[bcbirdclub] Newsweek
- From: Joe F Smith <joefsmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: undisclosed-recipients:;
- Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:56:25 -0400
Full Post
Posted Saturday, October 20, 2007 11:34 AM
Nice Rump! A Guide To The Birds Of Fall.
Oct. 29, 2007 issue
The autumn migration is an ideal time to go birding because species
gather in large numbers as they wing their way to warmer climes in
search of food. With the crisp air and colorful foliage, it is easy to
see why avid birders consider fall their favorite season. Here are a few
locations to join the flock:
The peninsula of Cape May, N.J., funnels birds southward, concentrating
them at Cape May Point State Park, where it is possible to see up to a
million American robins, hundreds of thousands of yellow-rumped warblers
and other songbirds in one visit. That's what birders call a "big day"
(birdcape may.org).
New England birders head to elevated overlooks along the Atlantic to
witness the migration of sea ducks and loons. Andrews Point at the tip
of Cape Ann, Mass., is a perfect vantage to look down on undulating
lines of eiders as they fly close to the water. Fair-weather birding is
nice, but head out after a storm to see species along Cape Cod that
typically stay farther out to sea, such as razorbills, dovekie and
Atlantic puffins (massaudubon.org).
Located on a 550-foot-high ridge overlooking Lake Superior, the Hawk
Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, Minn., is a hot spot for Northern
goshawks, red-tailed hawks, rough-legged hawks and golden eagles. Arrive
at midday, when the birds of prey circle upward on warm thermals of
rising air (hawkridge.org).
Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley offers astounding diversity because the
area is a favorite stopover for birds heading down the Gulf Coast. At
dusk, the skies swirl with barn swallows heading to roosting areas to
bed down for the night (worldbirdingcenter.org).
Paddle a canoe or kayak into the sloughs and wetlands of Humboldt Bay
National Wildlife Refuge in northern California to see Aleutian geese
feed in the eelgrass beds, or wait until Thanksgiving, when the swans
arrive (www.fwsgov/ humboldtbay/).
Seeing one bald eagle is a treat. Seeing tree after tree filled with
them is a memory of a lifetime. It's possible at the Alaska Bald Eagle
Festival, Nov. 7 to 11, when thousands of the national symbols gather in
the Chilkat Valley outside Haines to feed on salmon that spawn in the
warm, shallow waters (baldeaglefestival.org).
Don't forget binoculars for an up-close look. Beginners should try 6X-
to 8X-power binoculars, such as the Echo Compact, which is small enough
to stuff inside your coat ($99; brunton.com). And buy a good field
guide, like the "Peterson First Guide to Birds of North America"
($5.95). Another good thing about fall birding: no bugs.
Lifestyle
<http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/tipsheet/archive/tags/Lifestyle/default.aspx>,
Environment
<http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/tipsheet/archive/tags/Environment/default.aspx>
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