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Heading North: Spring Migration from a Pacific Northwest Perspective

April 25, 2016

Around the globe and across North America there are many manifestations of spring migration, providing each of us some component that we most look forward to. Along the upper Texas coast it is the remarkable diversity and sheer numbers of birds deposited during massive fallouts that capture the attention of birders. Along the shores of Lake Erie, birders crowd boardwalks and sift through waves of wood warblers with hopes of racking up twenty-five or more species of Parulids in a single day. In

A Necessary Pilgrimage: Malheur April 2016

April 05, 2016

From the moment we first learned of the Bundy occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Shawneen and I were overwhelmed by the need to be there. It was as though someone had kidnapped our child, or taken a loved one hostage. This type of emotionally-charged response was almost universal within the birding community. We all needed to see it with our own eyes for it to be real. Of course denial is the first stage of grief. Subsequent days of non-stop news coverage, replete with images of

Are Birding Festivals Worth the Money?

March 04, 2016

I probably get this question twenty times a year. The simple answer is yes, so long as you like people, like birding, don't mind getting up early and finally, so long as others generally like you. Most of those who ask this question of me are looking for participant's perspective, which is a bit tough for me to provide. Full disclosure here, my involvement with birding festivals has been as leader and not a participant. That said, I believe that the elements of a birding festivals that bring

What Does $1.58 Buy?: A Dollars and Sense Look at National Wildlife Refuges

Tule Lake NWR in northern California is a waterfowl wonderland.

March 03, 2016

"Wise Use" is a term commonly bandied about by folks who advocate turning federal lands–the people's lands–over to local government or private control. They insist that federal lands are underutilized and that their economic potential isn't being tapped. These same folks claim that restrictions on the private use and exploitation of these lands is killing local economies and denying locals an opportunity to make a living. If you take a closer look at our nation's National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)

ABOUT ME

I am a lifelong birder. Having lived most of my life in Oregon, I am a child of the American West, where spacious landscapes and sparse population provide room to roam and think about one's significance or perhaps, insignificance on the landscape. This blog offers a look at life from a birder's perspective. Come along on birding adventures. Enjoy features that will enhance your birding experiences and endure my occasional ponderings on current events.