Bird Watching (aka Birding)
Birding has many aspects and challenges. I began “Bird
Watching” when my son saw articles about Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and Great Backyard
Bird Count (GBBC) with eBird.org. He knew my love for nature and that I fed
birds each winter. My initial response: “I don’t know about this.”
I gave it a try. I set up an account with eBird and started
entering birds. I quickly found out there was not a listing for “red bird, blue
bird, yellow like bird, etc.” How many blue-like birds are there anyway? What
in the world is a “supercilium”? Again, my response: “I don’t know about this.”
After a few entries on eBird, I received a call. The person
on the other end of the line identified himself as a member of a bird club.
Without taking a breath, he asked me, “Who are you?” My reply, “I’m Clancey Deel of Home Electric.
How can I help you?” I answered while wondering what a bird club was. He went
on trying to explain why he made the phone call and that he wanted to meet with
me. “What electrical problem are you
having?” I asked. After a chuckle, he explained he wanted to talk to me about
the bird entries I had been making.
Meeting with him, he explained that he had been monitoring
my entries and some were exciting and some were not so good with major errors.
After an hour of talking about nothing but birds, I promised I would work on my
bird watching and “my entries”.
A year passed with several entries and just as many
corrections. Not only did I receive
corrections from my bird expert, but from people that I had never seen or heard
of. Because I was posting photos with the species, they could see that I “needed
help”. Boy, some of those guys can be
tough. “The little yellow feather is out place for the specie you posted. ”
What feathers are you talking about?” I knew my photo was not that good. How can
you see a YELLOW feather?” And….. just “Who
are you, anyway?”
I was ready to give up on this project. I wanted something that
allowed me to relax and enjoy my love of nature. A little later a challenge was
given to me to research owls in Burkes Garden. To the relief of my expert, I
spent the next year looking and listening for my nocturnal feathered friends. I
was hooked. This “birding” thing is fun.
Since Tazewell County does not have an active bird club, I joined
Buchanan County Bird Club (BCBC). My new mentors are members of that club. Members have nearly 50 years of experience, each
in the field of bird watching. Roger Mayhorn, Ed Talbott III, Dave Raines and
Don Carrier are often called upon to ID birds for me. Daryl Owens, who has less
than 10 years of experience in the field but 50+ years of knowledge, is a
regular on my “to call” list. When I find a bird I cannot ID, my “yellow” bird
photo, along with my thoughts, is sent.
My ability to see and to hear worsens with age and often gets
in the way of my birding in the field. Therefore
I rely on my camera and the computer for a bird’s correct identification. I have
decided not to allow finding many bird species or getting all the birds ID correctly
to keep me from enjoying nature. You see, one can get hung up on getting a “lifer”
or getting 500+ species in one’s life time (lifers) and thus miss out on the
important things: being with nature (the Lord’s gift), helping with data that
checks the health of our ecosystem and helping one’s own health (relaxing,
walking trails, etc).
Finally, I am able to answer my own first question, “I DO
know about this”.
Comments:
Daryl Owens
Thanks for the kind words Clancey! It is certainly been a pleasure to become
friends with you over the past few years and, as usual, you are much too
modest! Clancey failed to relate that when he shares his “thoughts” that 9+
times out of 10 he already has it right!
Clancey Deel - Thanks, As usual you are the modest expert (experienced
amateur)
Judy Wells Vass
Alltizer Enjoyed reading this , Clancy ! Mike and myself have always liked
bird watching , but , you sparked our interest to do even more ! And what fun
we have had ! What beautiful birds we have found because of you ! You have been
a great friend to us and mentor with " birding " ! Looking forward to
getting started again after Christmas beginning on the first of the year with a
trip to find some Sandhill Cranes ! Hope your health improves and looking forward
to doing some birding with you in the new year !!!!
Clancey Deel - I hope you get to see the Whooping Cranes.
Don Carrier
Clancy you have duplicated my story into birding and I have to say you are one
of my favorite birders. We've all made mistakes but we keep going and I believe
you have added more data that a I have to SW Virginia records. It's a pleasure
to bird with you and history will remember you as a great contributor.
Clancey Deel - Don Carrier I'm the fortunate person to meet
members of BCBC in Burkes Garden while they were checking out Golden Eagles.
They invite me to join the club. It has been great experience meeting and
making friends. Hope we will have a great year in 2020.
David Raines Hey
Clancey, thanks for sharing your journey into birding. It's a great story and I
appreciate your kind words. Wish we could bird together more often. You are
definitely making a tremendous contribution to the birding community. May you
always enjoy taking time for your studies!
Clancey Deel - David Raines I wrote the article to encourage
someone to start birding and hopefully someone would start a club for Tazewell
County simliar to BCBC (as you can see by the comments - great people)
Glen Eller You
are a natural Clancey, keep up the good work. We need more "birders"
like you.
Clancey Deel - Glen Eller You are a great person who
encourages others. Hope you have a great Christmas!
Roger Mayhorn
Clancy, I have really enjoyed being a part of your birding journey. It has been
a pleasure to watch, as you have not only become very proficient at identifying
birds, despite your physical problems, but to watch as you carved out a birding
niche for yourself by taking on the gathering of much needed birding data in
Tazewell County, especially in Burkes Garden. You have made many valuable
contributions for that area by by remaining a dedicated birder, and by finding
many species formerly unknown there. I look forward to more birding with
you,and to have you once again join me to enjoy the birding during the fall
migration at my place. Good health and good birding in this coming year.
Clancey Deel - Roger Mayhorn Thanks. I have the photo book.
Linda Weatherly
Shroyer I would love for there to be an interest in a bird club in Tazewell
again! I'm a terrible organizer unfortunately, but I'd be "in."
