For the better part of a week, I have been reading about a lot of turmoil. The kind of things that make your gut twist and your anger boil. Oiled birds along the Gulf Coast and the effectiveness of rehab efforts. News of declining populations around the globe. The intrigue and gossip column-like story of the ABA’s current upheaval. I began to feel this weight in my chest as one blog after another transferred the dim news across my screen.

Then came the news of the Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Wow, what a bird! And no sooner than I had a moment of elation, some naysayer starts debating the merits of this bird.

“Is it naturally arriving, and, therefore, countable?”

“Surely it must have been aided.”

My mood sinks once again with the thud of a turd in the toilet bowl. Then I though to myself, “Wait, I’ve forgotten something.” What was it? Then like a baseball bat to the back of the head the answer came to me. “I have forgotten to have fun.”

Birding should be, first and foremost, fun. We should rejoice in every bird because we have the opportunity to experience it and its environment.  I don’t know you personally, but suspect that you would rather being having a good time while birding or dealing with conservation issues. I chase rarities, and I have noticed that attitude plays a big part in the experience. I have chased when I’m pissed or tired, and experience reflects these states. Even when I had located the bird, it was tempered by these negative emotions. However, I have one rarity chase that illustrates how having fun can make chases fun. A Curve-billed Thrasher has shown up in Central Montana. Sam and I jumped in the vehicle and barreled down the highway after work. The sun was quickly descended as we drove the 200 or so miles to the ranch where the thrasher was currently residing. Time was running short, but instead of, being tense about chase, we relax and drove faster. The challenge had become fun, and as the sun faded completely we finally got the shadow of the bird. We got to see it for less than 2 minutes, and it was all worth it. The chase was fun, and the celebratory beer afterward confirmed it. I bird better when I’m in a good mood. I learn more effectively when my heart can’t wait for the next page.

I will not discuss why the ABA is foundering, and play the blame game. It seems that any organization with more than 3 members slips into a political morass. Seems like the ABA was fun in the past, and I think Birding magazine is obscenely informative. The ABA should be fun. The ABA conventions should be fun, even they seem to be more about commerce (hell, commerce should be fun). The listing aspects of the organizations should fun, not some end-all, be-all competition for the coveted title of World Champ.

Our enjoyment of birds can be at the core of almost every conservation issue. With positive intentions and emotions, we can more deeply affect any conservation effort than with a doom and gloom attitude. I can’t even count the number of meeting and conversations I have been involved in where the participants, who truly love birds and nature, do not even crack a smile. It is nothing but “F*cking BP” this and “Goddamn Developers” that. This kind of saddled anger only creates enemies and tensions. It is the classic us and them syndrome that we seem to always find ourselves. I propose that we go into these battles with a smile, knowing that we are doing the right thing and have the right intentions.

I do not want to be a Polly Anna about these issues. There are serious matters and situations that need to be intended to, but let’s do this balance of knowledge and attitude. With a happy heart, mind full of knowledge, and having fun we can affect more change more than furrowed brows and harsh words would ever accomplish. Some folks have the attitude that you cannot have fun and be serious. I vehemently disagree. I know that you can have serious fun or be seriously funny. So, let’s go forward and have fun. Have fun when you discuss important issues. Have fun with your Audubon group.

Have fun when you bird.

This past weekend was a long one that was full of birds and Buddhism. The weekend kicked off with a day of birding with Jim Heflich, a birder up from Ohio via a week-long backpacking trip in Yellowstone. The plan was to travel down to Ennis Lake for waterfowl and other water-associated birds, then Pony to a feeder that has in the past produced Cassin’s Finch and Black Rosy-finch, and finally, Harrison and Three Forks before heading home to Bozeman. A winter storm had blown through the area on Wednesday night, and it laid down a thick covering of heavy, wet snow. This particular weather predicament could either be viewed as the result of negative or a blessing in disguise as it might cause a migration fallout. I choose the latter – it was a blessing.

Approaching the Madison River, we encountered the first of thousands of Vesper Sparrows. Red-breasted Mergansers were in abundance in the flooded gravel pit that lies beside the river at Black’s Ford. A flotilla of American White Pelicans feed in a tight in the shallower stretches of the river.

Coming over the hill to Ennis Lake was delayed as the highway was closed as a result of a considerable drift that settled over the asphalt.  Once the plows had done their work, we zoom over to Ennis Lake where the gravel road around the lake was absolutely crawling with Vesper Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. The shallows at the Meadow Creek Fishing Access was covered with a large group (>300) American Avocets, a couple of Willets were calling from the shoreline, and a lone Black-necked Stilt. Western Grebes, Eared Grebes, and American Coots were feeding and floating on the lake as thousands of Tree and Violet-green Swallows fed on emerging insects above the water.

This day was full of first of year sightings. The sparrows were well represented by Vesper, Savannah, Clay-colored and White-throated Sparrows. The first American Pipits were feeding among the melt water on the road. I really miss these guys, and I enjoy seeing them down in the valleys before they head to the high places atop the ridges that surround this valley. A single Common Tern made a pass along the shore, and then disappeared down the Madison River.

Along Jack Creek, we found an American Dipper in full throat as it burst its song over the torrent. The Cedar Creek alluvial fan was popping with Long-billed Curlews and Sandhill Cranes. Watching the graceful curlews feeding on the dry pasture doesn’t seem to jive with the concept of a shorebird. The bills of the males are absolutely absurd in length, and the female’s bill almost seems make sense by comparison. But, these bills are excellent at picking up invertebrates from the ground, which was evidenced by the number feeding on this day.

Jim was a crack birder and a joy to spend time with as well. It is always great to meet another birding friend.

Friday was marked by an improvement in the weather. Konchog Norbu, Non-Birding Vida, and I were heading up to Ewam near Arlee for a weekend of volunteer work and getting to know the Ewam folks. We loaded up in the car and down the interstate we sped. We had one birding stop on the way at the Warm Springs Ponds where we had about 15 Bonaparte’s Gulls that were loafing in the most picturesque locale, the water treatment lagoon for Warm Springs. The season’s first Barn Swallow was also feeding amongst the Tree Swallows.

We arrived at Ewam sometime after nine in the evening, and for the beginning, I have never felt so welcomed at a place. The caretaker, Charlie, made us some tea and we sat around the kitchen talking about Ewam, the Garden of a 1000 Buddhism, and the Dharma to a TV reporter from Billings that had arrived just after us (well, Konchog and Charlie did the talking and we relished listening, so much to learn).

The morning came cool and crisp as Savannah Sparrows and Western Meadowlarks sang in the fields surrounding the house. Konchog and I headed up into the Mission Valley where we visited the Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge and the National Bison Range. Many waterfowl, Double-crested Cormorants, and Great Blue Herons crowded the waters and shores of the reservoir. A Short-eared Owl flew over the rolling hills and down into the gullies between. Watching the almost otherworldly motion of it’s wings is always intriguing. After observing this owl for some time, we spotted another owl perched atop a fence post. We were able to approach to distance of about ~15 feet without the bird showing any signs of disturbance. The little guy just stood firm as I was able to reel off about 75 images. What an amazing experience.

We returned to Ewam for a day full of work in the lavender garden and making a few Buddha statues. We picked weeds in the garden, and helped to placed a statue on it’s pedestal. After lunch, I had the amazing opportunity to aid in the casting of 3 Buddha statues. The statue making process is quite remarkable, and it is hard for me to imagine the sheer amount of trail and error it must have taken to come up with the right mixture in the concrete. I thoroughly enjoyed the work and I hope I was useful.

Sunday was a special day as it was Non-Birding Vida’s birthday. I was very happy to be able to share this day with her and other wonderful folks. She was pretty darn excited about getting a Buddha shirt. On the way home, I led Konchog to the location of the Carolina Wren, which more than cooperated – letting us have several great views. We had 3 warbler firsts of the year – Orange-crowned, Yellow, and Yellow-rumped Warblers were singing in the these river bottom. A lone Willow Flycatcher was also singing, a sure indication that spring has arrived in earnest.

Well, that’s the rundown of a fantastic weekend spent with great people.