Re:[cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan Pfeiffer

[Sandy Podulka]

Great suggestions, Suan.   And you make really 
good points about the Christmas Bird Count.

I heartily endorse the Finger Lakes Climate 
Fun--our family offsets all our travel, heating, 
electricity, etc use at the end of each year 
(using their handy calculator) with a donation to 
this group, which then uses the money to help 
make local homes more energy efficient--for 
families who couldn't otherwise afford to do 
this. So, our birding is already covered in that 
(not saying it excuses all the travel).  Perhaps 
some others are also already doing this?

Here is what they say on their website "The 
Finger Lakes Climate Fund will initially fund 
residential energy efficiency projects for low to 
moderate income households in the Finger Lakes 
region. The fund will help pay for insulation, 
air sealing, energy efficient heating equipment, 
and other upgrades to reduce energy use and 
greenhouse gas emissions. The energy efficiency 
upgrades are carried out by Building Performance 
Institute accredited contractors using guidelines 
provided by the New York State Energy Research 
and Development Authority. These home energy 
efficiency projects reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions, support low income families, and help stimulate our local economy. "

Sandy Podulka

At 08:49 PM 12/10/2021, Suan Hsi Yong wrote:
>Very engaging discussion about 
>emission-awareness while birding. Let me throw in a few cents.
>
>Broadening the scope of an outing to include 
>more than birds is definitely a good idea. In 
>past years, the Lab of O has collaborated with 
>the Botanic Gardens to have bird walks at the 
>Arboretum and plant walks at Sapsucker Woods, 
>which I've always tried to attend (so I can 
>learn what to tell people during bird walks when 
>there are no birds :-). I've also joined various 
>walks hosted mainly by the FLLT in the past to 
>learn about tree identification (from Akiva 
>Silver, 
>https://www.fllt.org/profiles/akiva-silver/), 
>animal tracking (from Linda Spielman, 
>https://lindajspielman.com/), etc. We could try 
>to organize "birding plus" walks and invite 
>leaders from other disciplines. Otherwise, as an 
>individual, iNaturalist and Google Lens are 
>resources that can let one identify and learn on 
>their own about what they're seeing.
>
>Encouraging field trip participants to donate to 
>FLLT or SPCA is an interesting idea. We might 
>get into a question of which of the many worthy 
>causes we decide to endorse. As club president, 
>I'd rather not make top-down endorsements; 
>instead, we could let each field trip leader 
>decide, since they are after all the ones volunteering to lead.
>
>Carbon offsetting via 
>https://www.fingerlakesclimatefund.org/ is also 
>an interesting idea. In fact, I can imagine a 
>feature like this being incorporated into eBird: 
>if on a given day you submit checklists from 
>Myers, Long Point, Montezuma, and Dean's Cove, 
>there's enough information there for the 
>software to estimate the distance traveled, and 
>thus the emission cost of that outing. For club 
>Field Trips, we could also make it a conscious 
>step to compute this, either estimate before or 
>consciously check the odometer afterwards, and 
>tell the participants. Much like how calorie 
>counts are becoming commonplace on menus, 
>perhaps our field trip descriptions should 
>include an estimated carbon cost in dollars per vehicle.
>
>The Christmas Bird Count is IMO the wrong thing 
>to focus on when it comes to reducing driving. 
>The count at least has a survey goal, and unless 
>birders' homes happen to coincide with a decent 
>statistical cover of the circle, non-local 
>movement will be necessary. We could aim to 
>encourage biking, but that requires 
>infrastructure investments, especially in 
>winter, and is thus a long term goal. The best 
>we can do, I think, is to minimize the 
>frequent-stop-and-go driving style, e.g., using 
>Dave's leap-frogging idea when possible. This 
>would apply to Atlas surveys also the rest of the year.
>
>Chasing rarities and non-local hotspots (like 
>Montezuma) are bigger problems, IMO. Unless one 
>makes a conscious decision not to chase, 
>carpooling is probably the best mitigating 
>solution. Unfortunately, COVID is forcing us to 
>discourage carpooling. To encourage birding more 
>locally, there's the notion of adopting a local 
>patch and birding it year round to see what 
>changes, and maybe learn more about the rest of 
>its non-avian biology if the birding is quiet. 
>Or make your yard its own hotspot by creating 
>habitat, planting native plants, etc.
>
>I've been thinking of having more 
>single-destination field trips, as opposed to 
>trips that drive to multiple places. Last 
>weekend's morning at Stewart park was one such 
>trip, which turned out remarkably productive. 
>Unfortunately, there aren't many good single 
>destinations for birding in the winter months, 
>but Spring would be a time to try more of this.
>
>Suan
>
>---
>

Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan Pfeiffer

[Suan Hsi Yong]

Very engaging discussion about emission-awareness while birding. Let me throw 
in a few cents.

Broadening the scope of an outing to include more than birds is definitely a 
good idea. In past years, the Lab of O has collaborated with the Botanic 
Gardens to have bird walks at the Arboretum and plant walks at Sapsucker Woods, 
which I've always tried to attend (so I can learn what to tell people during 
bird walks when there are no birds :-). I've also joined various walks hosted 
mainly by the FLLT in the past to learn about tree identification (from Akiva 
Silver, https://www.fllt.org/profiles/akiva-silver/), animal tracking (from 
Linda Spielman, https://lindajspielman.com/), etc. We could try to organize 
"birding plus" walks and invite leaders from other disciplines. Otherwise, as 
an individual, iNaturalist and Google Lens are resources that can let one 
identify and learn on their own about what they're seeing.

Encouraging field trip participants to donate to FLLT or SPCA is an interesting 
idea. We might get into a question of which of the many worthy causes we decide 
to endorse. As club president, I'd rather not make top-down endorsements; 
instead, we could let each field trip leader decide, since they are after all 
the ones volunteering to lead.

Carbon offsetting via https://www.fingerlakesclimatefund.org/ is also an 
interesting idea. In fact, I can imagine a feature like this being incorporated 
into eBird: if on a given day you submit checklists from Myers, Long Point, 
Montezuma, and Dean's Cove, there's enough information there for the software 
to estimate the distance traveled, and thus the emission cost of that outing. 
For club Field Trips, we could also make it a conscious step to compute this, 
either estimate before or consciously check the odometer afterwards, and tell 
the participants. Much like how calorie counts are becoming commonplace on 
menus, perhaps our field trip descriptions should include an estimated carbon 
cost in dollars per vehicle.

The Christmas Bird Count is IMO the wrong thing to focus on when it comes to 
reducing driving. The count at least has a survey goal, and unless birders' 
homes happen to coincide with a decent statistical cover of the circle, 
non-local movement will be necessary. We could aim to encourage biking, but 
that requires infrastructure investments, especially in winter, and is thus a 
long term goal. The best we can do, I think, is to minimize the 
frequent-stop-and-go driving style, e.g., using Dave's leap-frogging idea when 
possible. This would apply to Atlas surveys also the rest of the year.

Chasing rarities and non-local hotspots (like Montezuma) are bigger problems, 
IMO. Unless one makes a conscious decision not to chase, carpooling is probably 
the best mitigating solution. Unfortunately, COVID is forcing us to discourage 
carpooling. To encourage birding more locally, there's the notion of adopting a 
local patch and birding it year round to see what changes, and maybe learn more 
about the rest of its non-avian biology if the birding is quiet. Or make your 
yard its own hotspot by creating habitat, planting native plants, etc.

I've been thinking of having more single-destination field trips, as opposed to 
trips that drive to multiple places. Last weekend's morning at Stewart park was 
one such trip, which turned out remarkably productive. Unfortunately, there 
aren't many good single destinations for birding in the winter months, but 
Spring would be a time to try more of this.

Suan

---

Birdwatching’s Carbon Problem | Bryan Pfeiffer
https://bryanpfeiffer.com/2021/12/02/birdwatchings-carbon-problem/

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Cranes on Armitage

[Asher Hockett]

Thanks for keeping the cranes safe in New York!. Here in New Mexico there
is a proliferate population of Sandhills and there is a hunting season. So
there are a lot of cranes, right? Well there were a lot of Passenger
Pigeons too. We have a very bad habit of assigning value to things only
after it is too late.

On Fri, Dec 10, 2021 at 9:18 AM Linda Orkin  wrote:

> In light of the recent discussion about limiting out carbon footprint I
> want to thank Alyssa and others who are right there keeping us updated on
> goings on at the Montezuma complex!!  My soul feeds on all the wonderful
> reports and my joy is in knowing that they exist in our world.   Fly safely
> Cranes. So so thankful we do not have a killing season on them in this
> state. Not true of everywhere.
>
> Linda Orkin
> Ithaca NY
>
> On Dec 10, 2021, at 10:09 AM, petersaracino 
> wrote:
>
> 
> Nice!
> Sar
>
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>
>
>  Original message 
> From: "Johnson, Alyssa" 
> Date: 12/10/21 9:37 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cranes on Armitage
>
> I just spent some good time with the cranes on the corner of  Olmstead and
> Armitage. Yesterday afternoons and this mornings view was best from
> Olmstead. While I sat my car with the engine off, probably half or more
> relocated to the other side of the grassy ridge to the west, best viewed
> from Armitage Rd. When I left probably 50 or so were still close to
> Olmstead but unfortunately I had to get to work 
>
> I believe the high count is at 354 but still looking for more counts so if
> anyone beats 354  please let me know!
>
> Alyssa Johnson
> Environmental Educator
> Montezuma Audubon Center
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-- 
asher hockett
Albuquerque  NM

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Cranes on Armitage

[Linda Orkin]

In light of the recent discussion about limiting out carbon footprint I want to 
thank Alyssa and others who are right there keeping us updated on goings on at 
the Montezuma complex!!  My soul feeds on all the wonderful reports and my joy 
is in knowing that they exist in our world.   Fly safely Cranes. So so thankful 
we do not have a killing season on them in this state. Not true of everywhere. 

Linda Orkin
Ithaca NY

> On Dec 10, 2021, at 10:09 AM, petersaracino  wrote:
> 
> 
> Nice!
> Sar
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> 
> 
>  Original message 
> From: "Johnson, Alyssa" 
> Date: 12/10/21 9:37 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cranes on Armitage
> 
> I just spent some good time with the cranes on the corner of  Olmstead and 
> Armitage. Yesterday afternoons and this mornings view was best from Olmstead. 
> While I sat my car with the engine off, probably half or more relocated to 
> the other side of the grassy ridge to the west, best viewed from Armitage Rd. 
> When I left probably 50 or so were still close to Olmstead but unfortunately 
> I had to get to work  
> 
> I believe the high count is at 354 but still looking for more counts so if 
> anyone beats 354  please let me know!
> 
> Alyssa Johnson 
> Environmental Educator 
> Montezuma Audubon Center 
> --
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Cranes on Armitage

[petersaracino]

Nice!SarSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
 Original message From: "Johnson, Alyssa" 
 Date: 12/10/21  9:37 AM  (GMT-05:00) To: 
CAYUGABIRDS-L  Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cranes 
on Armitage 



I just spent some good time with the cranes on the corner of  Olmstead and 
Armitage. Yesterday afternoons and this mornings view was best from Olmstead. 
While I sat my car with the engine off, probably half or more relocated to the 
other side of the grassy
 ridge to the west, best viewed from Armitage Rd. When I left probably 50 or so 
were still close to Olmstead but unfortunately I had to get to work  


I believe the high count is at 354 but still looking for more counts so if 
anyone beats 354  please let me know!




Alyssa Johnson 

Environmental Educator 

Montezuma Audubon Center 




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[cayugabirds-l] Sharpie

[Donna Lee Scott]

When I was on my front porch yesterday, there was quite a squawking going on 
with all the house sparrows and other usual feeder birds.
Then I saw a small hawk zoom by and land in the barberry bush right across from 
me and then take off again after some birds!
A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew back & forth, very close to me,  landing momentarily 
in small trees while trying to catch a meal.
I don’t think it got a bird, but it was out of sight behind the big boxwood, so 
I couldn’t see it after a bit.

It either did not see me, or was so desperate to catch a bird that it ignored 
me standing on the porch.

Donna Scott
Lansing
Sent from my iPhone

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[cayugabirds-l] Cranes on Armitage

[Johnson, Alyssa]

I just spent some good time with the cranes on the corner of  Olmstead and 
Armitage. Yesterday afternoons and this mornings view was best from Olmstead. 
While I sat my car with the engine off, probably half or more relocated to the 
other side of the grassy ridge to the west, best viewed from Armitage Rd. When 
I left probably 50 or so were still close to Olmstead but unfortunately I had 
to get to work 

I believe the high count is at 354 but still looking for more counts so if 
anyone beats 354  please let me know!

Alyssa Johnson
Environmental Educator
Montezuma Audubon Center

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan Pfeiffer

[Linnea Garrepy]

I have known Bryan Pfeiffer for years and find him to be conscientious and 
caring. I went with him, when he owned Vermont Bird Tours, on three incredible 
field trips in the early 2000s, which greatly increased my knowledge as well as 
life list. But Bryan's knowledge and experience go far beyond birds and 
includes butterflies, dragon and damsel flies, other insects and mammalia. He 
is one talented photographer as well! I highly recommend his news letter and 
website to view his exceptional work.



From: bounce-126138304-83680...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Dave Nutter 

Sent: Thursday, December 9, 2021 5:44 PM
To: Poppy Singer 
Cc: s...@cornell.edu ; bob mcguire 
; linda orkin ; John 
Gregoire ; CAYUGABIRDS-L 

Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan 
Pfeiffer

Good to hear others’ ideas, thanks!

One of Pfeiffer’s suggestions is that, as must as possible, we walk rather than 
drive on the Christmas Bird Count. I’ve made that my tradition for a number of 
years, literally just walking out my door and out on a big complicated loop for 
the morning, then off “poaching” in the afternoon (again by foot) at one of the 
hotspot parks which others already formally covered on the count. I find that 
starting the year this way keeps me in touch with the birds and people of my 
neighborhood, and of course I can do a far more thorough job birding outside of 
a car.

Before I adopted my neighborhood as a CBC territory, I shared a rural CBC 
territory with another birder. We took my small car and a spare set of keys. We 
drove to the start of a road, I dropped her off with keys at the start. Then I 
drove a mile, parked, and walked ahead while she birded and caught up to the 
car. She drove to me, we switched and I drove ahead. We leapfrogged, all 
birding on foot, and neither the people nor the car backtracked, so neither 
time nor fuel were not wasted, we didn’t get too cold, and we checked in 
regularly.

- - Dave Nutter

On Dec 9, 2021, at 9:02 AM, Poppy Singer 
mailto:poppysinger.ith...@gmail.com>> wrote:

I appreciated the author saying that he has shifted his focus to learning more 
of the local flora and fauna. Along this line, perhaps we could combine bird 
walks with plant walks?

On Thu, Dec 9, 2021 at 8:31 AM Stephanie P. Herrick 
mailto:s...@cornell.edu>> wrote:
I like this idea Bob,  for two reasons:

1. It benefits two worthy and appropriate local groups
2. The very act of making a mindful contribution encourages us to reflect on 
why we are doing it

Thanks for suggesting!   Looking forward to others thoughts!

- S

From: 
bounce-126137445-82496...@list.cornell.edu
 
mailto:bounce-126137445-82496...@list.cornell.edu>>
 on behalf of bob mcguire 
mailto:bmcgu...@clarityconnect.com>>
Sent: Thursday, December 9, 2021 8:20:11 AM
To: Dave Nutter mailto:nutter.d...@me.com>>
Cc: linda orkin mailto:wingmagi...@gmail.com>>; John 
Gregoire mailto:johnandsuegrego...@gmail.com>>; 
CAYUGABIRDS-L 
mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>>
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan 
Pfeiffer

Me too (a movement here?).

And I have one small idea on how to deal with it. Bird clubs organize field 
trips, and participation is free. What if each participant was encouraged (not 
required, just encouraged) to donate - say - $10 to either the Land Trust or 
the SPCA? The Land Trust because they are a major player in habitat 
conservation, and the SPCA because they (and I’d have to check this out) play a 
role in reducing the number of feral/outdoor cats. Local organizations, local 
impact.

Could something like this fly?

Bob McGuire

On Dec 8, 2021, at 4:11 PM, Dave Nutter 
mailto:nutter.d...@me.com>> wrote:

Better said than I could have, though such concerns have been brewing for me a 
long time. So, how do we deal with it? As individuals, as organizations, as 
unorganized groups? Thoughts welcome.

- - Dave Nutter

On Dec 8, 2021, at 11:02 AM, Linda Orkin 
mailto:wingmagi...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Thanks John.

Yes I had also read that, with great interest. Lots to think about. I embrace 
these thoughts fully.

Linda Orkin
Ithaca, NY

On Dec 8, 2021, at 10:21 AM, John Gregoire 
mailto:johnandsuegrego...@gmail.com>> wrote:


Birdwatching’s Carbon Problem | Bryan 
Pfeiffer
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