Canon's newest camera does something amazing!

So soon after the release of their brand new EOS 50D, Canon will be coming out with a brand new camera.
The EOS 5D Mk II. 
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17662#ModelFeaturesAct

The latest and greatest feature on this new 21MP full-frame DSLR is...... HD Video!
Yes, that's right folks, this camera not only takes still photos, it also takes up to 12 minutes of HD video!

Here's a sample of the video capabilities of this new DSLR:
http://www.vimeo.com/1930146

This camera will run in at $2699.00 and is expected to be available in Dec 2008.


Among other things, Subaru is now vying for the title as America's birding car:
http://drive.subaru.com/Fall08/Fall08_Feature.htm

Photo Quiz: fall sparrows

Here's a photo quiz for all you blog readers out there: 

I took this photo just the other day

Good luck! 

Slow birding

I would be posting more often but the birding has been pretty slow. It's so slow that I can fit 4 entire days worth of Wisbirdn posts on one page of my email.  The best bird reported recently was an ARCTIC LOON seen today in Superior WI.  Too far for it to be economical for me to chase.  I was out driving today and saw a few things.  Red-tails and a single Cooper's Hawk, B Kingfisher, Swamp Sparrow, some female Wood Ducks, Coots, C Geese, DE Junco, White-throated Sparrow.  

Pretty slow.   

If something comes along, I'll post about it. Until then, I'll just have to find something bird related to post about.   

Happy Birding! 

Project Feederwatch

Each year, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology runs their Project Feederwatch through their citizen science programs. In this project, you, the everyday backyard birder, get to contribute to science by recording your backyard feeder sightings and reporting them to the Cornell Lab.  This project has been instrumental in discovering range expansions by winter birds, what their preferences are, population increase and decrease, ect.  Here's the newsletter put out by Cornell: 

Contact: David Bonter, Project leader
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
(607) 254-2457
dnb23@cornell.edu For release: October 6, 2008


Project FeederWatch Benefits Birds and People
Connection with nature promotes wellness

Ithaca, NY- More than 100 studies have shown that getting closer to nature reduces stress and promotes a feeling of well-being in children and adults. So, filling feeders and counting the birds that visit may be just what the doctor ordered! For more than 20 years, that’s what participants in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch have been doing- benefitting themselves and the birds.

"It is a great winter time activity for the whole family," says Alaska FeederWatcher Nancy Darnell. "If you have children, they will come to love watching the birds. All of this is fun and a chance to contribute to scientific studies, too!"

The 2008-09 season of Project FeederWatch gets underway November 8 and runs through April 3. Participants count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders each week and send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Participants submitted more than 115,000 checklists during the 2007-08 FeederWatch season, documenting unusual bird sightings, winter movements, and shifting ranges- a treasure-trove of information that scientists use to monitor the health of the birds and of the environment.

“Being a FeederWatcher is easy and fun, and at the same time helps generate the world’s largest database on feeder-bird populations,” says project leader David Bonter. “We are grateful for the contributions our participants have made for the birds and are proud of the joy they say it brings to their busy lives. Since we started in 1987, more than 40,000 people have submitted observations, engaging with the wildlife beyond their windows.”

“Project FeederWatch opened up a whole new world for me,” says participant Cheri Ryan of Lockport, Kentucky. “It’s so interesting to watch the activities of the birds. I learn something new each time I participate.”

Scientists learn something new from the data each year, too, whether it’s about the movements of common backyard birds or unusual sightings of rarely-seen species. Highlights of the most recent season include the largest southward movement of Red-breasted Nuthatches in the history of the project -part of an expected influx of northern birds that fly farther south when their food supplies run short. Other northern species showing up in record numbers included Common Repolls and Pine Siskins. Among the rare birds reported was a Streak-backed Oriole in Loveland, Colorado- the state’s first report of this bird, native to Mexico. A December nor’easter deposited a Dovekie in Newton, Massachusetts, the first time this North Atlantic seabird has ever been reported to Project FeederWatch.

Long-term data show some species increasing in number, such as the Lesser Goldfinch in the Southwest. Other populations continue a downward trend, such as the Evening Grosbeak throughout their range. Once one of the most common species seen at feeders in the northern half of the continent, the grosbeaks are declining for unknown reasons.

Beyond the benefits to birds and science, however, is the benefit to participants. “Nature is not merely an amenity; it is critical to healthy human development and functioning,” says Nancy Wells, Cornell University assistant professor of design and environmental analysis. Her studies find that a view of nature through the window or access to the environment in any way improves a child’s cognitive functioning and reduces the negative effects of stress on the child’s psychological well-being. Wells also notes that when children spent time with nature early in life it carries over to their adult attitudes and behavior toward the environment.

Project FeederWatch welcomes participants of all ages and skill levels, from scout troops and retirees to classrooms and nature center visitors. To learn more and to sign up, visit www.feederwatch.org or call the Lab toll-free at (800) 843-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Lab members) participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds in their area, a calendar, complete instructions, and the FeederWatch annual report, Winter Bird Highlights.

Many FeederWatchers echo this comment from Mary Strasser of Wisconsin: “The greatest reward for me as a participant in Project FeederWatch these many years has been observing birds and behavior that I might have missed had I not been part of this project.”

#

Note: Photos are available at www.feederwatch.org. To find local participants for stories, contact David Bonter at (607) 254-2457 or email dnb23@cornell.edu. Visit the “Explore Data” section of the web site to find the top 25 birds reported in your region, rare bird sightings, and bird summaries by state or province.

Media contact in Canada: Kerrie Wilcox, Bird Studies Canada, (519) 586-3531, kwilcox@bsc-eoc.org


The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Lab’s web site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu .

New post: Catching up

Sunrise over lake Superior at WI point

Wow! I haven't posted in such a long time!  I have sooo much to catch up on and I've been really busy lately. 

Instead of doing separate posts and using up valuable time, here's a summary of everything that has happened since I last posted: 

First off, music camp in NY this year was fun. The only drawback was that someone stole my digiscoping camera. Now I just have to rely on my DSLR til I get another one. (I'm glad I didn't take my DSLR along)

I did however get a new lens. I purchased the Canon EF 100-400mm IS L lens after much consideration. Now, with a camera with an effective focal length of 520mm, I can get some pretty decent and really sharp shots. 

The Loggerhead Shrike that I last posted about hung around awhile longer after I had left. The two Shrikes were seen together several times and eventually a juvie Shrike was found which confirmed nesting. I believe this is the first nesting record for Richland County and only the 3rd or 4th nesting record for this part of the state.  

As I was riding out to NY on the train, I received a call from Dan Jackson saying that he had found a BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK in one of the flooded fields ("Lakes") in the Spring Green area. 

By that time, I was, unfortunately, several hours away and could not return.  It was a great find though since this would be the 5th state record of this species if accepted. Judging by the photos, it will indeed be accepted. (Photos here:  http://wsobirds.org/wso_rare_birds.html) 

Lesser Yellowlegs: Spring Green WI

This fall, the Spring Green area has been the best shorebird spot in the state. With all the rain we had this summer, the water had nowhere to go and backed up in the farmers fields. The farmers weren't too happy. The birders (and birds) were delighted.  A couple of the fields became "lakes" and supported more than just shorebirds.  After I got back from music camp, in a single morning I found 4 species of ducks, 3 herons, 18 shorebirds and a pair of Kingfishers in that area.  The 18 species of shorebirds included my latest lifer. Buff-breasted Sandpiper.  Before Aug 2008, I had not seen a single Buffie. After Aug, I had seen more Buffies in one spot than anyone else was seeing in the entire state.  In the past few weeks, the fields have dried up considerably and even one of the "lakes" almost completely evaporated. 

Sept 18-21 I spent in Superior WI at the WSO annual field trip to WI point.  I recorded 115 species for the weekend including 2 lifers.  My 2 lifers were: 1 adult, almost full breeding plumage Red-throated Loon and 1 juvie Sabine's Gull.  A couple other great birds at the point included 4 Parasitic Jaegers that provided close flybys and great views and a single Red-necked Phalarope that provided some spectacular photo ops. Migrants on the point were altogether rather slow with Harris's Sparrow being one of the notable misses. 

I also somehow missed Philadelphia Vireo even though a few were seen during the trip. 

Red-necked Phalarope: Superior WI

Lately, the birding has been slow. At on point, almost all the migrants were Tennessee Warblers and nothing else. Now, they're all White-throated Sparrows and almost nothing else.  All other migrants have been in 1s and 2s. Brown Creepers, YB Sapsuckers, Yellow-rumps (yes, in 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s but no more), a few other species of warblers, a couple other sparrows, Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, ect.  

Even hawk migration has been slow.  I have yet to see more than 8 birds of the same species at one time. species diversity has been decent though. N Harrier, Coopers, Sharpies, Broad-wings, Red-tails, Merlin, ect.  

Otherwise, the birds are packing it south. It's been a pretty quiet fall so far throughout the state.  No rarities to speak of at all and most birding rather slow.  

I promise to post more often in the near future and maybe post some more trip photos when things get really slow. Til then, Happy Birding!