Máistir Nádúraí: A Few Fall Birds

9.30.2009

A Few Fall Birds

Eastern Bluebird

An Eastern Bluebird perched on a barbed wire fence; pure emblematic countryside. When I stepped outside my apartment this morning, I was greeted with temperatures cold enough to make my breath visible. Given the dry spell and recent high winds, it seems we may be deprived a maximal display of foliage fireworks this fall.

Eastern Bluebird

With the close of September, thoughts of warblers, vireos, and flycatchers begin to wane. The influx of Palms and Yellow-rumps today were a sure sign I'm seeing my last warblers of the year. It won't be until April or May before they return to Wisconsin's woods and fields.

Palm Warbler

Lincoln's Sparrow

My thoughts will shift to places where I watch and photograph sparrows. Returning to the prairie for another October is like adding to a collection of memories of past fall migrations. I'll be looking for old friends. Sparrows like Lincoln's, White-throated, White-crowned, and maybe even a Harris's if I'm lucky. Sadly, my slowly moving silhouette against tall grass fails to offer any notion of my warm sentiment. What do they think of me? Perhaps the expression of this ground squirrel sums it up nicely: "You again!? Meh." Although my co-worker Tom said it's asking, "Did you bring me a peanut this time?"

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.