Máistir Nádúraí: 8 Years!

2.23.2013

8 Years!

I created this blog on February 23rd, 2005. I had no idea at the time it would last so long. I haven't been doing much digiscoping this month, but things should start to pick up in March as spring migration gets underway. Some birders in southern Wisconsin have already sighted returning Sandhill Cranes. Birdsong is picking up, too. House Finches, American Tree Sparrows, and Northern Cardinals are all taking part in late winter's morning chorus. Through January and February I typically only go birding once a week, but sometime next month I'll begin my daily visits to Pheasant Branch Conservancy to see the early migrants.

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.