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We are planning on heading south toward home tomorrow. We logged in 46 species of birds. 20 of them lifer warblers. 3 more were lifer other species. Of course, didn't even count the ducks, geese. All in all considering the horrible, wet COLD weather, I am very pleased with our final number.

Funny, I don't remember a single picture. As a non-birder, I've been wondering what a "lifer" is?

I'm like you Liz. But I've heard of birders having a "Life List" of birds they have definitely identified - so am wondering if this means that's how many added to her Life List? Me, I just enjoy watching them - not even sure I identify them right within their species

love watching birds but I'm like you Beth not sure I could even put them in the right family but love to watch and look for them in the book
sheila

Beth and Liz. a lifer list is a list of the birds that you make the first time you ever see the bird in person and long enough to make an identification. I think my lifer list has 175 before these, but it is on my other home computer and can't be sure of my numbers until I get home. The warblers are very fast little birds that do not stay in one place very long, so I didn't get many pictures. When I get home and download them, I will post the ones that I did get, as well as the fuzzy ones that you will have to squint one eye, turn your head to a 45 degree angle, stand on your left foot, and have faith in my identification skills to i d them.

Beth and Liz. a lifer list is a list of the birds that you make the first time you ever see the bird in person and long enough to make an identification. I think my lifer list has 175 before these, but it is on my other home computer and can't be sure of my numbers until I get home. The warblers are very fast little birds that do not stay in one place very long, so I didn't get many pictures. When I get home and download them, I will post the ones that I did get, as well as the fuzzy ones that you will have to squint one eye, turn your head to a 45 degree angle, stand on your left foot, and have faith in my identification skills to i d them.

My first post disappeared! I said "WOW" ! 46 new birds sounds like a big accomplishment! Me, I still watching for a Painted Bunting here in Central Texas....

Marslet,

Have you got the Kirtland Warbler on your list. That bird was nearly extinct but with a bunch of dedicated Natural Resources biologists etc., here in Michigan the numbers have grown greatly ( a bit over 1,000). They only nest here in the northern lower peninsula although a pair have been found in the Upper and I believe they spotted a pair in WI this year. They migrate between Michigan and the Bahamas. One of the retired DNR biologists has made them his personal charges and every year does the count and also goes to the Bahamas to see how many made it down there. They are so rare that they only allow tours into their breeding areas on one weekend a year so as not to disturb them. I have not seeen one myself. But they prefer young jack pine trees for nesting and once they (the trees) start growing, they won't nest in them. So the state used to do controlled burns to regenerate them as the jack pine will not regenerate unless the cones are exposed to fire. Only trouble is those "controlled" fires have gotten out of hand on occassion and burned more than the jack pine. The counties where the jack pine grows are very tinder dry in spring and the jack pine are very explosive. Hence, during early spring there are a lot of days of Red Flag Warning for fire potential should a spark set something off. And now of course with people moving north, there are move and more homes, buildings etc. in those pine areas. Now they mostly clear cut the pines and replant them from seedlings. In 2008, a trail sparked a fire alongside the tracks near Grayling and set off a 1300 acre wildfire that came within a hairs breath of taking the city of Grayling with it. If it hadn't been for a wind shift.... I live 18 miles north of there and we had smoke all the way up here.

Have a safe trip homeward bound.

Hmm, wondered what a lifer list was-sounded like some "prison term" Glad you got to add some to your list-looking forward to the pics. carold

Hi all,
We are staying for a few days to rest in a state park in southern Arkansas --Cane Creek This is one of our favorite parks, very shady, nice people, quiet, view of lake. After logging 2500 miles on this trip, we need to take some time to rest before going on home and turning around and going to New Orleans to have "mother's day with Candi" (we were gone mother's day) She and new husband will be moving June 7th for Seattle, Washington--which is about the same difference or 200 miles farther than we have traveled this trip. We have been on the road since May 6th. Be glad to get home.

Back up the line here I made a post about the Kirtland Warblers and the Jack Pine that they nest in. I had mentioned that the Jack Pine need fire to regenerate and are very explosive when fire conditins are right. All it takes is something to set it off. Well, this is prime nesting time for the warblers and look what happend yesterday. This is still burning but is contained and not controlled. So far 12 homes have been destroyed and numerous outbuildings. As to the Warblers, nobody knows what happend as yet. Whether they were nesting or done.

Hope the warblers weren't nesting yet.