Birding Far From Home

by Mike Stiles

I've talked in this space about green birding, and birding close to home to save fossil fuels.  I readily admit though, that it is very exciting to bird in unfamiliar territory. Whether it is a business trip, family vacation, or simply travelling somewhere to watch birds, the chance of life birds and new scenery is fun.

Potter's Marsh

I recently was in Anchorage, Alaska for a family matter, but "managed" to fit in quite a bit of birding and hiking. Often, birding may not be the prime directive of your travelling companions (heaven forbid), so time afield may be limited, and it helps to be prepared when visiting a new patch.

There is nothing wrong with just grabbing your binoculars and a field guide, and simply seeing what's out there, but if you're like me, you're after life birds, and it helps to study well before your departure flight.  Spend some time on internet searches and you will be rewarded. Search for local Audubon chapters in the city you're visiting. They often will have local bird lists on their websites, and may even have a field trip planned for the time you will be there. They may have a "places to bird" page, or even contact information for locals willing to help visiting birders. If no Audubon chapter is nearby, a general search for birding in your destination city can often return the same information.

Try to find bird lists that show status and distribution of the birds in that area. A list that shows which birds breed in the area, or are just winter visitors, or are very rare there, will help greatly in gleaning your "wish list" of birds. This step is important, reducing your wish list down to reasonable and expected birds. It will be helpful later.

Find the local birding listserv well before you leave and read the posts of local birders. It would be hard to imagine an area, at least on this continent, that is not served by a local internet reporting system. California, for example, has listservs that cover every county in the state, along with a statewide list. Be warned though, that the listserv was probably set up to report sightings of rare birds, and that may not be what you are looking for. A rare bird to them may be a common bird to you. It is nice though when the posts include a list of all birds seen on that excursion.

Before my visit to Anchorage, I joined two different listservs, and read the posts for a while. After I had reduced my wish list to a set of birds I could reasonably expect to see, I posted a request for information, and received some very helpful responses in return. I find that most birders are very willing to share that kind of information to visitors, and some may even offer to show you around the area.  I even appreciated the "you're dreaming, pal" type of response, to birds that more than likely will not be seen. Also, many of the listservs will allow you to read the message archives without joining, if you prefer.

It was very helpful that I had made a reasonable wish list before I asked for information. I have had those same types of requests from visiting birders, and it was obvious they had not done their homework. When their wish list includes almost the entire county list, or they ask me what to expect to see, it is difficult to be very helpful. You should know what to expect before you arrive at your destination. It reminds me of some of my college professors. They seemed to have wanted me to know the answer, before I stopped into their office hour with my question.

Study your field guides and get familiar with the birds on your wish list. You may only have fleeting looks at a new bird, and it is helpful to know what to look for beforehand. There are also numerous regional bird finding guides that are helpful.

Another exciting aspect of birding new areas, above and beyond seeing new birds, is the chance to study birds that you don't see regularly or that you normally see in a different plumage. In Alaska, the Yellow-rumped Warblers were decked out in their full regalia, and singing from the tops of trees. Where I live we only see them in their dull, non-breeding plumage, and they certainly aren't singing. I was also able to study lakefulls of breeding-plumaged Red-necked Grebes, a bird I rarely see at home.

By the way, if you happen to be in Anchorage in early July, bring some insect repellent. The "moose"quitos up there are numerous and persistent.

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Burrowing Owl on banner by Cleve Nash.