Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Gone to the Hills

View from Babcock State Forest picnic area.

I'm headed for the hills of West Virginia. Not the ones that we can see from our birding tower—some larger ones in the southern part of The Mountain State. It's time once again for The New River Birding Festival—a favorite among the annual events that I attend as a trip leader and speaker.

We'll be seeing lots of territorial male warblers, such as this blue-winged. Golden-winged, cerulean, and Swainson's warblers are among the most sought after species.

Up high in the mountains the dandelions and redbud are still blooming. They've gone past down here in the SE Ohio lowlands.


And then there's the life-bird wiggle—mandatory for all who have added a new species to their life list on one of my field trips. Either you dance, or you walk home! Birding is a contact sport, buckaroo.
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8 comments:

  1. brucescMay 6, 2008 at 5:08 PM

    I'll change you in my list right away.
    Did you get 20 warblers by noon really?
    Here in SC we do the life bird dance with our hands in victory fists rather than open, but otherwise it looks the same.
    I hope you like Bloggerspot--sometimes it can also drive you crazy

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  2. KGMomMay 6, 2008 at 10:53 PM

    Just checking in to say--yes, we can still read you here in blogland.
    I love the photo of the field of yellow.

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  3. JayneMay 7, 2008 at 6:16 AM

    Wiggle wiggle! Hope everyone is wiggling!

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  4. Julie ZickefooseMay 7, 2008 at 11:10 AM

    That KK is a wizard; when I click on my old bookmark for you it takes me right to blogspot. Yayyy. Workaround works. It's good to have you back, dear.
    Hope you're seeing tons of warblers. See you soon.

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  5. Rondeau RicMay 7, 2008 at 3:14 PM

    I'll miss WV, say hi to the folks down thre for Anne and me.

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  6. Bill of the BirdsMay 7, 2008 at 10:45 PM

    Hi All. Will send your regards Rondeau. Yes, we had 23 warbler species today! And we only birded until 1:30 pm!

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  7. brucescMay 7, 2008 at 11:08 PM

    That's not only unfair, but practically an obscene display of skill and luck! I am green with envy of course.

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  8. dguzmanMay 8, 2008 at 10:17 AM

    I'm proud to have life-bird-wiggled on a field trip with Zick last year!

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