For the second time in many years, I woke on the day after the Birdathon at Cropsey Pond. It is still early, the sun has yet to appear. Spring peepers, being industrious, are still calling, their cacophony almost deafening. Piercing the din of these small frogs are at least three barred owls calling back and
Birdathon 2016: Adding Species on Way to Cropsey Pond
During the most productive period of the Birdathon, my time was spent searching for birds at Big, Bad Leroy Bog, Sunshine Pond and Deer Pond, which yielded a fairly anemic species list. Now while moving into the less active afternoon hours, my efforts turn to some neglected bare essentials, like filtering water and fueling my
Birdathon 2106: Birding to Hunters’ Vly via Deer Pond
Half of the Birdathon day has passed, the good half, and my bird species list is still a bit anemic. Even with Big, Bad Leroy Bog and Sunshine Pond already under my bushwhacking belt, the long sojourn to Cropsey Pond still needs to go through Deer Pond, Hunters’ Vly, miles of forest, and a couple
Birdathon 2016: Birding to Sunshine Pond
Now that Bow-tie Beaver Meadow, the Four Ponds, and Big Bad Leroy Bog (and their respective bird species) are in the Birdathon record book for this year, it is time to move on to Sunshine and Deer Ponds, before finally stopping for my lunch break at Hunters’ Vly. The route to these waterbodies can be
Birdathon 2016: Birding Big, Bad Leroy Bog
BZZZZZZZZZZZZK!!! The metallic staccato buzz startles me awake at midnight, just about four hours after setting my head down for sleep. My sleep-induced stupor temporarily robs me of all sense of orientation, including recognizing my radio’s alarm, which I set only hours ago. It takes a few moments before my wits return to me and
Birdathon 2016: Bushwhacking Through the Four Ponds
On the day before the Birdathon, I have a single goal; get into camp in the Pepperbox Wilderness backcountry in a timely manner. When doing so, the ample daylight remaining allows for accomplishing all the necessary chores, packing up for the next day and making it to bed early enough so I get plenty
Birdathon 2016: Journey to Fourth of Four Ponds
When the daylight hours begin to overtake those of darkness and spring enters its middle-age, it is once again time for my annual birding/bushwhacking ritual, the Birdathon. This contest requires searching for as many bird species as possible within a 24-hour period on the third Saturday in May. This year, as it has for the
Birdathon 2015: Exiting the Backcountry from Cropsey Pond
The morning after the Birdathon is typically filled with regret, disappointment and self-recrimination. This year is no different, especially given missing my target by a single species. A single darn species! Making matters worse, today is historically where fairly common species missed during the day before make an appearance, seemingly mocking my efforts. This year
Birdathon 2015: Picking Up Species on Way to Cropsey Pond
After spending a good portion of the day birding and bushwhacking through the Pepperbox Wilderness, it is inevitable that lunch and replenishing my water supply becomes an imperative at some point. Mid-afternoon is an ideal time to do so, as most birds are taking a siesta by then. In addition, this gives me a chance
Birdathon 2015: Pond-hopping Through The Pepperbox Wilderness
The early morning hours of the Birdathon are the most productive for picking up bird species. My time so far was spent using an illegally marked trail to get from Raven Lake in the Five Ponds Wilderness to Big Bad Leroy Bog within the Pepperbox Wilderness with disappointing results of not even 30 species
