I’ve always appreciated the seasonality of birding. When you’re paying close attention to the goings-on in the world outside your windows, the annual cycle of nature is conspicuous and easy to track. This visible, reliable schedule has been a major boon throughout the pandemic, which has caused weeks and months to blur together and warp all perception of time. The … Read More
Apartment Birding and Fire Escapism
When I first moved into my Astoria apartment in early December, I immediately began keeping a “yard list” of birds seen around my new home. My expectations for the potential of this urbanized neighborhood weren’t particularly high, but I reasoned that watching for birds of note outside my window would be a fun way to pass the time between proper … Read More
October Big Day 2019
Who doesn’t love a Big Day? Any excuse to get out and count birds in the name of science is a worthwhile cause in my book. eBird has been orchestrating Global Big Day events each May since 2015, an international effort to record as many of the world’s species as possible within a 24 hour period. Last fall, the Cornell-based … Read More
Santa Rosa Island Raptor banding 2015
I’ve been working on Santa Rosa Island for the Institute for Wildlife Studies for nearly four months now, monitoring Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle nests. This week was banding week on SRI, the culmination of all of our hours of observation and hiking. I have lots of photos from the last few months and posts to write, but I figured I’d … Read More
Santa Rosa Tour 3 Update: Part Two, March 14-17
Wow, does time fly by when you are on an eight day on, six day off schedule (this schedule is possibly the secret to life). I’ve finally gotten around to posting the second half of tour three on Santa Rosa Island, working for Institute for Wildlife Studies (Read part one here first!) Weather was excellent for the second half of tour 3 as … Read More
Santa Rosa Tour 3 Update: Part One, March 11-13
We arrived for our third tour on Santa Rosa on March 10 (I am currently working for Institute for Wildlife Studies monitoring Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles on Santa Rosa Island). Since we stopped at both landing sites on Santa Cruz, we didn’t arrive until later afternoon. On Wednesday, we headed to the west side of the island where we … Read More
Santa Rosa Tour 2 Update: Part Two, February 27 – March 3
Weather can be extremely variable on the Channel Islands, as we found out during the second half of our second tour on Santa Rosa working for Institute for Wildlife Studies. Friday was our most brutal day on the island with very high winds; our legs were being blown out from underneath us on the long trek to Bonn Point. The … Read More
Santa Rosa Island, Tour 2 Update: Part 1, February 24-26
After arriving on Santa Rosa Island Tuesday afternoon for our second tour with Institute for Wildlife Studies monitoring Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon populations, Sarah and I checked on the Lopez Bald Eagles, who are now incubating; this means both of our known pairs on Santa Rosa now have eggs. We are still following up on other eagle sightings on … Read More
Santa Rosa Island: Tour 1 Update
It’s been a busy month as I said goodbye to my work with Florida Scrub-Jays in Ocala National Forest and took a new position in California. I now work for the Institute for Wildlife Studies as a Raptor Biologist on Santa Rosa Island. Santa Rosa Island is part of the Channel Islands National Park. I’ve birded this area a few times … Read More
Eagle Madness
When it comes to raptors, eagles often come out on top in every category. And why not? They are massive, long-lived, fierce, majestic, and did I mention that they are very large? Whether it’s soaring past a hawkwatch or giving Gandalf a ride to freedom, eagles are worth looking at every time. Easily one of the most rewarding experiences of … Read More