Down and Dirty Birding: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous, Here's All the Outrageous but True Stuff You've Ever Wanted to Know About North American Birds
Joey Slinger
Too many so-called naturalists are consumers, not preservers. The ultimate insanity is the lister or so-called twitcher who will travel 1000's of miles to clap binos on a rare bird sighting, tick it off his/her list and head home again moments later.
Loss of habitat, pollution, and global warming are all causing a drop in bird numbers. Alas lake front users would love to see fewer Canada Geese. Monarch Butterflies for example face a double threat: loss of milkweed, the plant they use for their larva due to weed control and failure to preserve the forest in Mexico where the entire population overwinters. Barn owls are in decline due to the loss of old barns, barn board decor hasn't helped. Widespread efforts to decrease insect populations have led to a decrease in songbirds. The cutting of dead trees nearly wiped out Blue Birds.
Birding 101:
Your birdguides are in a carry bag at your side, your binos are attached to a comfortable strap around your neck. If you spot a bird you keep your eyes on it, grab your binos and insert them between you and the bird, focus.
There's a reason why stars twinkle. Anything distant enough to need a scope to see it will be viewed through heat waves, if you don't believe me, ask any sniper--if you dare.
Slinger's dope on birding is spot on though his language and style are like to offend you maiden auntie.
Talk mating habits. Feeding her to encourage copulation is an age-old tradition in the avian world. Insects take it a step further the female praying mantis removes his head and then eats the rest of him right down to the pubes. Female arachnids do the same hence the black widow. The seahorse broods the family in his belly.
Pigeons produce milk (?) though fed as vomitous it doesn't sound appealing.
I've been to though not necessarily birded at 4 of Slinger's Hot Spots. Camped at Point Pelee in Season. The shuttle leaves for the Point at 4:00 AM just as it does from the Campground in Grand Canyon to meet the sunrise so birders can see who has collapsed on the beach after crossing Lake Erie at night. That other famous site gives you views of soaring birds from above.
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