Ukulele Plucking

After a few short weeks of being in Maine I bought a ukulele.  A month later, I was performing in my first concert with the Puffin Pluckers. This ragtag group of volunteers and staff that all share two things in common - a love for Hog Island and a good time. We strummed, we sang, we had performances on a boat, in a dining hall, and in the Fish House.  The set list was upbeat and the audience was forgiving.

Hog Island isn't my first time living on a remote island a stone's throw off the coast.  Jekyll Island in Georgia will always be my first island living but Hog Island has wiggled its way into my heart and I must admit, I'm looking forward to more ukulele, more singing, and more fun times to be had on the Maine Coast. 

If you're interested in learning more about our education programs or want to sign up for camp, check out our website: hogisland.audubon.org.  

EARLYBIRD gets the worm!

The earlybird does get the worm or at least in this case you save $50 off of Hog Island Audubon Camp registration if you sign up by the end of the day - December 15th. The camp is a life-altering experience that I really do not think you can get anywhere else.  Where else can you see puffins with Dr. Steve Kress, walk the trails that Roger Tory Peterson and Alan Cruickshank gave bird walks, have a chance to spend dinner with the likes of Pete Dunne and Scott Weidensaul?  Also you get to wake up to the sound of loons calling or lobster boats driving by.  The stars are amazing and the darkness is real and engulfing as you walk the silent trails.  The rugged beauty of the Maine coast is something everyone should experience so what are you waiting for?  There are scholarships if you really need some extra help, otherwise sign up today and save a few dollars! The earlybird will get more than a worm while at camp, I can promise you that!

http://hogisland.audubon.org/

South Carolina Flood

Our farm is one of those special places where I always feel at home and I can't wait to visit every year.  For the past decade on MLK Day weekend, my friends and I have been spending our time at our river house which sits on the normally quiet Black River in South Carolina.  This past year something drastic happened when a rain system dumped a wall of water over the Lowcountry of South Carolina.  

Black River flooded higher than it's 500 year mark and our house, that sits a good 12 feet off the ground, was found with 2 feet of water in it pretty quickly. Luckily, my dad was home and managed to get all the cars, the boats, the electronics, and some other items out of the house before they were destryoed.  The bad news is that the home is now gutted and empty.  A shell of our former fun memories linger.

It's hard to say when we'll have enough money to fix the house but it will happen eventually.  At least I hope that it happens before it becomes run down.  For now we just have to wait, let it dry, and try to plan for the future. The old farm house didn't even come close to flooding and for now, it's the new place to stay when visiting.  Even though I know we were lucky, I'm still sad to know that the water took something away from us that we may not get back.

Book Review: Birds of South America: Passerines

Princeton University Press has put out another great bird guide!  Birds of South America: Passerines, written and illustrated by Ber van Perlo, is a quality guide to a large region.  It focuses on the passerines south of Panama and even includes islands of South America.  It tops out at 464 pages and is pretty heavy. I would say that the small size however does allow the option of carrying it in the field and certainly, it's good reference guide when learning South American bird families. This book is a companion guide to Birds of South America: Non-Passerines: Rheas to Woodpeckers by Jorge R. Rodriguez Mata, Francisco Erize and Maurice Rumboll.

Synallaxis & Ovenbirds

First, let me say how glad I was to see a new book out covering South America. Second, I LOVE that they included range maps beside each bird species description. I also love that the plates are beside the descriptions and everything is so concise and easy to read.  Some of the older guides I have of South America tend to keep the plates separate from the descriptions or the range maps are not easily found or non-existant.  I just like it all together and this book hits that square on the head.

The range maps are small and the fact that everything is so tightly packed into the pages may make it hard to read for those with eyesight issues but for me it's perfect. My only criticism with the book is the illustrations. I find them a little pale, a little wispy but they are detailed and I believe it's more of a style preference than a problem. Other than that small fact, I think this is a handy guide but you don't have to take my word for it, give it a gander yourself on this sample page.

This review copy was provided by Princeton University Press.

Migration and Monhegan

One of my fondest memories of this past summer was the night we spent with campers on Monhegan Island.  Monhegan sits far our in the Gulf of Maine and it a perfect land beacon for migranting birds as they travel south. We hiked up to a open hillside for sunrise and watched the migrant show at it's best. Flyover warblers, shorebirds, and raptors graced the skies above and a few even landed for closer inspection.

We watched raptors diving over the Monhegan forests and heard Bobolinks calling high in the sky.  We were even given great views of a couple of Whimbrels that made repeated flyovers that morning.

Whimbrel over Monhegan taken by Tom Johnson

Of course the main attraction was after sunrise when we hiked the Monhegan trails in search of migrants busily feeding on trees and bush.  We were able to identify 19 species of wood-warblers that day in addition to seeing three species of vireos in one binocular field of view!  In addition, we had a rare Black-crowned Night Heron at the Ice Pond and so many Merlins you couldn't count them all.  

Prairie Warbler on Monhegan taken by Tom Johnson

If you're thinking about joining the Hog Island Audubon Camp on Monhegan next year, you're in luck!  We have two weeks of migration camp with two different sets of prices.  The first session will be a lower price as we will just do a day trip to Monhegan.  The second session of Living on the Wind: Migration and Monhegan will be higher in price but will include an overnight on the island and a chance to see this sunrise birding firsthand!  Of course spaces are limited and we are selling out fast.  I hope you'll consider joining us next summer. 

Road Scholar Sessions

Removing lobster industry debris from Eastern Egg Rock

This September I had the pleasure to work with a great group of Road Scholar students at Hog Island Audubon Camp.  During the week-long camp they removed exotic vegetation, picked up miles of shoreline trash, and improved seabird habitat.

Mary removing debris on Eastern Egg Rock

If you're looking for a fun week of service and you should consider signing up for the Hog Island Audubon Camp's Road Scholar sessions - there are two, one in the spring and one in the fall.  If you come to camp I can guarantee that you'll make a difference for nesting seabirds and you'll meet some new friends along the way.

Hog Island Family Camp

Hog Island Audubon Camp host a lovely week for families each August.  Next summer there will be two sessions!  The week is filled with outside activities to keep the kids engaged and the parents excited as well.  Between boat trips and craft projects, the camp strives to have something for everyone. On many days there are optionals where the campers can select which activity appeals to them most.  These range from Pond Study to Squid Dissection.

Spotting an Osprey on the Shakedown Cruise

There are a couple of boat trips sprinkled in the week and this year all the campers had the chance to see Puffins!  This is late in the season for puffins but enough were still around to delight all the attendees.

One of the best activities and involves the whole camp is the Inter-tidal Exploration.  This involves everything from seining to rock scrambling. The evening is capped with a delectable exotic periwinkle snack cooked over an open fire on the beach.

On depature the campers are surprised by our "puffins" that sing and dance on the dock as the Snow Goose takes them back to shore.  The mix of grandparents, parents, kids, instructors, and volunteers make this a special week not to be forgotten. Next year the camp is expanding to include 13 year-old campers.  One session will be 8-12 year-olds and the second will be 8-13 year-olds. If you have kids, this should be on your bucket list.  It will be a week to never forget!

Puffins with Steve Kress

Eastern Egg Rock, ME

When Steve Kress, founder of Project Puffin, calls you up and asks if you want to join him for a boat ride to Eastern Egg Rock the answer is always yes.  The opportunity to see puffins with Steve seemed a little surreal.  Recently arrived to Hog Island, I was happy to find my Friday afternoon in company of a great ornithologist on a trip to see the species he brought back to the Maine coast.

Rose and Steve share a laugh.

We headed out to Eastern Egg Rock with great weather, calm seas, and a high tide.  We were going to pick up Rose Borzik, who has been working with Project Puffin for over 20 years.  We scooped her up from the dingy and circled the island in such of the sea parrot. 

Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica

Puffins can be a little hard to see in August but we were in luck as one flew right at the boat and landed a mere 30 feet away.  The Atlantic Puffin is a silly looking football-shaped bird with a colorful beak and a tuxedo suit.  Our puffin had a mouth full of fish and seaweed and casually watched us, diving sporadically until it decided it had its full investigation satisfied.

It was the only puffin of the trip but it was a perfect specimen that gave us wonderful looks as we idled in the boat.  Our trip was smooth on the return and the sun gave a hint of setting as it brightly lit up the Queen Mary on Hog Island.  A great welcome to Maine and my life on Hog Island!

Hog Island Audubon Camp, Maine

Hands-on Bird Science

Hands-on Bird Science is probably the most exciting session of Hog Island Audubon Camp, in my personal opinion.  You take Scott Weidensaul and a stellar team of ornithologists with backgrounds in bird-song recording, bird-banding, and museum specimen preparation and you not just watch but learn how to get "hands-on" with birds.  This is a great session for naturalists of all levels, educators, volunteer bird-banders, and just anyone that wants to learn about birds in a "hands-on" fashion.

Also, in case you didn't know, Hog Island is all across the social media platforms.  Find the camp on Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube!

Breaking Into Birding

Do you remember the spark bird that turned you from casual observer to birdwatcher?  Mine was a group of birds - warblers.  It occurred in the spring of 2007 at Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands.  Something about identifying the birds felt so perfect.

If you know someone that has an interest in birds but isn't a full-fledged birder yet then I have a place that is sure to spark their love of birding. Breaking Into Birding is a new session at Hog Island Audubon Camp that is purposely geared towards beginners.  We promise to delight the senses, show people beautiful birds, and hopefully find them that spark bird that changes their life.

No experience is necessary and we have world-class instructors there to guide you every inch of the way.  You will see Atlantic Puffins on Egg Rock and nesting Ospreys on Hog Island.  The food is fresh and local, while the accommodations are rustic Maine cabins.  Be a part of Hog Island history and let us row you ashore.  There's only 8 spots left, so register today!

Horses in the Snow

Many young kids dream of owning a horse but I wasn't in that camp.  I preferred running through the woods and playing basketball with the boys than riding horses.  We had a horse named Strawberry and though she was kind, she didn't feel like mine.  My father would have us train her and it felt more like work than fun.  

Even though I never really liked horses I did come to learn to appreciate them for their intelligence, their sheer size, and their good looks.  Last week I waxed poetic about cows and even though horses don't quite create the same feelings in my heart, I still think they are beautiful.  

I was especially fond of these horses as they rolled in the snow and galloped around like it was summer.  This day was particularly cold but they didn't seem to mind it one bit.  These horses were big and well fed.  They seemed to like the company as I sat idling in my car snapping photos.  But I didn't come out in the freezing temperatures to look at horses so I said my goodbyes.

Though my trip was mostly to relocate a Snow Owl and Gryfalcon (which I dipped on both!) I was given the consolation prize of a field of turkeys.  These Wild Turkeys were a welcome sight and new for the year list!  Andy is only ahead of me by two for the year so I hope that means the tide is turning!

New York Big Lifer Day

This past week was an exceptional bird week or I should say bird day.  Sunday I went birding with the Cayuga Bird Club.  At Myer's Park I saw my lifer Surf Scoter and Red-necked Grebe.  Then we searched the agricultural fields where we found my lifer Lapland Longspur.  I even snagged that photo above with the spur showing!

After leaving the Horned Larks and Snow Buntings we headed north where we we were able to pick out two Trumpeter Swans from the Tundra Swans by the Lock Dam all the way north bordering Montezuma Wildlife Refuge.

We circled the lake and unsuccessfully did not find any interesting raptors near Seybolt Road but we had one more big trick in our bag - the Ithaca Yacht Club.  A Tufted Duck has been lingering around the yacht club and we had killer looks.  We also spotted the little Pied-billed Grebe above staying close to shore.  Mixed in the rafts were Common Loons, Red-throated Loons, Ruddy Duck, and countless Redheads and Scaup species.

The big day came to an end as we watched a family of Tundra Swan drift out towards the middle of Cayuga Lake.  I had one last glance at the Tufted and called it a day.

New Year Birds:

Red-necked Grebe - Lifer

Surf Scoter - Lifer

Lapland Longspur - Lifer

Trumpeter Swan - Lifer

Tufted Duck - Lifer

Common Loon

Ruddy Duck

A To-do about a TUDU

Finally after a month of near misses I saw the Tufted Duck on Cayuga Lake.  This TUDU doesn't have an impressive tuft but he was sleek with that jet black back and white-flanked side.  He was also very busy chasing Scuap for a hand-out.  I watched him successfully steal two meals in just a few minutes time.  Luckily for me, this lifer chase wasn't a very long one and though I did have to work for it, the prize was only sweeter.

Tufted Duck on Cayuga Lake, New York

Tufted Ducks are rare Eurasian visitors but Cayuga Lake has a habit of getting one or two every winter.  The first one reported was in a large raft of ducks off of Hog's Hole near downtown Ithaca.  I searched a couple of times there but the flock was huge and without a scope I felt a little like I was searching for a needle in the haystack.  This time around the location was only slightly farther away at the Ithaca Yacht Club and merely a short walk down to the water's edge.  I was with the Cayuga Bird Club field trip and for the first 5 minutes we couldn't find it.  I wandered out to the edge of the point and found it for the whole group.  We were all on it moments later and spent the next 20 minutes watching it feed and chase and then we moved on as birders do to the next bird.  I'll give more details soon (in the Friday update) about the bird trip.  

When I finally succumbed to the cold, I gave the Tufted Duck one last glance with my glass and said goodbyes.  It's always nice to see a lifer and it was even better shared with a large group of like-minded individuals celebrating the rarities of life.  Good luck TUDU - may you find your way safely when spring comes.

Cows in the Snow

I have a love for cows, especially the black and white variety that remind me of my childhood.  My grandfather let us name the new calves each summer and help feed them by tossing them watermelon rinds off the back of the pickup truck.  Now that I am in upstate New York I expected to see cows more often but it's been so cold that I think many have been shut away in the barns.  On this bright and sunny day the cows were out and my heart stopped when I saw this young black and white beauty against the barn.

Cows always seem to be curious in our actions.  They pause and watch us full-on.  There's no sideways glancing or feigned interest.  They turn their bodies and heads and look at you.  Usually after awhile they go back to feeding or walking or chewing their cud but it's that moment when you and a cow lock eyes that always speaks to me.  Did I mention that I love cows?

On this almost balmy winter day I was happy to share some moments with the local cattle.  Size each other up and make mental notes.  I know the cows don't nearly care as much about me as I care about them.  No cow-blogging going on about the human in the blue CR-V staring down the field of cows.  But it's a shared moment with another animal and I enjoy those.

Thanks black-and-white cows for sharing space, locking eyes, and making me remember my sweet childhood riding in the back of that beat up Ford pickup.  My summers were spent riding in truck beds, fishing with cane poles, and feeding cows.  I think it made me a better person. For sure, it made me stop and appreciate the every day.

Winter Birding Around Cayuga Lake

The past week was a breakthrough with a few more year birds to add to the list.  After two weeks of temperatures hovering around zero and no new birds I was beginning to get a little itchy.  This is my first year living in a truly cold winter (who knew Colorado had mild winters!) and my cabin fever was setting in. Spring can't come fast enough for New York! 

To my surprise last Saturday was sunny, in the 20s and perfect for birding. My first stop was Myer's Park where I found Common Goldeneye by the skyfull.  Redhead and Common Mergansers were in large number as well. No new birds at Myer's but the sheer number of duck species was great as I reached double digits before leaving to the next stop.

After getting a brief look at a lifer White-winged Scoter in flight with the Goldeneyes I decided to try for another lifer - the Lapland Longspur.

I headed to County Line Road but there was some type of hunting activity going on with dogs and men in trucks at every stop.  I wasn't too surprised to find the usual birds to be gone but I did find a Horned Lark that gave me a discerning eye as I slowly drove by.  With the dip on the longspur I decided to just keep heading north and go to Long Point State Park.  There I found Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles, and a few land birds in the neighboring communities.

Feeling invigorated, I headed north to Union Springs where I found the pond teeming with Canada Geese, American Widgeon, Gadwall, and a new year bird - Horned Grebe.  You can see the little Horned Grebe in the photo above - just a wisp of a bird in all those geese.

At this point I had made the whole length of Cayuga Lake so instead of backtracking I merely decided to loop over the top and search for both the Gryfalcon and the recent Snowy Owls.  I scanned in the Gryfalcon territory but came up with only 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Rough-legged Hawk, and a very spritely Sharp-shinned Hawk that attacked a large flock of European Starlings.  The Sharpie came up empty and then an American Crow pecked the top of its head as it flew by.  It was interesting to watch the whole scene unfold.  Hunger was setting in as I headed to the Snowy Owl fields and I got a little mixed up and only later realized I didn't go far enough East to see the Snowy that was sitting in a field all day. A lifer left for another day!

Overall, great birding on Saturday and though I dipped on both a Snowy and an Eastern Screech-owl on Sunday it was a pleasant birding weekend. I was finally able to emerge from the house and get outside (though in only brief moments). This weekend I plan to bird with the Cayuga Bird Club on Sunday and hopefully find a few target species.  Wish me luck!