Mind you, I don't promise I'll listen to your suggestions. Years of getting letters from magazine readers has made me consider content issues as carefully--strike that--more carefully than our Supreme Court justices. And I do have a thick skin (plus I've learned how to scream into my pillow) so let me hear ya holla.
Yesterday morning was perfect for digiscoping. And if I'd had my act together earlier, I might have scored some very nice shots. Instead, I was content to stand on our deck shooting and watching whatever came near enough. Here are a couple of the least awful shots.
This is the male eastern towhee we call Metallica for his metallic, very dickcissel-like call.
A recently fledged common yellowthroat stubbornly refusing to perch in the colorful TOP portion of an ironweed stalk.
The tall (not NY) ironweed is bursting out all over our meadow, along with the Joe Pye weed and goldenrod.
BT3,
ReplyDeleteLove ALL of the content. To me, a blog is a bit of everything. I think it's pretty hard to ONLY be about birding, when birding is a part of your everyday life (and yes, that does include Kenny Rogers concerts)! I enjoy reading about digiscoping, the kids, the band, etc. If I found a post not to my taste (and I haven't yet), I'd just skip to the next one. Keep up the good work.
Gayle from MN
In my opinion, you are as much Bill of the World, as Bill of the Birds...it is fun to read whatever you find interesting or beautiful or quirky about the world. Great with coffee or a sandwich on a busy day!
ReplyDeleteCaroline in South Dakota
The vacation photos/posts were outstanding.
ReplyDeleteto tell you the truth
ReplyDeleteit is mostly your haiku
that draws us to you
(and your blog! Keep bloggin')
It's all so interesting. Loads of pictures, funny stories, birds here and there. Regardless of the content, your ability to draw readers in is working. So, keep it up and get your blog on, brotha.
ReplyDeleteLove ya and all your scribblings, my man - even your use of words like "snarky". Even your failure to use the AOU-mandated names for birds is OK, I guess... Write on about whatever - I like it all.
ReplyDeleteBut, and I hate to play the role of botanical geek here, but you've got that nice photo of ironweed starting to bloom, labeled as New York Ironweed. The pic isn't good enough for me to see details of the phyllaries, but if that really is New York Ironweed, please let me know! There's only one very old record for Ohio - from 1892 in Gallia County, which is near you. It might be Tall Ironweed...
Dear All:
ReplyDeleteI am humbled and flattered by your kind, suppportive comments here.
The blog is easiest for me to maintain when I can write about what comes my way. Glad not to HAVE to always post about birds.
So many, many thanks to all....
Especially to Jim, The Ohio BotaniGeek, who cannot resist nailing my missed ID on the ironweed. Dude, you are too sharp!
Just write what is on your mind, or whatever else you care to share. Its worked so far, hasn't it?
ReplyDeleteLetters to the editor you must heed, that's your day job. The Orangutangs need audience feedback, or what's the point? But as I see it this is just sharing what you care to share, and it is hardly up to the recipient of the largess to tell you what should be on your mind.
I'd like anonymous to have a look at my ironweed
ReplyDeleteAlthough my blog is nowhere near as read as yours, I felt weird when I blogged about the kids or something funny I saw that day.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, we keep coming back, no matter what you write about! So you must be doing something right here.
BT3
ReplyDeleteYou aren't playing fair.
You're INVITING insults and snarky comments!?
I thought that was my job.
Reading your (and Julies) blog is like being a part of your extended family. The ones from far away that you don’t get to see very often.
You invite us to go birding with you, which is always a blast, based on my limited personal experience,
We get to see how the kids are doing, how the music is going and, we are allowed to share the little victories and defeats of the Indigo Hill clan.
I often feel like I’ve been invited to the chaos of Thanksgiving dinner and have the opportunity to share the stories, warmth and love that flows around you and yours.
I happily read what ever you post. You vary the content which keeps it interesting.
Keep doing what comes naturally and we will keep enjoying the blog.
See what you’ve done, you’ve turned me all mushy!
Cheers Bill and thanks.
Ric
Birds are what drew me here, but other topics, like family, "The Song in My Head," digiscoping, the Orangutangs, stories of Indigo Hill and Marietta, and especially your "Giant Things" series are what keeps me. I don't really get haiku (in general, not just yours) but it is always accompanied by a pretty picture, so perhaps you might eventually educate me.
ReplyDeleteCan't find anything "snarky" to say (LOVE that word!), except that, 'tho he tries to remain Anonymous, I can recognize a Botany Geek at 50 paces! Jim, you are as picky as I am, correcting Julie's stringed instrument ID.
Blog about whatever floats your boat - it's your site. Readers can always skip something if it isn't their cup of tea. (How'd ya like that mixed metaphor?)
Kathi