Maps showed that it was capable of reading at least two formats (decimal
> degrees, & degrees, minutes, & decimal seconds). I didn't try degrees &
> decimal minutes.
>
> Eric Arnold
>
>
> --On Friday, March 21, 2008 8:37 PM +0000 pavlik(AT)comcast.net wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Russ,
>>
>> I couldn't agree more. GPS units have come down a great deal in price
>> and they are easier than ever to use. I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 200W
>> for my wife for around $200. Besides the obvious use of getting you
>> around town, you can get various points of interest (what birder doesn't
>> want to know the closest burger joint after a hard day of birding?),
>> create a 'favorite' whenever you find that cool new birding spot and take
>> advantage of the many other practical uses of a GPS. Current gas prices
>> aside, I think it's easier than ever to justify jumping into the GPS
>> market.
>>
>> Tom Pavlik
>>
>> -------------- Original message --------------
>> From: "Russell Emmons" <birdeland(AT)pasty.net>
>>
>> Tom: How about if one just gets the coordinates from ones own GPS unit
>> while there and passes those on to others?
>> Seems more and more folks are getting their own units these days and some
>> of the later ones are quite elaborate and sophisticated. We've had our
>> Garmin "Legend" unit now for several years and are quite happy with it
>> except it does eat up the "AA batterys pretty fast. (Got Ni-MH
>> rechargeables now)
>>
>> Russ Emmons, St. Clair county
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: pavlik(AT)comcast.net
>> To: birders(AT)umich.edu
>> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 1:14 PM
>> Subject: [birders] Use of GPS coordinates
>>
>>
>> Birders,
>>
>> Please take this as a friendly suggestion. I would like to encourage the
>> use of GPS coordinates when explaining birding locations. It's fairly
>> easy to find the coordinates and/or create a link from any computer.
>> I'll walk through an example.
>>
>> I visited Drayton Plains Nature Center for the first time a couple months
>> ago. Let's assume I found a Double-striped Thick-Knee (rare in Michigan
>> in the winter) and wanted to let you all know about it.
>>
>> - I would go to Google Maps http://maps.google.com
>> - Scroll around, zoom-in and out until I get close to Drayton Plains
>> Nature Center. I know where it is because I was just there.
>> - I double-click on the location so it will be centered on my map (when
>> I double-click the map it will also zoom in one more level). I've found
>> that a good "zoom level" is when the maps indicates 1000ft in the lower
>> left of the map.
>> - I click the link in the upper right that says "Link to this page".
>> Two fields will appear.
>> - I copy from the first field (Paste Link in e-mail or IM) and paste it
>> into the e-mail and send to you. It looks something like:
>> http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.812781,-83.666039&ie=
>> UTF8&ll=42.671393,-83.376102&spn=0.022245,0.039911&z=15
>> In this example, it still may not be readily obvious where Drayton Plains
>> Nature Center is so I might add "On Denby Drive just east of the river".
>> It should be in the center of the map. Note that the GPS coordinates are
>> embedded in the link. In the above example they are: 42.812781,
>> -83666039
>>
>> When you get the e-mail you can either just click on the link or
>> copy/paste the GPS coordinates into Google Maps and the location will
>> appear. You can easily zoom out to get a perspective on where the
>> location is. You can print To/From directions right from Google Maps.
>>
>>
>> You may find this is much quicker than giving street by street
>> directions. Clearly, this wouldn't be necessary for commonly known
>> locations such as Pt. Mouillee or Lake Erie Metropark.
>>
>> Anyway - just a friendly suggestion.
>>
>> Take care,
>> Tom Pavlik---
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Long-tailed Duck w/pic - Kensington Metropark
From: pavlik(AT)comcast.net
Date: 23 Mar 2008 10:31pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Thanks to Jeff Fisher for reporting this bird. The female LT Duck was still
present at Kensington Metropark in Milford from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. It continued
to dive the entire time. The bird occasionally hid under the bridge but never
strayed from the general area. Jeff's suggestion to park at the Farm Center is
the best alternative. This is ~200 yards west of the bridge.
Google Map Link:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.54897,-83.631277&spn=0.014701,0.053988&z=15
GPS: 42.54897,-83.631277
I posted my best photo at Grovestreet.
http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/picview.jsp?album=59334&view=detail&sort=date_added&ord=desc&showtrash=1&ppp=80
Take care,
Tom Pavlik
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----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Re: misbehaving wren
From: WovenWoman(AT)aol.com
Date: 23 Mar 2008 7:07pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
This sounds like seed sorting, as if the wren is looking for a different sort
of seed, and hoping its under all the safflower. Maybe other feeders around
your area have safflower and sunflower mixed, and hes looking for the "good
stuff".
My pigeons (yes I know they are not wrens) do this every time I feed them.
They all have their favorite seed. When fed they shovel anything that isnt
their favorite out of the dish and right to the ground. They check the rest out
later.
Not a wren expert, this is just my opinion.
Namaste,
Edie
In a message dated 3/23/2008 11:14:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
greenla(AT)daylight.fp.med.umich.edu writes:
This year for the second time in three years, I have a real brat of a
Carolina wren at my feeder. It sits on the perch at my safflower feeder
and does its best to shovel all the contents out onto the ground! I have
a pair of microphones outside the window, and it sounds almost as if it
were raining. When I look out, it's the sound of a cascade of seeds. The
little stinker will completely empty the feeder, given a chance, over the
course of a couple of hours. Any idea why this bird is on such a peculiar
mission? -Lee
**************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL
Home.
(http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001)
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Common Loon at Stony Creek Metropark
From: "Joseph E. Faggan" <jfaggan(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 4:46pm
Today there was a large area of open water at the
bridge at the north end of the loop road, and it was
filled with myriad ducks and geese, along with the
single Loon and some Coots, Mute Swans and Gulls.
Ducks I saw were Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Canvasback,
Redhead, Ring-necked, Hooded Merganser. Many ducks
were beyond binocular range and, this being early
spring in Michigan, I hadn't expected any open water
and so had left the telescope at home. I learned of
the presence of the loon from a friendly family at the
nature center.
I made a cursory check for the Barred Owl at last
year's spot but didn't see it. I did see an Opossum
along the owl trail, courtesy of another friendly
family.
On the way to and from the park I tried to find the
Holland Ponds but was unsuccessful. I looked along
John R road north and south of Hamlin Road, which I
took to be 22 Mile.
Joseph E. Faggan
Beverly Hills, Michigan
jfaggan(AT)yahoo.com
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] holland ponds
From: Douglas Warner <dw2927(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 5:09pm
Holland ponds is actually on Ryan Road, with the
entrance just north of the t-intersection with 22
mile. There is a dirt parking area on the west side of
Ryan across from a light industrial type place called
Duggans.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
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Subject: [birders] oakland county oldsquaw
From: "j fisher" <biggrinnell(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 8:39pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Thanks for capturing such a wonder in such a stellar photo. Truly
outstanding work. Now they''l know Im not full of it... well, not too much,
any way.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love Jeff
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----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] RE: holland ponds
From: "Bob Bethune" <poihths(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 23 Mar 2008 9:03pm
For the GPS mavens, 42.662636, -83.073471. Marked on Google Maps as River
Bend Park. Wonderful clarity in the satellite view.
Bob Bethune
Freshwater Seas
http://www.freshwaterseas.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas Warner [mailto:dw2927(AT)yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 8:10 PM
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] holland ponds
Holland ponds is actually on Ryan Road, with the
entrance just north of the t-intersection with 22
mile. There is a dirt parking area on the west side of
Ryan across from a light industrial type place called
Duggans.
____________________________________________________________________________
________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
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