So it's my first post of 2019...wish it could be more exciting...but it is what it is till it ain't anymore...lol That's a line from a song I heard. Still many ups n downs going on Ill try to share the ups.
Im participating in Jen's of I Used to Hate Birds (check my right side bar) 5 Mile Radius Challenge. (5MR) it's a year long challenge! SO a short description...Jen is the superstar who came up with this whole idea and I hope soon it will be a part of ebird and she will get the credit for it! So you figure out an area and using map tools you draw out a 5 mile radius and you bird the hell outta it! LoL...Join in the fun if you like!
Hope I can follow through. I'm not good at following directions. But I think this month's challenge is to fill in the gaps on hotspots within my 5MR. There is only one in my radius. So I need to go over at least once a week to fill in January! So here is my circle.
Im participating in Jen's of I Used to Hate Birds (check my right side bar) 5 Mile Radius Challenge. (5MR) it's a year long challenge! SO a short description...Jen is the superstar who came up with this whole idea and I hope soon it will be a part of ebird and she will get the credit for it! So you figure out an area and using map tools you draw out a 5 mile radius and you bird the hell outta it! LoL...Join in the fun if you like!
Hope I can follow through. I'm not good at following directions. But I think this month's challenge is to fill in the gaps on hotspots within my 5MR. There is only one in my radius. So I need to go over at least once a week to fill in January! So here is my circle.
Sorry it's blurry I took it with my phone my laptop won't do a screen shot...As you can see it's void of pretty much everything! Down at 8 o'clock is my hotspot, Goodale State Park.
It's notorious for NOT having many birds!! My check list was 14 species and included one immature Bald Eagle. He was wayyy across the lake...and at first I thought "Osprey"
But those big orange feet gave him away...once I put my binoculars up to my eyes.
So that was fun to see. I have seen mature ones here from time to time.
It was a misty day but heavy rain held off while I birded.
The wooded path around the lake...
One of 4 Ruby Crowned Kinglets I spotted...
Checked on the pitcher plants that grow by the water's edge...
Another lake view...
A double crested cormorant in silhouette
The most popular bird by far was the yellow rumped warblers..I think my count ended up at 8.
of the Myrtle variety..
So I plan to go once a week this month..and fill in some gaps, at first I thought it was to fill in the gaps of my own bar graph but it is the bar graph for the Hotspot it'self. There is def some gaps in the 2nd and 3rd weeks of Jan...but I don't think I will fill in many different species for Jan...
but we'll see. It's popular with Warblers in Fall n Spring.
This is something I have to avoid while birding here and not just here but across the southern USA. If you should fall in one of these imagine how quickly they would be on you, BITING...or step on this with flip flops on, which happens to me many time per year. The bite is very painful and sometimes causes an allergic reaction and almost always an itchy red pimple. They will swarm up onto your feet and begin to climb your body! You must immediately begin to do the Dixxe Doodle Dance! Looks similar to a Rain Dance!
Fire Ants
PEACE
Every day is a new Adventure.
Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the 5 M R project, as you get a detailed analysis of the local bird life and if you go on for more years then it will show decreases and increases in species population. Is the something like a County Bird report if so I bet they would appreciate details.
You mentioned that your computer wont do screen shots have a look to see if there is "Snipping Tool" withing Windows, a search of the Windows OS should show if its there. If so its great for screen shots and also partial screen shots.
i like the Pitcher plants but you're welcome to the Fire Ants. I can imagine the pain after stepping in them with flip flops.
Will look forward to your 5MR updates. All the best.
I really should preview before posting as there are some embarrassing typos in my comment.
DeleteNo Worries about typo's I am always doing that myself...Unfortunately our county is not much into conservation so it's all citizen based. However my checklists go into ebird which is a huge database and can be utilized by anyone who wishes to view the information. I don't know about a snipping tool...must look into that. I don't know how much longer I can keep my WinXP on life support it's getting harder and harder all the time...at this point it's just me being stubborn and determined not to be forced to change...lol I can see huge changes in our bird numbers compared to say the 70's and 80's I didn't really keep a tally of numbers just species at that point, but we no longer have swarms of any species!!
DeleteIt sounds like the Patchwork Challenge I take part in here, though the patches are a little smaller! It should be good to have a record of the area and see how it goes over the year :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. It's a larger area than I thought it would be! I have to become familiar with some of the areas, as there is just stretches of private land...to see if I can find places to bird where I can get out of the car and walk around.
DeleteYou never know what you might find then if there's places you haven't really birded yet!
DeleteNow I am really curious. The fire ants as you say are very painful indeed and you go out in flip flops and get stung many times per year. It begs the question, “Why do you keep going out in flip flops?”
ReplyDeleteLoL...in summer when it 103 degrees in the shade...flip flops are the attire for when I go out to water my plants, or do quick chores. But then lets say you're at the lake, and you have been in a lounge chair by the water you get up to move and BAM there is a mound unseen in the grass...it happens when you don't see them.
DeleteWell nice to see your involved in something you enjoy. You'll do well since you know birds so well. I'll be looking forward to more of this latest endeavor. Have fun with it and watch out for those fire ants being bitten by only one is horrible enough.
ReplyDeleteFire ants arrived here in the late 70's and now they are ALL Over the place! They will bite you no matter what...we get bitten in cemeteries too they love open areas where not so many trees are around, but sometimes in grass the mound is hard to see. Unless you keep your eyes on the ground you won't see them.
DeleteI'm so glad you're giving the 5MR a shot! I bet once spring comes you will be making me jealous with all the birds close to your home. Already I'm drooling over those pitcher plants!
ReplyDeleteI've been like a mother hen over these plants for years...I even took the grounds maintenance man down there and told him DO NOT CUT THESE..lol and he said "Yes mam I promise I won't cut those plants"...and he has given them a wide berth and I'm so pleased.
DeleteOh yeah, fire ants are around here too of course. I’m careful as even noseeums and mosquitos cause me to have a more than normal allergic reaction. Fire ants might be worse, I hope I never find out, I love all the birds you saw in a park ‘notorious for not having many birds’...I’d be lucky to get that many good pictures in an area that was notorious for just the opposite )).
ReplyDeleteYeah I want it to be teaming with birds tho like some other places I think they keep the water level too high for most waders, the park needs better leadership! The ranger is basically a glorified grass cutter. Without any ecology plan in place nothing changes, although I did warm him if he cuts those pitcher plants I will knock on his door!
DeleteHello, sounds like an interesting birding challenge. Nice sighting of the juvie eagle, love the cute Kinglet and Warbler. The Pitcher plants are neat too. Enjoy your day and week ahead.
ReplyDeleteHI Eileen, anyone can join in just hope over to Jen's page and "register" It has made ordinary birds in my area more exciting for me to rediscover...I nearly went bonkers when I found a flock of E. meadowlarks..lol
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