19 January 04

Hijacking a Birder

stfl.jpgThis morning we spent a good hour with the scissor-tailed flycatcher outside Mrak Hall on the UC Davis campus. I did some sketches; Numenius took a lot of photos (one of which is here) and also managed to catch a short video clip (844 kb, Quicktime) with the digital camera during which the flycatcher regurgitated one of the magnolia fruits it had been eating.

A theoretical ecology postdoc arrived last week from Cambridge University. He was introduced to us as “a British birder.” This is the very best kind: a knowledgeable and highly skilled birder who has nevertheless never seen our common sparrows, much less megararities (such as the flycatcher). So people have been adopting him all week. He had managed to get to 83 new birds this morning by bike alone.

Thinking a nice round number like 100 was probably preferable, some birders hauled him off in a CAR: we joined them for part of the day and saw cinammon teal, marsh wren, song sparrow, and snow geese. Poor guy hasn’t opened a bank account yet or done any laundry since his arrival. Blame the birds, and blame the abducting birders.

Richard introduced us to a British birding term: “papped.” The scissor-tailed flycatcher got papped this morning (from “papparazzied,” photographed to excess).

Posted by at 07:05 PM in Nature and Place | Link |
  1. Wouldn’t mind being abducted by birders myself! What a lot of fun! And what a wonderful way to feel welcomed by the locals

    — butuki    20. January 2004, 07:24    Link
  2. Dont keep us in suspense, did Richard get his 100 birds? How fun – for all of you! The flycatcher as well as a birder in a new land. bravo! And I’ll have to pass along “papped” to our avid photographers of avian delights.

    — tattler    20. January 2004, 17:48    Link
  3. Yes, he’s reached well over 100 now, picking up long-billed curlew, stilts, avocets (often difficult within Davis city limits, though not at all impossible).

    We’re trying to hang on to the white-throated sparrow (another eastern vagrant) in the garden so he can see that too.

    — Pica    21. January 2004, 04:29    Link
  4. Pica, it’s the first time to see your drawing… More than finished paintings, I have always loved pencil and pen & ink sketches. I’m not sure why. I guess I love the spontaneity and the immediate recognition of the imperfection of the human hand. I like your style of drawing, quick and sure, but also capturing detail and keeping the impression of the subject intact. Would love to see a field journal by you. Does Numenius draw, too? How is his drawing compared to yours?

    — butuki    21. January 2004, 05:27    Link
  5. Loved seeing the movie. Thanks for that! And the sketches – they are lovely – great gizz – and you remind me to do or try some of birds. As I’m off the the (rainy) coast next week, perhaps I’ll try putting down my camera and take the old lead pencil and pad!

    PS I have posted on the making of Cucumber Sandwiches in response to your response!

    — Coup de Vent    21. January 2004, 08:23    Link

Previous: Next: