My Birding World

I started 2018 with an ambitious New Year’s Resolution: to submit a checklist of birds each day. Up to that point I was tracking the species I observed annually. Transforming this to a daily ritual changed my interaction with birds in a wonderful way. Suddenly, I was more aware of migration patterns, or lack thereof (I thought some birds were in the Bay Area for a short time only to find out that they hung out here all year). I paid more attention to sparrows as I took the time to count each one. Sometimes I was rewarded with a rare bird in the mix. My ID skills increased. I heard birds everywhere I went. I could be completely engrossed in a conversation with someone, but my attention could be quickly snatched away if I hear a bird call. That has led to some silly commentary once my discussion partner realizes that I have transformed into a statue listening intensely to bird calls.

I birded a lot this year. I often submitted more than one checklist each day. I went on trips just to go birding. The most memorable trip was a week-long excursion to Texas. I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of all the new birds that I will admit I shed a tear or two. I can’t wait to write about those adventures in a future post and visit the Lone Star again.

Then this year went sour.

I faced some new and difficult challenges. The birds faced life and death situations with the various wildfires throughout the summer and fall. My inbox overflowed with dire announcements of legislation negatively impacting birds. At times it felt so hard to stay positive.

But the birds pulled through. Keeping my daily checklist offered a positive event to look forward to. I could be present with nature for at least 15 minutes a day. It was calming and rewarding.

For almost an hour yesterday, I was hunched over looking through a scope at a rare Rough-legged Hawk. It was feeding on something in the middle of a vast field. The markings on the hawk were like nothing I have ever seen before. Streaks of brown dripped through its head and breast and met in a thick, chocolatey belly band. Its tail was white with a band along the end. I was mesmerized. I was reminded of how much I have to learn. I was appreciative.

 

I have one more bird walk, one more checklist in order to complete my 2018 goal. That is 365 days of birding and over 600 checklists in one year. I have not made any goals for 2019 yet, but I’m sure it will involve birds.