2006-04-15, 06:25 PM — two semi-obscure references
I am feeling very restless today, a vague sense of unease just under my skin. I don't know whether it's just my reaction to spring, or whether there's something more going on. I feel a little like Neko Case's tiger on a chain. If I let myself, I could pace and pace in circles until I go insane. It may be spring or it may be something else.
It may also have something to do with the perennial discomfort and sadness associated with being someone who notices nature and cares about what I see. I suspect I'm not alone in having a constant shadow of worry keeping me vigilant -- are there less frogs around this year than there were last year? Is it just me, or is it harder to find warblers? Weren't there more blue-winged teals around at this time last year? How are the trees dealing with this bizarrely warm and stormy weather?
"Biophilia," E. O. Wilson calls it. It can be an uncomfortable passion, loving the living world around me. But it's also a source of great joy for me; and so if sometimes I'm a little sad, I can take that for the wonder and amazement I feel at other times. I can't imagine living in a silent, concrete world. I prefer the birdsong and the frogsong.
2006-04-14, 05:43 PM — more ducks
fishy and I spent a pleasant afternoon out at LCNC, where I fed the animals and then we took the scope out to look for ducks. I heard a warbler, but not knowing what kind it was, I suspect I can't count it.
New ducks for the day were a pair of canvasbacks, a pied-billed grebe, and a pair of pintails. I saw what I believe might have been a hooded merganser, but the light was so flat and he was too far away. Heard flickers and saw two kingfishers. fishy also had an excellent spot of two brown-headed cowbirds. Oh! I forgot to mention the common tern, too. I think it was a common tern. It didn't seem big enough to be a Caspian, and I would be surprised if it was.
Something I need to resolve, though: I'm getting -really- bad about making snap judgements of what a bird is, or an animal, or etc. I have to watch that. I'm in a position where people may believe me unquestioningly and that would be a mistake. It's not that I think I immediately know the answer, it's that I'll say what's on my mind right out loud, without considering who might be listening. It might be completely off base (for example, fishy rightfully doubted my snap id of the female cowbird; I'm too embarrassed to say what I thought it was). Further, if I do that in Pelee -- say what's on my mind without thinking first -- I'm going to have someone brain me with a pair of $1000 binoculars. And frankly, I'll probably deserve it.
2006-04-13, 05:01 PM — i want to take back that treefrog statement
Poor eagle. It's so windy on the eaglecam today... makes me feel bad for the gorgeous weather we had. But then again, I was out there in the pouring rain yesterday, so every bird gets her turn, I guess.
Saw a garter snake and the biggest painted turtle I've ever seen today. Garter snake even came out for my class. Turtle was there in the morning, and I'm not quite believed by some yet since I was the only one who saw it. But that's all right, I just hope the turtle sticks around.
I also realized this afternoon as I was driving home that I misidentified some frogs (quite stupidly) for a passerby. I hate misidentifying things. I may never see that guy again, but it will stick at the back of my head, an embarrassment of misinformation, and I will have to be careful not to make the same mistake again.