These can be fun, but are definitely work. The idea is to do it quickly while
the morning is young and the birds are active. I can't imagine doing one by
myself, and the fact is that my wife does the work. I just stand there and tell
her what I am coming up with while she records. She does the temperature
updates, traffic, noise problems, etc. I simply bird and "drive too fast
between stops" (her words). Starting a half hour before sunrise is another
chore too, at least it is for me anymore. We do ours in about 5 minutes per
stop, each stop is 3 minutes of birding, some additional tally after time is up
and that hard drive to the next stop :). I give her about 5 minutes for
breakfast at one point, usually after I can't stand the whining any longer.
Blueberry muffins made the night before is a good appeaser.
From: ask-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ask-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of ;
Mark Tower
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2015 8:07 AM
To: Tina Nauman
Cc: ask@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ask] Re: birding extras
I'm sorry if that wasn't clear. This website
<http://cp.mcafee.com/d/FZsS720A76Qm6mhPzWqa9KVJ6X30VdZZUsrhKMMYqerK6zBYSztxwsC--YYrhKMMqen3hOMUyrEHIq4Mlo_iQE4vfFOVKN-BFg8-vjBPuLLLfzDT-LOaadTC4QuLsKCO-NO9EV7fFLcIsJt6OaaJXKsG7DR8OJMddECQPtPtPpesRG9pxjBz4rsTgzjydje425c0LHeGCZElbAaJMJUatz_DOFeD00jqdS74jpFrSxkQKCy05-Aq824EEiwhd47xYUXgSCMrODlB>
is the main site. It's not the fanciest of sites for sure, but it'll convey
the right info. Check it out.
Mark
________________________________
From: tinanauman@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:tinanauman@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2015 07:56:37 -0400
Subject: [ask] Re: birding extras
To: markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx>
CC: ask@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ask@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
I've got to admit I've never heard of BBS. So I googled for more information
and found about the 24.5 miles and stopping every .5 miles. I'm guessing there
are others who were completely baffled as to what this is all about. I went to
a couple of random sites but don't know if there is one you might want to put
out there for others to find out more about its history and process.
Tina
On Mon, Jun 8, 2015 at 7:38 AM, Mark Tower
<markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
As a follow up to Scott's post, I'd love to encourage some of you to consider
doing a Breeding Bird Survey. David roped me into doing one 3 year years ago
and I'm hooked. It's not for everyone. It's a long day of mostly birding by
ear. But I'm not sure of one other thing that has improved my birding more than
the BBS. Some of you would be great for the task! There are several open
routes<http://cp.mcafee.com/d/1jWVIg410q6jqb3b8VNZd54TsSztxwsC--YedETooud7dT3hO-rhKMMejvvuudETood7bxEVoshdQlSd2oaIvFqk2fDQVsTo_iQE4vfFOVLnTTDNPX_nV556XP2qfnKnjpvoV4QszDQTCmemKzp55mZTel3PWApmU6CQPqpKVKVIDeqR4IMFONydKrEhFN6FD212C0KHs_6ZmMrRrHeGCZElbAaJMJUatz_DOFeD00jqdS74jpFrSxkQKCy05-Aq824EEiwhd47xYUXgSCMrmCcvgqpiNELk>
in our "area." Each year I have memorable birding (or nonbirding) experiences.
Last week on mine, I had a calling whip-poor-will and barred owl. One stop was
surely within a foot or two of a Kentucky warbler nest, because the whole time
a male-female pair were chipping their brains out. And another stop I was
treated to a low-circling broad-winged hawk!
Think about it,
Mark Tower
________________________________
From: smarsh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:smarsh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
ask@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ask@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ask] birding extras
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2015 11:14:04 +0000
Rhonda and I came upon new born fawns on our breeding bird survey Sunday
morning. A threesome of wobble legged tiny things. They were bedded down just
over the fence from one of our stops. I am not sure I would have seen them if
the doe had stayed down, all the action was on the other side. I took a picture
with the phone but it is hardly worth sharing. I had to physically hold Rhonda
from climbing the fence to hug them. She has always had a soft spot for cute
skinny legged things; thus my good standing with her.
Scott Marsh
Lexington