How Did This Happen to Me?
You've seen the cartoon characters depicting bird-watchers...
You know, the nerdy looking, knobby-kneed guy in a pith helmet, armed with binoculars and a field guide?How could anyone be so consumed by something like bird-watching? Well, for me, it all started with a stroll through my local book store.
There, at the end of an aisle, my attention was grabbed by a colorful book about Florida's waterbirds.
I had recently retired and was looking for something interesting to become my "next passion".
As my husband was talking with a clerk, I began to thumb through the book.
And there, toward the back, was the photo that began a wonderful journey for me.
It was a roseate spoonbill.
I turned to my husband and said, "I HAVE to find one of these to photograph!"So, we bought the book, and the stroll through the store became a life's odyssey.
I had worked all my adult life; first 18 years in the garment industry, where I developed a love of color, then 20 years in Law Enforcement.
The latter taught me quite a bit about photography.
Now, for the first time in my life, I had the time and the knowledge to do something just for the fun of it.
I was going to photograph birds! I expected to have to do a lot of research to know where I could find these birds.
So, imagine my joy at finding that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had already done the work for me! Along with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, they had created something called The Great Florida Birding Trail.
In November of 2000 they had opened the Eastern Section, to be followed by the Western Section in November of 2002, the Panhandle Section in May 2004, and the South Florida Section in January 2006.
To make it even easier for "rank" amateurs like myself, they had designated "gateway" sites in each of the four sections.
These had staffed visitor centers, free trail guide booklets, and they would even "loan" me optics that could be checked out for free, for a day, with a driver's license or major credit card.
All that was left for me to do was charge my camera batteries, buy a few good maps and hit the road.
So, in the early Spring of 2007, we loaded the van with a picnic lunch, and my "ever-ready-to-ride" mother, and headed to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge on the east coast of Florida.
There we found the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive.
This is a seven-mile, one-way, drive through managed waterways and estuaries.
The flyer said that at point #11 we might be able to see a roseate spoonbill.
My mom was the first to spot the beautiful creature and she was so excited all she could do was shout "Pink!" Our mission was successful and we've never looked back! We have since traveled hundreds of miles, criss-crossing the length and breadth of Florida.
We have visited State Parks, State Forests, Wildlife Refuges,County Parks, and, yes, backyards, in search of beautiful, colorful, stately birds.
We have learned so much about these beautiful creatures, not only through study, but also by observation during our travels.
We have noted how the type of bird changes with the water levels of a lake, how some species "flock" together to nest, while others prefer the solitary nursery.
How each variety differs in feeding habits.
For instance, the roseate spoonbill needs shallow water to wade through and swing her "spoon" in her search of food.
There is a nerve ending in the beak that signals food and she instantly clamps it shut.
The Great American Egret wades as well, but oft times her catch is so large that she brings it ashore to "flip" it into the correct position to be swallowed.
Then there is the Yellow-crowned Night Heron who stalks his prey (bugs) so slowly that he almost hypnotizes them.
Then just before he strikes, he begins to sway slightly from side to side.
I can only think this is to distract them from the sudden attack, that is so swift it is startling to see.
The Great Blue Heron, like the Anhinga, often spears his prey with his sharp pointed beak.
Sometimes the prey has to be "rubbed" on a rock to remove it from their beaks.
The Brown pelican is a solitary hunter, gliding just above the water then diving down to scoop up his catch, while the White Pelican feeds in numbers, "herding" the fishes towards shore to be scooped up.
But, there are amazing "land" birds to found, as well.
Like the Red-Shouldered Hawk we found in the Lower Suwannee Wildlife Refuge, near Cedar Key.
This sentinel screamed for 10 minutes as I photographed him, letting the other wildlife know that a crazy lady with a camera had entered their domain.
Then, there is the Sand Hill Crane couple with their fuzzy little red-headed chicks.
And the owls, so detached as they watch you watch them! And nothing can compare to the beauty of a hummingbird! In this time of tight entertainment budgets, what more could you ask for than something that gets you out in the fresh air and sunshine, gives you a little exercise, and if you're lucky enough to live in Florida, is never more than a two hour drive away.
So get out those old binoculars, or charge up those camera batteries, pack a picnic lunch and hit the road.
And one day, you too, can wake up and find your album or office full of photos of beautiful birds; or sit down with your children or grandchildren and talk about all you have seen together.
Suddenly you will realize it has happened to you.
You have become a "bird-watcher"! And it is a wonderful thing to be!
You know, the nerdy looking, knobby-kneed guy in a pith helmet, armed with binoculars and a field guide?How could anyone be so consumed by something like bird-watching? Well, for me, it all started with a stroll through my local book store.
There, at the end of an aisle, my attention was grabbed by a colorful book about Florida's waterbirds.
I had recently retired and was looking for something interesting to become my "next passion".
As my husband was talking with a clerk, I began to thumb through the book.
And there, toward the back, was the photo that began a wonderful journey for me.
It was a roseate spoonbill.
I turned to my husband and said, "I HAVE to find one of these to photograph!"So, we bought the book, and the stroll through the store became a life's odyssey.
I had worked all my adult life; first 18 years in the garment industry, where I developed a love of color, then 20 years in Law Enforcement.
The latter taught me quite a bit about photography.
Now, for the first time in my life, I had the time and the knowledge to do something just for the fun of it.
I was going to photograph birds! I expected to have to do a lot of research to know where I could find these birds.
So, imagine my joy at finding that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had already done the work for me! Along with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, they had created something called The Great Florida Birding Trail.
In November of 2000 they had opened the Eastern Section, to be followed by the Western Section in November of 2002, the Panhandle Section in May 2004, and the South Florida Section in January 2006.
To make it even easier for "rank" amateurs like myself, they had designated "gateway" sites in each of the four sections.
These had staffed visitor centers, free trail guide booklets, and they would even "loan" me optics that could be checked out for free, for a day, with a driver's license or major credit card.
All that was left for me to do was charge my camera batteries, buy a few good maps and hit the road.
So, in the early Spring of 2007, we loaded the van with a picnic lunch, and my "ever-ready-to-ride" mother, and headed to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge on the east coast of Florida.
There we found the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive.
This is a seven-mile, one-way, drive through managed waterways and estuaries.
The flyer said that at point #11 we might be able to see a roseate spoonbill.
My mom was the first to spot the beautiful creature and she was so excited all she could do was shout "Pink!" Our mission was successful and we've never looked back! We have since traveled hundreds of miles, criss-crossing the length and breadth of Florida.
We have visited State Parks, State Forests, Wildlife Refuges,County Parks, and, yes, backyards, in search of beautiful, colorful, stately birds.
We have learned so much about these beautiful creatures, not only through study, but also by observation during our travels.
We have noted how the type of bird changes with the water levels of a lake, how some species "flock" together to nest, while others prefer the solitary nursery.
How each variety differs in feeding habits.
For instance, the roseate spoonbill needs shallow water to wade through and swing her "spoon" in her search of food.
There is a nerve ending in the beak that signals food and she instantly clamps it shut.
The Great American Egret wades as well, but oft times her catch is so large that she brings it ashore to "flip" it into the correct position to be swallowed.
Then there is the Yellow-crowned Night Heron who stalks his prey (bugs) so slowly that he almost hypnotizes them.
Then just before he strikes, he begins to sway slightly from side to side.
I can only think this is to distract them from the sudden attack, that is so swift it is startling to see.
The Great Blue Heron, like the Anhinga, often spears his prey with his sharp pointed beak.
Sometimes the prey has to be "rubbed" on a rock to remove it from their beaks.
The Brown pelican is a solitary hunter, gliding just above the water then diving down to scoop up his catch, while the White Pelican feeds in numbers, "herding" the fishes towards shore to be scooped up.
But, there are amazing "land" birds to found, as well.
Like the Red-Shouldered Hawk we found in the Lower Suwannee Wildlife Refuge, near Cedar Key.
This sentinel screamed for 10 minutes as I photographed him, letting the other wildlife know that a crazy lady with a camera had entered their domain.
Then, there is the Sand Hill Crane couple with their fuzzy little red-headed chicks.
And the owls, so detached as they watch you watch them! And nothing can compare to the beauty of a hummingbird! In this time of tight entertainment budgets, what more could you ask for than something that gets you out in the fresh air and sunshine, gives you a little exercise, and if you're lucky enough to live in Florida, is never more than a two hour drive away.
So get out those old binoculars, or charge up those camera batteries, pack a picnic lunch and hit the road.
And one day, you too, can wake up and find your album or office full of photos of beautiful birds; or sit down with your children or grandchildren and talk about all you have seen together.
Suddenly you will realize it has happened to you.
You have become a "bird-watcher"! And it is a wonderful thing to be!
Source...