It's "that time already" - "I and the Bird #2" needs to be posted and I have to say I've been feeling a little nervous. It has to be the sense of responsibility. I've never been a vicar - stay with me here for a moment - but I do feel a little like I'm presiding over a christening, and I really don't want to drop Mike's baby headfirst into the font - especially as this lovely "I and the Bird" I'm holding is still a very young infant indeed...
Mind you, I've no reason to be nervous really. The run-up to this important day has gone very well indeed. The invitations for this get-together of ours went out a fortnight ago, and it has been great fun reading the RSVPs as they hit the mailbox with a satisfying click. Like any family our group is made up from a wide variety of individuals, and now that everyone's here we've a fabulously interesting and entertaining mix. Attendees range from the witty to the studious to the flamboyant, from the exuberantly youthful to the more middle-aged serious types. One thing is very apparent - everyone one of us who has turned up is fascinated by birds and the world around us, and everyone of us wants the very best for little "I and the Bird" as she/he grows up and looks towards the future...
Okay, so who's "come to the party"?
As you might expect, the North Americans - where blogging was born of course - have turned out in force. This vast region has an enviable range of habitats, birds, and birders and the talk in the room reflects that well...
First up, are the proud parents of course. Mike and Sara, who make up the Core Team of 10000birds.com, great story-tellers as we all know, are doing the rounds and entertaining guests with a favourite tale: a circumnavigation of Bainbridge Island in the Puget Sound - march2005.htm#3/31/05.
Standing not far away is Pamela of Thomasburg Walks. Pamela is discussing a problem well known to all birders - sorting out those sparrows! Pamela concludes her post - little-brown-birds-part-2 with delicious irony, "seven little brown birds--how hard could it be?"...
Having a chuckle, and checking out just how fresh the smoked salmon entrees are, is Kitty of science and sarcasm, who is telling a sympathetic circle of listeners just how hard it is to photograph American Redstarts while standing knee-deep in a trout stream. I've never tried fishing and photography at the same time, but - boy - I can imagine how hard it is! Join the fun at new-entry-for-my-life-listand-couple.
Kitty and Karen of rurality should get together for a chat, as Karen is telling her own charming tale of the frustrations and challenges of bird photography around "Kingfisher Farm" - named for one of the first birds Karen and her hubby saw when they moved in to their home: listen in at frustrating-bird-photography.
If photography and good writing is your thing - of course it is, why else would you be here? - then saunter over to Dave next who writes the Alaskan Bird Treatment and Learning Centre blog. I'm not normally an emotional sort of guy (okay, I am really, I'm a birder how could I not be?), but the photo of a Red-necked Grebe chick he's posted would melt the heart of the stoniest of characters. Check out what-world-needs-is-few-more-red-necks and tell me you disagree...
Another guest who's brought along his great photos is Jason of BeakSpeak. His gripping tale of seeing Californian Condors (a bird built to a slightly different scale than a grebe chick!) is on his ever-entertaining and informative blog at Flight of the Condor.
Talking of raptors, have a word with John of a DC Birding Blog. His evocative story tells of the moment when, after an illness, he manages to get outside and sees a Peregrine scouting over Washington - an uplifting moment of survival in a big city...capitol-hill-peregrine-one-january.
Another of the guests with a great story to tell is Clare of The House and other Arctic musings, who - when not busy house-building - keeps a wonderful eye on the local wildlife. Clare's observations on those most intelligent of birds - Northern Ravens - are sweet, sharp, and very funny. Stop by toolagak and see what I mean...
The best parties have a real mix of people, and I'm sure you'll also be very interested in what another of our guests has to say - Tony of the milkriverblog who delivers a detailed and fascinating post on the (to quote his mail to me) "some strange doings in the Genus Parula in Texas". Wander along to env-note-about-parulas and bring your thinking-caps with you...
Now just in case you're thinking that only the locals have turned up, I'm proud - as a Brit myself - to say that a few overseas members of the family have made it too.
Hopping on a long-haul flight all the way from Victoria, Australia is Duncan of the Ben Cruachan Blog, bringing with him a beautiful story of an encounter with a Superb Lyrebird he found in some of the most wonderfully-named countryside I've ever heard of - say "G'day mate" to Duncan at superb-lyrebird.
Next have a chat with Jon of Aurora Borealis who has travelled from the superb settings of the Shetland Isles off Scotland's northern coast. Jon's sheer exuberance is unmissable, as he tells of the highlights of last year's birding around his new home - Stercorarius/archives...
More exuberance comes courtesy of Will and Josh, aka The Wandering Birders. Young British twitchers who can write, take great photos, and who really enjoy life - great stuff. They're standing still just long enough to be caught up with at Invasion of the larus sp: melanocephalus and flying Carrots!.
Also from the UK is Katie, who's bogbumper blog is consistently well-written and beautifully illustrated. If you'd like a chat with Katie she's the one in the wellies and waterproof trousers, having come straight over from a bird-ringing session in the rather damp Ferry Meadows County Park.
Well, that's everyone. No, someone's missing...Ah, here's a late telegram - via her husband - from Sharon, the BirdChick who is her on her way to another "do" but wants to be remembered to her friends. But of course...Sharon's stated aim is " to show that a person can enjoy birds without being a total geek". Job done - read what she has to say at 70-bird-day
Okay, that's it...
"Wait, Charlie, haven't you written anything this time round...?" I hear you ask. Well, thanks for checking that - and yes I have. I was in South Africa last week with a good mate of mine who route-marched me around his local patch trying to beat his "winter day-record". It's a long story which I've split into two parts: if you'd like a look head over to Sabie Park: July 05...be great to see you there...
Well, what an excellent day. It's been a lot of fun sorting this out, and I reckon the baby has survived fine! And If you enjoyed this gathering why not pop along to the next one, which will be hosted by Peter Bryant at B and B (pmbryant.typepad.com/b_and_b/) on Thursday, August 4th.
Submissions should be sent to either Mike (mike@10000birds.com) or Peter (petermbryant@sbcglobal.net) by Tuesday, August 2nd.
Cheers....
