9 Rules

The Brewer's Blackbird. Misunderstood. Persecuted. Profiled. South Tufa, Mono Lake, CA.

As you have undoubtedly noticed by now, bird bloggers (with a few exceptions) are not known for displaying much in the way of wit and cunning when it comes to their work...they largely stick to "whit" and bunting, know what I'm saying? Of course you do.

Dubious puns aside, I've had many conversations with birders (white ones) over the years about the paucity of black birders among the ranks...I would say that many I've had this talk with (possibly the majority) have never seen a black birder...which seems disturbing, even when you figure out that a lot of these people hardly have any friends, let alone black ones. In 19 years of birding, I have seen this rarity of rarities, the black birder. I have! I have seen six! I have met/observed thousands of birders over the years, and seen all of six black birders. The mind reels.

All of this brings us to today's link, J. Drew Lanham's 9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher. It's pretty damn funny, and food for thought as well. I can't imagine having to abide by Rule 3, that would truly suck. As a mixed race birder, I've never encountered much overt discrimination (people aren't afraid of asians?), although a client for a past biology job once told me I looked like a terrorist...I can relate to Rule 1 though, I was recently misidentified as another asian birder! It happens.

Anyways, its good. Give it a read.

The Dickcissel Exists...I Am Sam...Warbler Vs. Curlew Field Marks

One day last month, I spent an hour and a half roaming around, looking for this Dickcissel. I was finally rewarded when it flew in from nowhere and landed directly above my head...it's good to know that the birds have respect for Number 7. Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA.

Well I thought I would give you a reprieve the the typhoon of Florida birds that has been responsible for flooding BB&B for much of last week. All of today's birds were photographed in that world-renowned wildlife haven known as the city of San Francisco, CA. As with last fall, a lot of my Perpetual Weekend is spent birding the bay area, and things have been good so far...although some of us keep trying to forget the Fork-tailed Flycatcher incident, and I double-dipped on a Harris' Sparrow this week (ouch though).

It's been a great fall for birding in California, and I haven't even bothered checking what I missed while off in Florida. Who knows what else will turn up? We all just need to keep birding...only on December 1, the first day of Birder's Winter, should we allow ourselves any rest.

Lastly, BB&B would like to announce its official endorsement of Jill Stein for President of the United States. Vote for Obama if you live in a battleground state, but otherwise I don't see any reason environmentalists should be voting for him...aside from being better than Bush (not difficult), he hasn't done much to earn our unconditional support. At any rate....vote!

When you tell nonbirders you saw a Dickcissel, they don't believe the bird exists...I'm sure you can guess why this is. At any rate, I've only seen a handful of these birds, and never where they are actually expected.

Who does not love a Dickcissel, bucolically foraging in a pastoral scene?

The light was not mellow, but I think this Black-throated Gray Warbler (an uncommon fall migrant here) turned out pretty well. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.

Despite the fact that Yellow Warblers are the most abundant warbler species in the area during the early weeks of fall migration, they don't seem to quite bum birders out as much as the later but inevitable onslaught of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Fort Mason.

I think the blackberries in the background make the picture.

As any and every birder knows, this is a huge year for Red-breasted Nuthatches. Hopefully they can find enough food, as pretty much everyone who has laid eyes on a nuthatch instantly grows incredibly fond of them. Yank-yank. Land's End, San Francisco, CA.

Behold the Steller's Jay. On Halloween, while dressed as Sam Shakusky (from Moonrise Kingdom..."What kind of bird are you?"), I got into a debate on the status and distribution of bluish jays with another random Sam Shakusky in front of a bar. Needless to say, dude did not know who he was dealing with. Photographed at Golden Gate Park.

This Yellow-throated Warbler stayed put in one of our shittiest parks for 3 months last year. It came back again this fall at the same time, and as far as I know is still around. Ferry Park, San Francisco, CA.

Check out the length of that bill. Birders should not worry about confusing this bird with other warblers, they should worry about confusing it with a curlew.

I wonder where this bird has been in the intervening 9 months...how far south did it go last winter? Where did it spend its summer? In nerdiful news, I recently came across someone's thesis on variation within the species, and he ends up recommending abolishing a couple of the recognized subspecies...you can check that out here.

I don't take photographs of Brewer's Blackbirds very often, but when I do....I am usually not seeing much else. They're always a welcome and attractive bird though. Ferry Park.

The Natives Are Restless

A male Long-billed Curlew prowls the mudflats. Worms and crustaceans cower in fear.

There's nothing like a rainy day to make you feel guilt-free for staying indoors. The guilt of staying indoors in early October is bad enough...it is still prime vagrant season, after all. Humboldt County birders are no doubt drooling and chomping at the bit to get outside tomorrow. One birder up here is in the midst of a Humboldt County Big Year, and currently has a staggering 321 birds already. Jesus.

Meanwhile, I have firmly settled into the life of long-term unemployment. As long as you are not broke, I highly recommend it. Getting plenty of sleep, complete freedom, and ample opportunities for birding and bourbon consumption heals the scarred 40-hour-flogged-soul like nothing else. It is good to be among friends (of both the birding and non-birding persuasions) once again, and to be truly Human. The key, of course, is keeping occupied, but I am blessed/cursed with various writing projects and a strong instinct to socialize.

Red Knots, Marbled Godwits, Black-bellied Plovers and Willets wait out Humboldt Bay's high tide at the Arcata Marsh.

This is a strange cycle of lifestyles to be caught in...not many can do it. Working hard for months at a time in far-flung places, then suddenly dropping it all and getting really entrenched in city life. A lot of biologists my age are currently in grad school or are fiending to get in one...when I ask why, they usually mumble about wanting to design their own study and quickly change the subject. I really should look into this bizarre phenomenon, which I believe has lemming-jumping-off-a-cliff type motivation somehow involved.

Weird ramblings on this dreary day. I think I'll get out for some Humboldt birding at least one more time, lashing flocks of shorebirds and chickadees for the rare bird that must be in there. And if that doesn't work...life will go on. 

Brewers Blackbirds gain more appeal when seen outside parking lots.

Medicine Lake, Montana

Chestnut-collared Longspur. It looks like it was created by a demented anime artist. They know how to light up a prairie.

In June I got the hell out of North Dakota for a day and hung out at Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, in eastern Montana. It was a very birdy place with a lot of good access to prairie, lake and slough habitat and I was blinded more than once by some of the avian goodness there. If you get the chance, go! Here's a few of the birds there.

Grasshopper Sparrow, another grassland obligate. Grasshopper and Baird's Sparrows easily outnumber Savannah Sparrows in parts of the refuge. 

American White Pelicans have a big nesting colony at the lake, although I wonder if its not doing well this year due to high water levels.

Said pelican colony.

Brewer's Blackbird in butterfly disguise.

Medicine Lake has Lark Buntings! Yet another awesome prairie bird with a crazy flight display.

This Eastern Kingbird goes by "The MULE". He even trademarked it. What a badass.

Double-crested Cormorants nest on the lake as well. This adult was lacking any breeding plumes, but was still pretty sharp-looking.

A modest male Wilson's Phalarope upsets traditional gender-roles.

Franklin's and Ring-billed Gulls.

Birders don't pay a lot of attention to Western Meadowlarks, but between their golden voices and sweet outfits I think they're winners. They're also North Dakota's state bird, which is totes appropes.

Why Does My Appearance Seem To Have A Somber Tone?

Today is Johnny Cash's birthday, so here is an appropriately dressed Brewer's Blackbird for the occasion.  If you are wondering about the fish carcasses, you would be correct in guessing that this bird was at the Salton Sea.

The year list thing is like a disease.  It always is the most intense in the flu season....right when it starts (January, or in my case, February), and right when it ends (December 31, obvi).  But in fact, its more like herpes.  Just when you thought that you were done with this ugly business, that it may not rear its ugly head ever again.....BAM there it is, worse than ever.  The only difference is that with a year list outbreak, you can still derive pleasure from it....with herpes, you can maybe reflect on how much fun you were having when you first got it, but otherwise its just something you have to come to terms with.  Not that I know much about this first hand, but I can only assume that if you have been stricken and are reading this....you might relate.

When Mew Gulls Attack

I'm at about 151 right now, which to any other year-lister based in California would be a pathetic number.  But since I'm not really trying too hard, why worry?  Besides, anyone who knows enough to scoff at my paltry 151 is so deeply rooted in nerddom that their opinion is, by default, rendered meaningless.  Cassowary and Lizzard, who inspired me to do this, are at least at 203 at the moment, and have birded from Washington all the way down to Orange County...I can only assume they are now moving eastward.  But from what I gathered during out last conversation, they may be being digested in a mountain lion stomach at the moment.

 

I guess Tufted Duck, Virginia's Warbler and Rock Sandpipers are the highlights so far in 2010, but its good to have things like Thayer's Gull and Red-necked Grebe in there too.  The most exotic species is Red-masked Parakeet (the famous parrots of Telegraph Hill).....but since being a biologist takes any joy out of seeing introduced species, its really not a big deal.

A Horned Grebe taking it easy at Lake Merritt.

Word on where I will be spending my summer could potentially come in any day......not knowing adds a shot of suspense into my life, but with much suspense there is always The Fear.

The next dispatch of BB&B will be from southeast Arizona.  Have a good weekend, and consume much whisky.

Part of the Arcata Marsh mural on I Street.  Pretty funny, in my opinion.