April 9, 2019

My Return…

Cannon on the Chancellorsville Battlefield, Virginia Canon 7d MkII, Sigma 17-50 mm, f/8.0, 45mm, 1/80, ISO 100

So, I’ve been away from blogging for a while now. I’m disappointed that i didn’t complete my 100 Birds in 2018. Some things came up in my personal life that did not give me the time to write like I had planned last year. I have found a new found motivation to write through the course I’ve been going through the last four months and want to be able to maintain the skills I’ve gained and or been reminded of. I’m going to keep writing about wildlife and natural resources, but I want to expand that into leadership in that field and possibly how veterans and military personnel can benefit from nature.

I’m a current Army officer in the National Guard and was selected to attend Command and General Staff College in Fort Belvoir this winter. The course had an impact on my family and my civilian job, however, I hope that the skills and concepts I learned here will help me be not only a better officer, but a better leader and father when I get home.

Command and General Staff College is the intermediate level education that U.S. Army officers take when they reach the rank of major. Students are given instruction in military operations from the strategic, operational and the tactical levels. Additionally we take classes in military history, leadership, and the Army’s force management processes. This course is supposed to give us a basic understanding of the higher levels of the Army, as well as set us up to become more effective organizational leaders and planners.

For me, this was the first time I’d been in an academic setting since I graduated college in 2004. I hadn’t written a graded paper since them, or taken a written test either. At first it seemed pretty daunting, but as I learned what the school was looking for, things got less stressful on that front. The thing that never got less stressful was the need to participate actively and vocally in class.

This was my biggest hurdle. I’ve never been one to talk a lot in an academic setting. I take my notes, answer questions when asked, and struggle through the mandatory speaking assignments. It’s especially difficult for me as a part-time Soldier trying to sound as knowledgable and “Army” as my active duty peers. I think I’ve gotten better over time, but I still struggle getting the terms and style right. (my oral exam is next week…guess I’ll see how much I’ve really improved.

However, that’s just an academic test. The real test will be how I use the skills I sacrificed so much time and effort to learn and understand. I think that’s why I’m writing this blog post…to maintain the skills that I used here and to help me continue to tie ideas and thoughts of my work and passions to the proven theories I’ve learned here.

August 15, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #36 Northern Flicker

I first identified the Norther Flicker a couple of years ago near my house. I’ve gotten plenty of photos of them over the last couple of years as well. This one isn’t the greatest. It was terrible lighting and not the best angle, but i took it on a hike in Colorado. I figured I might as well post it anyhow and show what a little editing can do.

Northern Flicker (1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

There are two types of Northern Flickers in the U.S., the red-shafted in the west and the yellow shafted in the east. Living in Nebraska, I’ve seen and photographed both types. The other easily identifiable characteristic of these birds is the white patch on their rump. When they fly away from you, it’s a dead giveaway.

They aren’t your typical woodpecker. They tend to forage on the ground with sparrows and blackbirds, rather than on insects in tree cavities like their relatives.

Northern Flickers are wide-spread and common across the U.S. However, they have seen a decline over the last 60 years. I would guess it’s similar to most of our declining bird species and due to loss of habitat and urbanization.

August 13, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #35 Canada Goose

One of the most recognizable waterfowl in North America, the Canada Goose has a special place in my heart. Both of my grandfathers were avid goose hunters. They would travel, early in the morning, to their blinds on the Platte River. Those early mornings were made even earlier due to the fact that we lived no closer than an hour from the river. Trips to the blind often started before 3 a.m. They loved it though. I can remember shortly after my paternal grandfather passed that two lone geese flew directly over my dad and I as we were headed out to feed the hogs. It was one of the only times, as a child I saw my father cry.

Canada Goose (1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 1250, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

Okay, enough of the sappy stuff. You can find Canada Geese all across the United States and Canada. They generally migrate from their winter grounds in the Southern U.S. to the north in early spring and return in late fall. I found it interesting that more and more are staying put through the winter. Likely due to availability of food in agricultural fields and suburban sprawl.

I took this photo, on a small pond near Bridgeport, Nebraska. It was just around nesting time and it was really fun to sit and take photos of them taking off and landing. Though some see them as pests, I will always see them as a reminder of two damn good men who gave me a love and appreciation of the outdoors.

August 11, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #34 Horned Lark

My mom called these little birds “snow birds” as I was growing up. They would be thick around our farm, especially around the silage pile scratching and feeding on the grain that would fall from the feed truck. They are one of the first birds I learned to identify using my first Golden Field Guide to North American Birds (mine was the 1983 version). I cherished that book, reading about the different types of birds, their habitat, their ranges. In fact, I still have it on my shelf today. Though there’s all kinds of fancy apps out there (I especially like Merlin) that can get the job done much quicker, it’s still fun to go back and look at the detailed drawings and colors that can only be found in a book that couldn’t rely on photos and high speed internet. (Gosh I sound old)

Horned Lark (1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 1600, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

Horned Larks are small, hardy birds common across the Great Plains. They nest on bare ground and in the winter can be seen in flocks of up to 100. They feed primarily on seeds and insects that are found on the ground.

It was disheartening to read that their numbers have declined over 70% since 1966. I’m sure it is tied to the decline of many other prairie species: loss of habitat, new farming practices, and human encroachment.

August 7, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #33 Eastern Kingbird

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that i realized just how many different types of flycatchers there were out there. I remember watching them do their acrobatics around our house and also having to be really careful not to mistake them for Mourning Doves when hunting.

Eastern Kingbird (1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

The Eastern Kingbirds migrate into the United States in the summer months and head back south to the forests of South America. I found it interesting that while in their winter homes, they generally eat fruits rather than the insects we see them hunting here.

I’ve seen them really live up to their name as kingbirds. They defend their territory against some of the largest birds in the area. I’ve seen them chase and gang up on Red-tailed Hawks, Kestrels, and Crows. They almost always win.

August 6, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #32 Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker (1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 320, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

I love these guys. They are easy to find, easy to photograph and just fun to watch. I took this picture near my house east of Chadron, NE. This is the second year I’ve seen Red-

headed Woodpeckers working over the abandoned power poles along the road. They jump from pole to pole as you drive by. I’ve even noticed that they tend to work their way behind the pole as you go by, as to stay hidden.

Red-headed woodpeckers are common across the Midwest and Eastern U.S. They forage on seeds and insects and are known as one of the most skillful flycatching woodpeckers in North America.

I’m always taken aback by their colors and the quick and graceful flight patterns. Always look forward to seeing them each summer!

August 4, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #31 American White Pelican

I took this photo of an American White Pelican along Highway 2 in Western Nebraska. I have taken so many trips up and down that highway over the years and don’t remember ever seeing one. I actually saw five or six this time.

American White Pelican (1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

They are impressive birds. I remember seeing a bunch of them earlier this spring flying. Their wingspan is HUGE! According to All About Birds American White Pelicans are one of North America’s largest flying birds with a wingspan of over nine feet!

These birds were once shot for both sport and for fear that they were competing with humans for fish. It’s now been proven that the fish that pelicans eat are generally undesirable to humans.

August 3, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #30 House Sparrow

One of the most common birds in North America, the House Sparrow was introduced the New World in Brooklyn around 1850 and quickly spread west, making it to the Rocky Mountains by 1900. I’m like most folks, and see them as an invasive pest, but they are a pretty impressive and adaptive bird.

House Sparrow (1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 1000, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

I took this photo near a park in Denver, Colorado. It seemed to me, that the House Sparrows kept closer to the urban areas and left the open space to the native birds. I saw king birds, hummingbirds, and other natives all along my hike, but only saw the House Sparrows when I returned to my truck that was parked along the street in an adjacent neighborhood.

They are quite pretty. I like the contrasts in colors and they are also fun to watch as they bounce and forage all over the place protecting their nests and feeding on whatever seeds are in season. I guess I’m okay with them, so long as they don’t show up at my house.

August 2, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #29 Merriam’s Turkey

One of the four sub-species of Wild Turkey in the United States, the Merriam’s Turkey is one of the biggest success stories of American conservation. Here in Northwest Nebraska, wild turkey’s seem to be everywhere. With our native pine forests, abundant cropland, and public land our area has become one of the hotspots for hunters looking to accomplish the turkey grand slam (harvesting each of the subspecies of Wild Turkey’s in the United States).

Merriam’s Turkey (1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

Between hunting for food and logging, by the turn of the century, wild turkey numbers had gone from the millions to around 30,000. Now, there are nearly 7 million. Between sportsmen and other conservationists, a lot of work has gone into preserving this magnificent bird. The National Wild Turkey Federation gives funds each year to landowners and other groups for habitat improvement projects as well as groups who advocate for safe and ethical hunting of wild animals. I’ve had the opportunity to work with them extensively in improving wildlife habitat in the Pine Ridge over the years. They truly are an organization worth supporting, as they are all about the habitat and ensuring we have natural resources and people who support them long into the future.

Wild Turkey’s feed on nuts, seeds and sometimes insects. I have actually seen a flock of turkey’s completely shred a hay bale in the winter when food is scarce. Many landowners see these birds as pests, though their abundance is good for hunters, especially young hunters, as it’s pretty easy to get permission to hunt. To me, getting this next generation interested in hunting is key to preserving our natural resources in the future.

July 31, 2018

100 Birds in 2018 – #28 Mourning Dove

There isn’t anything that sounds more like peace than coo-cooo of a Mourning Dove. It’s one of my favorite sounds, especially on cool, late summer evenings.

Mourning Dove (1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 2000, Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 150-600 C)

Mourning Doves are the first game bird I ever hunted. They are extremely fast flyers and seem to dart and weave every time you take a shot. When you do get a few down though, you sure can’t beat the taste of them. They may be small, but they are super flavorful.

Mourning Doves migrate each year. They generally head south in late September and don’t return until late-March or early April. I found it pretty interesting that the oldest known of the species was over 30 years old. That’s amazing due to their small size and the fact that hunters shoot over 20,000 of them a year. Goes to show how resilient the bird is and that regulated hunting is also okay for wildlife. Season here in Nebraska opens next month. I’ll be taking my son on his first hunt then. I can’t wait!

High Plains Husker

Bringing Appreciation of the Prairie to Your Screen