Dave wrote:, > >I was wondering how many of you paddlewisers are serious birders? I find >birding from a kayak to be very fruitful. It seems that birds tend to allow >me to get closer when paddling than when walking through the jungle. Do any >of you find this to be true? > I find shorebird photograpy is often easier from a kayak than trying to approach on foot. I use a Klepper A2 and Folbot Aleut for photography. For "birding" shorebirds I prefer to be on foot and use a scope. In rainforests I have been in dugouts when looking for forest edge and stream specialists. Kayaks would be good as well. For canopy and understory specialists you still need to walk the trails. Tony Niilus Upland, CA (2500+ species seen) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I'm also a birder (>600 US species), but I don't find the birds to be very tame, unless you're comparing a kayak to a stinkpot. It seems the ducks around here are habituated to think "duck hunter" whenever they see a low profile watercraft. Darrell Lee Alameda, CA snorkler_at_juno.com On Tue, 16 May 2000 08:12:32 Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net> writes: > At 11:11 AM 5/16/00 +0700, Dave Williams wrote: > > >I was wondering how many of you paddlewisers are serious birders? > I find > >birding from a kayak to be very fruitful. It seems that birds tend > to allow > >me to get closer when paddling than when walking through the > jungle. Do any > >of you find this to be true? > I'm not a serious birder, but my experiences in getting close to > birds and > observing them from the kayak are getting me close to being one. I > made the > comment in one of my essays that the inability (or lack of interest) > in > telling little brown birds apart are about all that keeps me from > becoming > one. > > -- Wes > > ************************************************************************* ** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author > and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > ************************************************************************* ** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
You have not really birded until you try to identify migrating warblers with binoculars out of a moving, bobbing kayak. I can never get a good enough view of those little devils when I am standing on firm ground, but out of the kayak it is an amazing test of dexterity and determination. Of course on firm ground you hardly ever get to drift under a prothonotary warbler just inches above your head. If I could just get past generic brown and black ducks and little brown shorebirds I might actually get a life list going. Mark J. Arnold MJAkayaker_at_aol.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Dave, We get a few diving species like Bufflehead and Surf Scoter, and lots of dabblers like American Widgeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, and Green-winged Teal. All but the Mallards leave in the summer. Your Thai birds sound much more interesting. I'm partial to Canvasbacks and Snowy Plovers, but I also like the Bufflehad and Gadwall for their elegance and chutzpah, respectively. I have gotten quite close to numerous animals paddling (most recently within 6' of a Great Blue Heron when in a canoe in the Okeefenokee Swamp). Things like Muskrats and Sea Otter and California Sea Lion and Harbor Seal don't seem to worry about kayaks. In Alaska and Utah, I've gotten great views of breeding plumage Red-throated Loons and breeding Canada Geese, respectively. But Alameda waterfowl sure have been skittish in my experience. Darrell Lee Alameda, CA snorkler_at_juno.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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