Yesterday, I managed to take a quick trip around the valley to enjoy the warm sun and see what the birds were up to these days. While the birding was a bit slow, but the scenery was spectacular. The intensity of the sun was causes an unique low-level fog off the snow. The feeling that I was getting more than anything else was that winter seems to be losing its grip on the land. It’s only a matter of time before the first spring migrants return and scenery transforms from white to green.

Every Groundhog Day, they drag a poor old Punxsutawney Phil out of his constructed den and see if he sees his own shadow. Will there be 6 more weeks of winter or is spring right around the corner? That predicitive logic might be acceptable for an eastern Groundhog (I personally prefer Woodchuck), but we have our own Groundhog in the Rockies who won’t even if see sunlight for another 3 or 4 months.

Hoary marmots live in the high alpine reaches of northwestern North America and, in particular, the Crown of the Continent ecosystem which encompasses Glacier National Park. They live and thrive in an environment that is immensely harsh. The winters are so taxing that the Hoary marmot must hibernate 7-8 months of the year. These 20 pound rodents spend their winters in a den on a talus slope under feet of snow and ice.

Come summer, the marmots feed upon alpine plants and frolic among the lichen-covered boulders. Folks that are fortunate enough to visit the high country will find these fearless creatures incredibly entertaining.

So if a Hoary Marmot sees its shadow in May, it means that summer is coming…well, even if he doesn’t, summer is coming.

With the ever increasing likelihood that the Rainsong Ivory-billed Woodpecker or, as I’ve dubbed it, IBWOgate is a complete hoax, I began to wonder about the great hoaxes in birding history. There seems to be a multitude of reasons for the birding hoax, but they seem to fall into four broad categories;

• Self-aggrandizement through finding rarities or becoming a “famous” birder
• A very bad joke on fellow birders
• Mistaken IDs by well-meaning and, many cases, competent birders
• And the worst, for profit

One of latest cases of self-aggrandizement comes in the form of a grainy image of an apparent Steller’s Eider off the of North Wales, UK. Apparently, this birder turned golfer (why in the hell would one do that?) spotted the sea duck while, you guessed it, golfing. He managed to take a blurry image has to prove his sighting. The problem – no one else was able to find the bird, and worse, the photo seems to come from a photographer from Scandinavia. I wonder if he was flogged with a golf club by the twitchers?

In the bad joke department, we have the Siberian Accentor from North East Derbyshire, UK. It seems this bloke put out a model of an Accentor as a joke on his mate. The problem – other birders heard about the Siberian Accentor and rushed to its location. Some even claimed to have seen it and the news made the British publication Birding World. The hoax was revealed when the jokester attempted a second ruse, only this time he was busted and had his birding privileges revoked. Heck, I am guilty of this to lesser extent. After a day of birding, I reported my sightings on the Montana Online Birders group. I mentioned that I saw a Montana Trogon, or more commonly known as the Black-billed Magpie. I had people asking me, “Trogon really?” and “Where’s the trogon?”. It’s a joke, people. Relax.

The hoax that isn’t a hoax. The mistaken identification of a common species as something rare. Here’s the scenario. Good birders make mistakes, and we all do it, so no pointing fingers here. The misidentified bird becomes a hot rarity, and folks rushed to see this once in a lifetime bird. Once the birding community accepts the mis-ID, then everyone “sees” the rarity. The best example of this phenomenon was the supposed Smith’s Longspur in California in the late 70s. The bird was observed by many folks who were good birders, and they eliminated the possibilities one by one. Horned Lark – are you kidding? Lesser Short-toed Lark – maybe, but nope. Eurasian Skylark – definitely not. Smith’s Longspur – bingo! The problem the bird turned out to be, drum roll please, an Eurasian Skylark, which was a rarity in its own right as California’s first documented visit from this species. But heck, it was California in the Seventies, wild times, wild times.

Now for the final and most insidious category, the hoax for profit. With some organizations offering rewards for documentation or information about endangered species, there is a temptation to defraud by certain individuals. With IBWOgate, I am beginning to wonder if this is not the case with Rainsong Ivory-billed Woodpecker. I am just suspicious, not making accusations or anything. But, with CLO offering a substantial cash prize for an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, there is fertile bed for the seeds of a hoax.

I had the great opportunity to give of talks at the Bridger Raptor Festival. This festival is a great educational event with many great exhibits and live rehab birds, including the Turkey Vulture that once threw up on me. The talks went well with great attendance. It has been a long time since the last time I spoke publicly, and it felt good to get back up on that horse.

Researchers have found an amazing species in the crater of a volcano in New Guinea, a giant rat that is about 3 feet from head to tail. It is being called the Bosavi woolly rat for now as no scientific name as yet been agreed upon. You can read a full article from the BBC. As you will see from the video, it is extraordinarily docile and shows no fear of humans.

Over today (and hopefully only today), I am going to put out a series of postings that cover my adventures over the past couple of weeks.

After 3 days and nights  of solid work, I went for a little hike up to Kirk Hill for a little birding, photography, and relaxation. I took the unofficial “very” long loop that goes through several old cuts. The typical birds were singing and calling, and there were a plethora of Sara Orangetips flitting about as well. The hike was about 4 miles total and climbed about 100 feet, so it was a decedent workout also. This time of year the wildflowers are starting to really show off which made for some macro photography opportunities.

Sometimes in birding and life, the weather is going to be dark and miserable, and then you will get a break in that weather. You need to take advantage of these relieving interludes, and that is exactly what we did today. Sam and I went up to the Triple Tree Area, and spotted most of the usual birds, including a First-of-Year Willow Flycatcher, and many new butterflies for the season (Silvery Blue, Variable Checkerspot, and a possible California Tortoiseshell).

This morning I went out for a little birding and photography, and I finally got some decent images of Red-necked Grebes at the Davis Lane Pond. Later on in the morning, I went to the Cherry River area and I encountered a group of ~20 young birders, or, at least, young adults being forced to bird…pretty cool.

Now for the big thoughts…I just know that something big is going to happen. I don’t know what it is going to be, other than it will be incredible and special. I have this overwhelming feeling that it is going to happen. Stay tuned.

The last “good” shots from the D100

Farewell old friend