Murphy Hanrehan, the final frontier. This is the voyage of me. My "been in Minnesota so long" mission: to explore M-H and not get lost; to seek out new birds and new bird habitats; to boldly go where no me has successfully gone before. OooooOooooOoOoOo (pan model of Blue Prelude rocketing in front of the M-H park sign) - music crescendo and end.
Yes its true. I finally had a successful day at M-H without getting lost but being goose-bumped with the thrill of seeing a life bird. YeeHaw! After getting tons of support from this delightful birding community, reviewing the map, shifting my consciousness to travel on unnamed paths and be guided by numbered intersection, and noticing that they actually have a pretty good set of posted maps with little "you are here" arrows at almost every intersection, I made it to and through and left well before dark from the park that once drew frustration and consternation into the hearts of this man. But let's get back to the bird. I set out on the quest to see - not just hear - the reportedly secretive Hooded Warbler - and whatever else I might see - perhaps a Cerulean or Northern Parula - still both elusive life birds. I read up on the H-W's habits. I printed out the advice and directions from a few supporting emailing birders familiar with a Hooded Warbler at the park. I brought along my Ipod with all the bird calls on it and put an ear bud in one ear, listening to the call of the H-W and arrived at the gated trail some 150 yards on the left on Sunset Lake Blvd after turning off of Murphy Lake Road. The instructions led me along this trailhead to a circuit of trails that were connected by intersections 13, 14, and 15 on the map (almost a warped "D" shaped trail circuit). Sure enough, at the first fork was a post with a number "14" on it (just like on the map!). The email instructions said that there was an easy to find, un-mated male H-W singing almost constantly (thanks BAFall) just south of intersection marker 13 on this circuit. I took the left fork that was supposed to head for #13 and put my ear bud in and started trying to find a matching sound in the trees. There was a pretty steep climbing portion of the trail and after reaching the flats above it, presumedly just before marker 13, I heard a stereo match to the recording in my Ipod. It was identical. Now to see it! The bird books said that the H-W likes to secret itself in low thick vegetation near water. Uh-oh, I didn't see any water. But I could hear the bird anyway (fleeting moment of doubt). It just had to be the bird. The calls were identical. It seemed to be coming from pretty high in the trees just off the trail though - not in the lower thickets behind them. Maybe my ears just couldn't locate it very well or it was a ventriloquist bird (as they all seem to be). After staring at the supposed direction of the sound, changing my position and not seeing anything at all moving for about 15 minutes, I began the process of pin-pointing the birds location by finding where I thought I heard it, taking a few steps to the left and locating the sound again (fortunately the bird did keep singing and singing and singing) and again and again. I could tell the little varmint was moving but I couldn't see it. Finally I realized I had done the best I could do to generalize it location, roughly how deep into the woods and how high - I surrendered and decided to let the bird come to me. I just stood staring at the area, waiting for any motion, change of light, shaking leaf - anything. And then it happened. Now I have an inkling how those who searched for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker must have felt when they saw it, if only in the smallest of degrees. This beautiful little yellow bird moved out from behind the trunk of the tree I was staring at and then darted back into the first fork in the truck. No wonder I couldn't see it - it was hanging out on the tree truck. Over the next few minutes I only saw fleeting glimpses, just enough to tease but no positive visual ID - until finally it gave me a full, profiled and blatant view - a perfect Hooded Warbler. I enjoyed the little tyke for a good half hour - growing familiar with its behavior, movements, song, etc. The rest of the day paled in comparison. I bathed in the glee and satisfaction of seeing another miraculous creation - and the satisfaction of apparently conquering my fear, confusion and frustration that had been M-H. I took on a few more trails - hoping to see a Dicksissel or Bobolink (how does a Bobolink make "computer gone mad" sounds?) but with the wind buffeting my ears, only managed to successfully navigate where so many had talked about before. They are apparently destined to be on another trip probably in another place and time. (start up Star Trek trailer and fade). Thank you all for supporting this momentous event for me. Everyone who responded to my emails, everyone who reports what they see and gives directions, and everyone who stays connected through this server, you do make a difference in other's peoples lives. I thank you abundantly. And now - What's next! Thomas Maiello Spring Lake Park >
