the sound of laughter as they race ahead of me, four bright blond heads observer a rare opportunity to
bobbing in the early evening light. quiet the mind and appreciate
“get away from the Momster!” they shriek as I quicken my pace, and
the natural world. Birding is not
for a brief moment I am seized by love so fierce that I understand what
exclusive to pretentious pseudo
Maurice Sendak meant when he wrote, “We’ll eat you up, we love you so!”
intellectual types it’s a pastime
I walk or jog in those foothills every day. When I lived in Island Woods,
that everyone can enjoy. once
just a stone’s throw from the Boise River, I walked the path that wound
you make your first few identi-
beside the cool green water every day. hiking serves two purposes for
fications it becomes easy to un-
me. It’s a source of inspiration, and a form of meditation. Some people
derstand why so many people
pray, or sit quietly—I walk as quickly as I can, until sweat beads on my
enjoy this activity.
forehead and drips down my nose, my pace matching the music or po-
Eagle, named for one of the
etry I’m composing in my head. I never feel so lucky to be alive as when I
bird kingdom’s most revered
am hiking, breathing hard, feeling my muscles burn, focused intently on
specimens, is uniquely posi-
my goal.
tioned smack dab in the middle
two years ago, I took my oldest son, then ten, on his first hike to the
of one of North America’s central migratory paths. Hundreds of
summit of timpanogos. With my memories of college still more fresh
species of birds stop along Eagle’s river corridor on their seasonal
than they had a right to be, I blithely planned to be up and down the
migration south and Eagle’s greenbelt is a great place to view them.
mountain in six hours or so. We planned to start at 3 a.m., doing the lon-
I recently ventured to the greenbelt with a friend of mine to a
gest part of the hike in the coolness of the night. But we forgot a flash-
little bird watching and get a little exercise. on our stroll which
light. So we slept for a few hours, and as the first streaks of salmon spread
started in the River District and ended by Bardenay, we saw a good
across the horizon, we headed up the trail in Southern utah.
cross section of North American migratory birds from song birds
Four hours later, and still climbing, we realized we’d forgotten some-
like the strikingly marked western tanager with its vivid red head
thing else: sun block. But we persevered, reaching the summit after scur-
and yellow chest and the more subtlety marked red winged black-
rying like ants along the nearly sheer face, envious of the mountain goats
bird. Also seen and very distinctively heard were the king fisher and
who moved with such grace and ease. We unpacked our lunch, dizzy at
killdeer. And of course, we saw the statuesque, nearly prehistoric
the view of the valley below.
blue heron.
on the way down, I said to my son, “Ask me anything.” I think I must
one of the more uncommon birds that we didn’t happen to see
have known then, that my marriage to his father wouldn’t work out, that
(or hear), but we know are around this time of year is the downy
this beautiful freckle-faced precocious boy would have to be wise be-
woodpecker. Although a year round residence, this little wood
yond his years sooner than I would ever want him to be.
pecker is much more active as the weather warms and the bugs
“Anything?” he grinned. Shoot,” I replied.
and grubs begin to wiggle their way through the bark of the cotton
woods. I surprised that we didn’t catch a glimpse of the brilliantly
“okay. tell me what all the swear words mean.”
yellow, black and white Bullock’s oriole, but certainly heard one
I stopped, stared at him in disbelief. he was ten. But I had promised,
scorn us as we “trespassed” under its nest.
and these are the sorts of topics best addressed on long hikes. (he was
Birding isn’t just about identifying birds, it’s also about being in
disappointed by the B word. “that’s it?” he said, shaking his head in dis-
touch with your surroundings. What starts out as a lesson in obser-
belief. “A female dog? What’s so bad about that?”).
vation and identification can turn into a life long love and apprecia-
In a few weeks, I’m planning to take him up that mountain again. I
tion for one of natures most colorful and well traveled creatures. So
wonder what we’ll talk about this time. And I’m hoping it
do yourself a favor and buy a bird book, some binoculars and carve
doesn’t involve girls.
out some time during your week to get out and become familiar
with your feathered neighbors.
To get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of these
bird.
Bird Brain
amazing creatures here a few tips for the novice birder:
1. Go Early
t
here are few scenes more serene than birds in flight. their effortless
Birds are most active in the early dawn hours so bundle up, grab
ability to defy gravity captivates the observer and leaves us green
a coffee, and welcome the morning.
with envy. to a species bound by the laws of gravity, flying embodies
the ultimate expression of freedom. throughout history, the prospect
2. Get a good bird book.
of flight has become a fanciful obsession bearing the marked genius of
This is essential if you are interested in identifying and learning
modern air travel and the somewhat debatable genius of gravity defying
more about the different types of birds you see.
extreme sports like bungee jumping and skiing. yet, in our technologi-
cally advanced society, we often unconsciously if not carelessly under-
3. BE PATIENT!
value the muse of these advancements.
Bird watching or “birding” as it is offend referred, is a silent homage
Birds can be elusive little things so don’t discouraged on your
to these masterful creatures. Considered somewhat of a lost art in to-
first couple times out. Practice becoming more attuned to your
immediate surrounding will help you become more adept in
day’s youtube and twitter obsessed society, birding offers the modern
indentifying birds.
July/august 2009 39
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