10/08/2009

For the Birds

Nan Dietert

A Good Bird

If you meet someone from out of state while birding, they may have a completely different set of preferences as to what constitutes a good bird. And, if that person is from a western state, they will definitely have a very different point of view from your own.  Most of our birds are eastern birds – whether they are residents, winter birds, or the migrants that come through twice each year.  For us it is the western bird that is the unexpected prize, but a birder from the west would have driven away from these birds to find our birds.  They came here to see the birds we see every migration and sometimes everyday.  For the western birder, many of our birds are cherries for them.  And for some, one eastern bird alone – will make the trip worth while.

Recently, we were on the Fennessey Ranch with a small group of people.  Two were from the west and one or two were birders, but mostly they were nature photographers; they just wanted to “get down and digital”.  The Fennessey is located just south of Refugio and it borders the Mission River for nine miles.  The morning started well enough for everyone – we had a lot of variety – but it was a little slow for the photo end of things – a lot of the birds were just too far away.

About mid-mourning we approached an interesting area on foot, leaving the ranch’s Swiss Military vehicle behind.  In a few moments, we stood stock-still in the middle of a remarkable sun-dappled canopy and saw nothing and heard less.  We couldn’t pick up any movement.  Lyndon walked back for the 4X4.

Sometimes I call for an owl at this location.  Although we have only “hit” two times and that was years ago – it always looks too good to pass up.  What did we have to lose?  I belted out a Barred Owl call and we listened and waited.

All of a sudden my eyes focused on a Barred Owl perched directly in front of us.  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  We had not seen him!  He was low and close – maybe ten feet off the ground and fifty feet away!  I felt like a fool; I felt jinxed; what bad timing – surely he would fly!  But he did not.  He seemed mildly curious and pretty much at ease.  As everyone in the group began to find the owl, the cameras began to click.  

I quickly called Lyndon on the cell phone and he stopped and killed the engine.  The owl “held tight” and put on quite a show; first looking one way and then every way.  Finally he flew, but landed within range of the cameras – click – click – click.  We motioned for Lyndon to walk slowly toward us.  The bird “held” and the cameras kept on clicking.  The owl seemed to be searching for “the other owl” – maybe we weren’t jinxed after all.  The owl flew to a better branch and once more the cameras were in action.  The birders stayed back to give the camera people full advantage.  We’d “had our bird”.  Let them play to their hearts content.  Once again the owl flew, but was still in range – click – click – click.  We finally decided to move on.  He was still watching usaswe drove away!

The photographers from Colorado and New Mexico had experience with a lot of owls but not with the northern and eastern Barred Owl; they’d had a very good day!  And no matter where you were from, these memories would last for a long time.  He was a good bird.  Go birding.