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=20 Some catching up with a MOU alum - Jon Little. =20 =20 Mark Alt=20 Brooklyn Center, MN=20 [email protected]=20 "Birds and their songs are important to me, they add to my enjoyment of life"=20 =20 ________________________________________ From: Jon Little [mailto:[email protected]]=20 Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 7:28 PM To: Alt, Mark Subject: Re: Duluth query =20 Hey, =20 As for birding out here, yeah I'm still addicted to nests. In fact, just the other day, we found 2 new RTHA nests that we missed last year (they must have built them after the leaves came out). I keep track of them and send the data to Roger Clapp from The Smithsonian (he's another nest nut). He also does Blue Bird stuff and has a collectors license, etc. so we have a bit in common. I don't remember if I told you or not, but Jake Langeslag spent the Summer of '03 out here at Blandy Arboretum doing a Catbird nest study. I spent almost all Summer with him looking for nests; but since then, my nest hunting has been somewhat limited to just occasional searching. However, last spring my new birding partner and I spent a good deal of time hunting for raptor nests. It's a LOT different than back home - there are relatively FEW nests anywhere, and especially RTHA. We did find a few Red-shouldered and a few Coops and Broad-winged, but there are definitely WAY less RTHA than I was used to in MN. I've concluded that the much higher number of Vultures is perhaps the reason, taking the same niche in the food chain. =20 I mentioned my new birding partner. I should also mention that she's my new wife (after moving out here, my marriage broke up and I'd been single for a few years). This one I met at our Hawk Watch on Snickers Gap. Naturally, we bird all of the time! She's a retired teacher, so she has plenty of time to indulge. We just got back from our honeymoon trip to San Diego. We did as many spots there as we could and got to The Salton Sea - had a GREAT time! I ended up with 21 Lifers and BJ got 33 (she'd never been to CA before). =20 Birding in Virginia has been wonderful! I think I'm up to about 315 or so for the state. I've gotten to befriend many folks and gotten around the state more than I ever imagined. My wife used to go to Delaware a lot before I met her, so she's introduced me to many areas over there too (Bombay Hook, etc). However, she has yet to get me to Cape May. I know, it's close and all, but I've just never had the chance to get there - yet! I'll bet I don't have a single friend out here who hasn't been there many times. Oh well..... someday! =20 BTW, I have new bragging rights too! On Dec 12, BJ and I were on the Eastern Shore NWR and came across the FIRST EVER for Virginia - Mountain Bluebird. It was total serendipity! I was driving just north of the entrance to the refuge and saw this bird on a telephone wire. During the ensuing hour or so, a few other birders associated with the refuge & State Park got to see it and got the word out to VA Birds. By Sunday morning, a few other friends got to see it before it disappeared at 8:10AM. At any rate, I got a few pictures and video to prove what it was. A few good friends from here drove all the way down there Sunday AM but missed it. Many other folks tried Sunday also, but the bird was gone. I addition to that, while we were there looking for it Sunday AM, Ed Brinkley called to tell about a Black-chinned Hummer he had at his feeder. So we scooted over to his place in Cape Charles and nabbed that bird too. Along with those birds, we added Cave Swallow to our VA list that day. Not a bad weekend!! =20 Anyway, gotta run. Say Hi to all up there, and especially Al Batt if you see him. =20 Jon =20 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C4EC39.7422F7DA Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html xmlns:v=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40";> <head> <meta http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Dus-ascii"> <meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"State"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"City"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"place"/> <!--[if !mso]> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:#0080C0; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:#FF8000; text-decoration:underline;} p.MsoPlainText, li.MsoPlainText, div.MsoPlainText {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Courier New";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.EmailStyle18 {mso-style-type:personal; font-family:Arial; color:navy;} span.EmailStyle19 {mso-style-type:personal; font-family:Arial; color:navy;} span.EmailStyle20 {mso-style-type:personal-reply; font-family:Arial; color:navy;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext=3D"edit" spidmax=3D"1026" /> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext=3D"edit"> <o:idmap v:ext=3D"edit" data=3D"1" /> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> </head> <body bgcolor=3Dwhite lang=3DEN-US link=3D"#0080C0" vlink=3D"#FF8000"> <div class=3DSection1> <div> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Some catching up with a MOU alum = – Jon Little. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Mark Alt = <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on"><font = size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:navy'>Brooklyn Center</span></font></st1:City><font size=3D2 = color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>, <st1:State w:st=3D"on">MN</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font size=3D2 = color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> = <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>[email protected] = <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>"Birds and their songs are = important to me, they add to my enjoyment of life" = <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>____________________________________= ____<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>From: Jon Little [mailto:[email protected]] <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 = 7:28 PM<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>To: Alt, = Mark<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Subject: Re: <st1:City = w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Duluth</st1:place></st1:City> = query<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hey,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>As for birding out here, yeah I'm = still addicted to nests. In fact, just the other day, we found 2 new RTHA = nests that we missed last year (they must have built them after the leaves came = out). I keep track of them and send the data to Roger Clapp from The Smithsonian = (he's another nest nut). He also does Blue Bird stuff and has a collectors = license, etc. so we have a bit in common. I don't remember if I told you or not, = but Jake Langeslag spent the Summer of '03 out here at Blandy Arboretum = doing a Catbird nest study. I spent almost all Summer with him looking for = nests; but since then, my nest hunting has been somewhat limited to just occasional searching. However, last spring my new birding partner and I spent a = good deal of time hunting for raptor nests. It's a LOT different than back home - = there are relatively FEW nests anywhere, and especially RTHA. We did find a = few Red-shouldered and a few Coops and Broad-winged, but there are = definitely WAY less RTHA than I was used to in MN. I've concluded that the much higher = number of Vultures is perhaps the reason, taking the same niche in the food = chain.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I mentioned my new birding partner. = I should also mention that she's my new wife (after moving out here, my = marriage broke up and I'd been single for a few years). This one I met at our = Hawk Watch on Snickers Gap. Naturally, we bird all of the time! She's a retired = teacher, so she has plenty of time to indulge. We just got back from our = honeymoon trip to <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">San = Diego</st1:place></st1:City>. We did as many spots there as we could and got to The Salton Sea - had a = GREAT time! I ended up with 21 Lifers and BJ got 33 (she'd never been to CA = before).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Birding in <st1:State = w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State> has been wonderful! I = think I'm up to about 315 or so for the state. I've gotten to befriend many folks and = gotten around the state more than I ever imagined. My wife used to go to = Delaware a lot before I met her, so she's introduced me to many areas over there = too (Bombay Hook, etc). However, she has yet to get me to <st1:place = w:st=3D"on">Cape May</st1:place>. I know, it's close and all, but I've just never had = the chance to get there - yet! I'll bet I don't have a single friend out = here who hasn't been there many times. Oh well..... = someday!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>BTW, I have new bragging rights = too! On Dec 12, BJ and I were on the Eastern Shore NWR and came across the FIRST = EVER for <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place = w:st=3D"on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State> - Mountain Bluebird. It was total serendipity! I was driving just north = of the entrance to the refuge and saw this bird on a telephone wire. During the ensuing hour or so, a few other birders associated with the refuge & = State Park got to see it and got the word out to VA Birds. By Sunday morning, = a few other friends got to see it before it disappeared at 8:10AM. At any = rate, I got a few pictures and video to prove what it was. A few good friends from = here drove all the way down there Sunday AM but missed it. Many other folks = tried Sunday also, but the bird was gone. I addition to that, while we were = there looking for it Sunday AM, Ed Brinkley called to tell about a = Black-chinned Hummer he had at his feeder. So we scooted over to his place in = <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Cape</st1:PlaceType> = <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Charles</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> and nabbed that bird too. Along with those birds, we added Cave Swallow = to our VA list that day. Not a bad weekend!!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Anyway, gotta run. Say Hi to all up = there, and especially Al Batt if you see him.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Jon<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span = style=3D'font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> </div> </body> </html> ------_=_NextPart_001_01C4EC39.7422F7DA--
