Junk Birds - #1
Greetings all,
This is my first blog about birds on a bird site. I've been birding for about 3 years and I've always toyed with the idea of blogging about birds, but I always end up thinking that no one will read it. Maybe people will read my blog here.
Actually, the real reason I joined whatbird was to help ID birds on the forum. But anyways...I may as well introduce myself.
I am a NJ birder. I used to consider myself a "hardcore" birder. That is, I would do things that "orginary" or "average" birders would not do. This includes: bushwacking (going off trails, through woods and thick phragmites stands, into the marshy mucky water, etc.), trespassing, climbing fences, etc. I guess I learned it all this from my birding "mentor" who didn't have a problem doing these things. And if I wanted to see those Barn Owls, or Connecticut Warblers, or what have you, I would have to keep up. By the way, my mentor's name for birds like house sparrows, pigeons, and starlings is "junk birds" which I think is a funny name for a birding blog.
Now, I've toned that behavior down a bit. I've started "chasing" a little bit this year. That means I would drive to places I've never been before because a rarity has been seen there. I've never really liked this idea before, but as I add more birds to my life list, this has seem to become more and more necessary. Last weekend, I chased two geese I need for my list: a Barnacle Goose seen in Califon, NJ, and a Greater-white Fronted Goose seen at Merrill Creek, NJ. After spending hours striking out while looking for both species, I've learned that chasing birds can be very disappointing. What's worse is when someone gets the bird after you struck out at that location.
As it is though, there are consolation prizes. Birds that aren't new to me, but those that I don't get to see every day, and so they are nice. Two pairs of Bald Eagles, a Pileated Woodpecker, a female Purple Finch, and a handful of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were the consolation prizes of my "wild goose chase". Now I understand where that phrase comes from.
Good birding,
TheGrine