Presidential Birders

a special publication from , FDR Bird Watcher As the biographer Jean Edward Smith notes in his preface to FDR, “there is little that has not been said, some- where, about the president.” Yet his lifelong fascination with bird watching is often overlooked, a dimension that reveals something about FDR the man. It is well known that Theodore Roosevelt, a distant cousin of Franklin’s, was an accomplished naturalist and a skilled birder. While president, TR kept a yard list of the birds he saw and heard around the White House: an impressive 93 spe- cies, including a pair of saw-whet owls. Franklin idolized his elder cousin Ted, emulating him in every respect, down to wearing nearly identical pince-nez eyeglasses. It may not be too great a leap to assume that it was TR’s interest in bird watching that inspired young

FDR to pursue the hobby himself. KYLE CARLSEN

K y l e C a r l s e n

44 birdwatchersdigest.com • January/February ’15 • Bird Watcher’s Digest Springwood, FDR’s home on the Hudson River.

A

45 FDR, center, joins the May Census on May 10, 1942. Left to right: Ray Guernsey, Allen Frost, Roosevelt, Daisy Suckley, Ludlow Griscom.

A shy and curious youngster, came a strict condition: He was Franklin spent a fair amount to take only one bird per species, of his childhood exploring the and never during nesting season. fields, swamps, and woodlands Over the next few years Franklin surrounding Springwood, his built up an impressive collection family’s estate, situated along of birds, ranging from magno- the Hudson River in Hyde Park, lia warbler to red-shouldered New York. “He would walk for hawk, all from his home county miles, if, at the end of the trek, of Dutchess. Franklin’s parents an unusual bird was to be seen,” were proud of their son’s orni- wrote his mother. thological work, keeping a part Franklin was a collector— of the collection on prominent obsessed with stamps, books of display in the entrance hall of all sorts, and birds. As was cus- their home. Franklin was also tomary in the late 19th century, proud, and protective, of his his bird collection was a literal prized specimens—each clearly one. He begged his parents for identified and arranged in a cer- a bird-collecting gun, which, tain order, and many mounted despite his mother’s initial reser- by the young naturalist himself. vations, he finally received from While away at school, Franklin his father on the morning of his urged his mother to protect his eleventh birthday. That same day work from the curious hands of Franklin shot his first crow. young, visiting cousins: “I hope

With Franklin’s birthday gift you will seal up my birds before LIBRARY FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT JAMES WHITEHEAD / COURTESY

3 birdwatchersdigest.com • January/February ’15 • Bird Watcher’s Digest Pine grosbeak, one of the many species recorded in young FDR’s bird diary.

the babies come to stay with in the sunlight.” A few pages you or else I should be afraid of later, he recorded: “While driving the consequences.” Part of the on the avenue, I noticed a blue- collection remains on display at gray bird fly out of a pine tree, Springwood. and immediately a pine grosbeak Franklin’s contributions to the fell to the ground. It was still ornithological understanding of warm though dead. I suppose the time are both interesting and that the blue-gray bird was a important. His documentation great northern shrike.” of nesting ospreys in 1896 and Though FDR’s interest in least bitterns in 1906 remain the birds continued into adulthood, earliest on record for Dutchess polio paralysis and an increas- County. From January through ingly demanding political career June 1896, he kept careful, near- prevented him from spending daily notes of every bird he saw much time in the field. Unlike and heard at Hyde Park. On the other bird-watching President Thursday, January 23, he wrote: Roosevelt, who would stand “Saw a flock of 9 pine grosbeaks conspicuously on the White at 9:30 a.m. near house and in House lawn to peer up at myrtle orchard. These birds were eating warblers and ruby-crowned the pine cones at the top of some kinglets, FDR seemed to limit large trees; they were all in gray most of his birding to visits home plumage, except one, in whom to Hyde Park, his refuge from

GLENN BARTLEY the rusty-red was very apparent the demands and publicity of

Bird Watcher’s Digest • January/February ’15 • birdwatchersdigest.com 4 Part of FDR’s bird collection remains on display

in the entrance hall at Springwood. LEWIS DAVE

5 birdwatchersdigest.com • January/February ’15 • Bird Watcher’s Digest FDR’s 1896 record of nesting osprey remains the earliest on record for Dutchess County.

Washington. Fortunately for him, those visits were frequent throughout his presidency. Springwood became known as the “Summer White House.” On one such visit, on Sunday, May 10, 1942, FDR participated in a Dutchess County birding tradition known as the May Census—an all-day affair, much like a Big Day, held annu- ally since 1919. Among those involved in the census that year were Ray Guernsey, James Whitehead, and Allen Frost. All three men were interested in birds; Whitehead and Frost USFWS were on the staff of the recently opened Franklin D. Roosevelt We went a little way along Library. the track, then parked facing the Also on the library staff was swamp, and watched the thousands Daisy Suckley, a distant cousin of birds collecting there for the and close companion of FDR, night. The President is awfully who shared the president’s fas- interested, birds being one of his cination with birds. In her pri- many hobbies. Mrs. Roosevelt was vate diary, not recovered until frankly not specially interested. after her death in 1991, Suckley recorded many occasions It was Suckley who invited when she and FDR went bird FDR to participate in the 1942 watching together throughout May Census. The president Dutchess County in the 1930s enthusiastically accepted the and 40s. In one such diary entry, invitation. Also invited was Suckley wrote of an October Ludlow Griscom, the American evening when she was with both ornithologist who advocated President and Mrs. Roosevelt, for bird identification by field watching blackbirds at Cruger marks long before Roger Tory Island, a marshy peninsula that Peterson published A Field

KYLE CARLSEN juts into the Hudson River: Guide to the Birds.

Bird Watcher’s Digest • January/February ’15 • birdwatchersdigest.com 6 Griscom was far less enthu- “For as long as I siastic about the idea. Affectionately dubbed have known him, “Dean of the Birdwatchers,” Griscom was a widely pub- Franklin could lished ornithologist, an excellent field birder, and the research curator at the always point to a Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. He was bird and tell me also a staunch Republican. His political differences with what it was.” the president ran deep; in fact, Griscom had strongly and publicly opposed FDR —Eleanor Roosevelt during the 1940 election. He initially opposed the idea of their spending a morning bird watching together, but his wife, Edith, managed to persuade him otherwise:

Ludlow, this man happens to be the President of the United States. There’s a war on, a very serious war, and he is absolutely exhausted. He’s back there at Hyde Park resting. It’s your patriotic duty to go and do any- thing that can relax his brain in any way, shape, or form.

Griscom agreed to go, and would later relate in a thank- you note to Miss Suckley that in fact, he’d had a grand time birding with the president. Anyone who has participat- ed in any sort of bird-watching

excursion can imagine how KYLE CARLSEN

7 birdwatchersdigest.com • January/February ’15 • Bird Watcher’s Digest such an event must have been The president thoroughly a Secret Service nightmare. enjoyed himself, watching war- As the party was gathering at blers and swapping stories with the Hyde Park residence in the fellow bird watchers. One hun- dark at 4 a.m., a Secret Service dred eight species were record- agent asked Griscom where ed, including Virginia rail, they planned to go. Griscom marsh wren, grasshopper spar- replied, “Off into Thompson’s row, and red-legged black duck Pond, but I’m not exactly sure (once considered to be a species where we are going.” separate from American black The birding caravan con- duck). Though the rest of the sisted of the presidential bul- party stayed out until nearly letproof car, a Secret Service sunset, FDR excused himself car following close behind, early to return to his presiden- and a third vehicle bringing tial duties and to his weekend up the rear with Guernsey and guests, the Crown Prince and Whitehead. They started before Princess of Norway. dawn to listen for whip-poor- Shortly before his death, wills and early rising songbirds. weary and heavy-laden with Whitehead relates the experi- war, FDR wrote in a letter: ence in a letter written ten days “All that is within me cries out after the census: to go back to my home on the Hudson River.” Bird watchers At Thompson’s Pond, a little now recognize the Springwood after five we stopped on a little estate as a remarkable area, road built right through the visiting from near and far to center of the marsh—reeds and enjoy red-breasted nuthatches, grasses growing thick on both black-capped chickadees, and sides. We got out and listened scarlet tanagers. One can’t help to the early morning chorus of but wonder whether Franklin is marsh birds—most of us around sometimes there with them. a the President’s car. He natural- ly stayed in it, and so did Miss Kyle Carlsen is the assis- Suckley. Mr. Griscom stood tant editor of Bird Watcher’s up to see better, as day came. Digest. He wishes to thank The Secret Service stood at a Barbara Butler and Stan respectful distance, all of them DeOrsey of the Ralph T. bored. They listened kindly, Waterman Bird Club for though, as Mr. Frost explained vital information on Dutchess various sounds now and then. County’s history.

Bird Watcher’s Digest • January/February ’15 • birdwatchersdigest.com 8 New Bird Watchers: The Carters

Over the years the American people have seen former President Jimmy Carter take on a number of public roles. Since leaving public Ooffice in 1980, he has especially been seen as a mediator of interna- tional conflicts and as a The Carters in Africa, where they spokesperson for Habi- discovered bird watching. tat For Humanity in its efforts to build housing ably in denim jeans and running for low-income Americans. Re- shoes, Mr. Carter looked the cently, Mr. Carter has revealed personification of the Southern another, more personal side of outdoorsman that he admits to his life, with the publication of being, as he fielded questions his book An Outdoor Journal: in his office and in the Japanese Ad ventures And Reflections. In Garden of the Presidential the book he writes of both his Center. “The most interesting de- own and Mrs. Carter’s interest velopment in our lives in the last in outdoor activities. They have year has been bird watching,” the both enjoyed hunting and fish- for mer chief executive began. ing for a number of years, but in “We’ve taken it up very aggres- a recent interview at the Jimmy sively, and we listen to tapes of Carter Presidential Center in bird calls. Now, when we’re in Atlanta, Mr. Carter spoke of the woods, we can pretty well their newfound interest in bird tell what birds are all around us watching. Dressed comfort- just by listening.” Although the

9 birdwatchersdigest.com • March/April ’91 • Bird Watcher’s Digest Carters have traveled over much assigned routes for its annual of North America as hunters, Breeding Bird Survey, conducted have fished for several dozen spe- across the country during breed- New Bird Watchers: cies of game fish throughout the ing season.—Editor.] Of course, world, trekked in the Himalaya as with most other activities, it is Mountains of Asia, and climbed easier to find open doors when Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, you are a former President of they now find their free mo- the United States. “We During a The Carters ments taken up most frequently Colorado fishing trip, the Carters by birding. “In the future, our went afield with Hugh Kingery orientation is going to be more (far left) in search of mountain and more toward the observation birds. (Read his account on of wildlife. We really are excited page 100) have a chance when about bird watching and its chal- we go to Colorado, East Africa, lenge,” Mr. Carter emphasized. Pennsylvania, or to Jekyll Island “As a matter of fact, tomorrow (off the Georgia coast) to call morning, Rosalynn and I are go- ahead of time and make arrange- ing to join a medical doctor, who ments for one of the outstanding for 12 years, on the same week- bird watchers of that area to end every year, has come down meet us and go out for two or near Plains [Georgia, the Carters’ three hours. What we’ve tried to home town] as a volunteer. He do is build upon each fascinat- stops for three minutes alongside ing aspect of outdoor life,” Mr. the road and listens for different Carter said. “It really adds a lot species of birds and records the to hunting or fishing just to be ones he hears. He drives a half aware of different species that mile and stops for three more have been around us all our lives, minutes. He does this for four in our backyards or on our out- and a half hours, and by compar- ings as sportsmen, that we never ing what he has heard or seen have been able to identify.” Mr. over 12 years with what he sees Carter also pointed out that there now, he can get a fairly accurate are some good reasons why he trend line on the different spe- has begun to share his love of the cies of birds in the area. It’s just outdoors and nature with others a total coincidence that he does a through his writing. “I think it is route that ends up in Plains. He important for the people of the wrote me about a month ago, and nation to understand as much as tomorrow we’re going to go out possible about the character of with him.” [President Carter was our presidents. This is an element joining a volunteer on one of the of my experiences and commit- U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ments in my life that people have

Bird Watcher’s Digest • March/April ’91 • birdwatchersdigest.com 10 not known about,” Mr. Carter processor, and sooner or later, noted. “I think it is very impor- they’ll be coming back out,” he tant for people who are promi- mused, flashing his trademark nent to let the world know that smile. Regardless of what the preserving the outdoors, improv- future may hold for President ing habitat, increasing the popu- Carter in the fields of mediation lation of wild animals, birds, and or humanitarian pursuits, it is fish are important.” Now that he likely that a good portion of his has taken the plunge into writing and Mrs. Carter’s leisure time about his love of the outdoors, will be spent afield enjoying the will we be hearing more from hobby of bird watching. Jimmy Carter on the subject, and Jimmy Jacobs is the editor of especially on his birding? “1 keep Georgia Sportsman Magazine. notes now on our experiences as He is a member of the Outdoor amateur bird watchers. Whenever Writer’s Association and the I have an interesting experience, Southeastern Outdoor Press As- I insert these notes in my word sociation. With the Carters in Maine

In a small summer commu- they would be ready at dawn, but nity on an island off the coast 6:30 seemed early enough to our of Maine, former President and local team of bird watchers. Mrs. Carter gave birding a new The day was perfect—bright cachet when they announced with just a small breeze. It was while visiting is land residents immediately obvious that the that one thing they would re- former President and First Lady ally like to do would be to go knew what they were about. They bird watching. Their hosts got had a field guide with which to in touch with interested local check off the day’s sightings, birders, and the date was set for and each was carrying a pair of Saturday, August 19. We did not binoculars. (Etiquette, research know whether the Carters truly showed, required only that a were interested in bird watching, former president be called “Mr.” or—like so many others—sim- and the Carters in formally had ply wanted to take a walk out- suggested that they could be doors; so we brought along extra called “Rosalynn” and “Jimmy.” binoculars. The Carters had said But our group continued to ad-

11 birdwatchersdigest.com • March/April ’91 • Bird Watcher’s Digest dress them as “Mr. President” At our first stop we saw a and “Mrs. Carter.”) yellow-rumped warbler, a blue Mrs. Carter was magnolia- jay, a white-winged crossbill, and complexioned even at that hour a red-breasted nuthatch, then (she said that she always applies spotted a Canada goose flying sun block before any makeup) over head. As we drove to our and wearing a yellow and white next stop, it occurred to us that sweater against the cool morning. we had noticed no secret service The former president wore an men, so we asked about them. open collared golf shirt bearing Mrs. Carter pointed to a station an insignia from a lodge where wagon following us unobtru- the couple had recently stayed sively about 10 car lengths back in Africa. Both wore light shoes and said, “There they are.” After for running or walking on rough we had gotten out of our car, we terrain, shoes they take with them saw that they had stopped a car every place so that they can run that had started down toward for two or three miles every day, the beach where we were and even when traveling. They said (we learned later) had asked the this breaks the strains of travel. occupants politely if they would The Carters did not begin wait until the President had fin- serious birding until a year or so ished bird watching. Mrs. Carter ago while in Tanzania and Kenya, said that secret service men even where they had a self-educated follow the Carters when they go African guide who knew every running, but so unobtrusively bird, its scientific name and its that they are hardly noticed. habits. He so inspired them that We wondered it if was neces- they have continued birding ever sary to follow the Carters even since. On the day we took them on our peaceful island, but a around our island they had listed secret service man said later that about 160 species for the United the Carters receive three or four States and about 400 altogether, death threats every month—usu- counting those seen in Africa. ally from obviously deranged They have in stalled bluebird persons—and that young Amy, houses at their home in Georgia their daughter, receives even and observe them closely enough more. so that they were able to report As the morning went on and that many bluebird pairs in that we moved about the island, we southern climate have three added more species to the day’s broods a year, and that blue bird list. The Carters were as adept populations have increased in the at spotting birds as anyone in area in recent years. the group and did not want to

Bird Watcher’s Digest • March/April ’91 • birdwatchersdigest.com 12 stop looking at any species until through their work with Habitat they had seen and determined for Humanity. its identification for them selves. At a pond we saw black Mrs. Carter checked them off in ducks and strained through her guide. the spotting scope at another Walking along we asked what bird that we thought a possible differences they found between female wood duck—”It is not their lives now and when they a black duck,” Mr. Carter said were in the White House. They emphatically—but we were said that this period is in many never able to make a certain ways more satisfying. They have identification. We did identify founded the Carter Institute several warblers and sparrows, (they work together on most and at another stop found a new projects), which deals with vari- bird for the Carters’ list: a pine ous problems around the world. siskin. At the time of our walk with Our total for the day was 43 them, the institute had sched- species- not bad for four hours. uled the first talks between the If we’d kept on at that rate, our two sides in the Ethiopian civil count for the day would have war. They were also working to been more than 100, we pointed eliminate the dread “river blind- out. “Yes,” said the President, ness” in Africa by distributing but then immediately empha- free the pills that can pre vent sized the key point, “if we’d it. And of course they continue kept on at that rate!”-Laura to help build low-cost housing Riley, BWD contributing editor.

With The Carters In Colorado

A phone call to me during our flamingos and other birds in the family vacation last summer led panorama of east Africa. It was to one of my most memorable Russ Peterson, former presi- bird watching experiences-show- dent of the National Audubon ing Colorado mountain birds to Society, who called me, wonder- Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. The ing if I could show the former Carters became fascinated with president and his wife flocks of birds while on an African safari birds when they visited western , awestruck by the huge flocks of Colorado on a trout-fishing trip.

13 birdwatchersdigest.com • March/April ’91 • Bird Watcher’s Digest During a Colorado fishing trip, the Carters went afield with Hugh Kingery (far left) in search of mountain birds. Of course, in Colorado we steep trail leading into the forest, don’t have flocks of birds like across a granite outcrop, and that, but I told Peter son I’d back down to the flat beside the be glad to show the Carters river. The President had already the birds that do occur around spent several days fishing along Gunnison , where they would the Taylor and three more hiking stay. To help, I enlisted bird artist and rafting on the Gunnison Don Radovich and physician River in the Black Canyon-a Ron Meyer, both Gunnison bird wild and spectacular gorge about watchers. At 6:30 a.m. the Cart- 50 miles west of our present ers, accompanied by two secret location . service men, arrived in a black No birds stirred on our short Suburban van at a mountain hike; a robin was about all park along the Taylor River. we saw. In desperation, I told In the morning darkness, the President and Mrs. Carter about President spotted the first bird, the local plants and how they a silent Steller’s jay perched affect bird life. Back on the flat, halfway up a lodgepole pine a female Williamson’s sapsucker about 20 feet away. Since the jay flicked across and lit in a pine was the only visible wildlife at for all to see. This laderbacked the park, our group hiked up a brown woodpecker, I explained,

Bird Watcher’s Digest • March/April ’91 • birdwatchersdigest.com 14 was for 22 years considered sy and speculation about her a separate species from the origin that still rages within black and white male until the the birding community. (The ornithologist Henshaw found red-backed buzzard normally a male and a female sharing a breeds in South America. nest hole. The controversy revolves From there we hopped into around how the bird got to a van to drive to the next spot. Colorado—on its own or with Across the river, a dozen big- human assistance.) horn sheep had come down A Swainson’s hawk flew in for their morning drink. As front of the car. We hopped we watched, a dipper came out to look at it and then dis- along, feeding in the stream. covered the buzzard perched The President spotted one, on top of a haystack, her then another Townsend’s soli- rufous back shining in the taire perched in pines across sun. Regardless of whether or the river. The pace began to not she arrived in Gunnison quicken. as a purely wild bird, she is We wound down the Taylor a striking raptor: a squat- canyon, with its towering shaped buteo with a rufous cliffs, pines and spruces, and back and shoulders, a gleam- clear, rockspangled trout ing white tail with narrow stream, into the Ohio Creek black and white bands on the country north of Gunnison- a end, and a dark cap with a broad, flat valley with a few white throat and white breast. ranches, scattered big cotton- After the buzzard slipped woods, and lots of hay fields. away, we watched a female Each summer the valley hosts harrier cruising low over the five to ten pairs of nesting hay fields. Swainson’s hawks; in this Blackbirds had gathered valley an infamous redbacked into post-breeding flocks of buzzard summered in 1987 100 to 300 birds, mostly red- and returned to nest in 1988— wings. At least we could show mated with a Swainson’s the Carters flocks of some- hawk. Don Radovich and thing—though not as spec- Ron Meyer, who monitored tacular as flamingos in Africa. this bird’s Colorado odyssey, Mrs. Carter pointed out a described to the Carters her mountain blue bird; dozens of field marks and history, her vesper sparrows flushed from discovery in this high moun- the roadside. tain valley, and the controver- Both President and Mrs.

15 birdwatchersdigest.com • March/April ’91 • Bird Watcher’s Digest Both President and Mrs. Carter have sharp eyes for birds. They applied their total attention, and they have excellent powers of observation.

Carter have sharp eyes for bird watching wherever they go. birds. They applied their total Most fulfilling to me, I met attention, and they have excel- the Carters as two gracious, lent powers of observation. friendly, appreciative, and natu- Taking them bird watching ral people. was like taking out any enthu- My trip notes show 29 mostly siastic beginning bird watch- western species for the morn- ers, with one difference—I did ing, and the Carters saw most not engage in as much of the of them well enough to enter on “You figure it out from the their trip list. bird book” strategy that my As we parted, Ron strongly wife and I use in our beginners urged the Carters to visit his classes! medical clinic when they came Mrs. Carter explained that back in December to ski. This when their daughter, Amy, seemed like a lugubrious invita- was young, she had kept a list tion until Ron explained that of birds seen in their yard in hundreds of rosy finches flock Plains. The recent safari had re- to feeders at the clinic. Since we kindled that interest. They had couldn’t show them big flocks seen lots of large animals—li- of flamingos in September, Ron ons, elephants, wildebeests, could, in December, show them etc.—but wanted more variety. troupes of rosy finch es!—Hugh Thus they started looking at Kingerv, coordinator of the the big flocks of birds, which Colorado Bird Atlas.a led to their present interest in

Bird Watcher’s Digest • March/April ’91 • birdwatchersdigest.com 16 If you haven’t purchased Binoculars since Jimmy Carter was president, it’s time. Let our experts help you pick out just the right one for your needs. Far Afield by Jimmy Carter The Remarkable Rio Grande Valley Former President Jimmy Carter recounts his South Texas birding adventure for BWD. Although I have been active Later on the same trip we visited outdoors since childhood, I had Some Tanzanian game parks never attempted to learn new and, fortunately, had a trained bird species or to keep records ornithologist as a driver and until my family and I climbed guide. A contest on sighting new AMount Kilimanjaro in 1988. species between us adults and

Former President Jimmy Corter and former First Lody Rosalynn Carter with young admirer during their rtHent birding trip to the lower Rio Grande Volley in Texas LEE ZEIGER

18 birdwatchersdigest.com • September/October ’04 • Bird Watcher’s Digest our grandchildren soon graduat- This gets us out of capital cities ed from lions, hyenas, elephants, and Western-Style hotels and and giraffes to sunbirds, barbets, into parklands, farms, and small weavers, and whydahs. Among villages, where we are able to the 120 species we learned, the learn about wildlife and the lives superb starling, D’Amaud’s of native people. barbet, and the various rollers A few of these bird watch- were favorites. ers knew the scientific names Since then our work at of the birds, but we found it The Carter Center has taken difficult to decipher the com- Rosalynn and me to many mon names, which often varied nations—35 of them in Afri- from one community to another. ca—and we have used every op- This problem was solved when portunity to observe and study I learned about a fellow retired birds in as many places as pos- navy man, Bob Eisberg, who sible. Even when we do not have had developed a computerized a spare day available from our worldwide bird list (Santa Bar- official work, we try to arrange bara Software Products, http:// in advance of our visits for a members.aol.com/sbsp) and good birder to go with us for a keeps it up to date. Although few hours early in the morning. not an avid bird watcher himself,

Bird Watcher’s Digest • September/October ’04 • birdwatchersdigest.com 19 he has been a source of good quest was to add either a least or advice to us and others who an American bittern to our list. have questions about naming a We had been frustrated for years doubtful bird. in searching for either of the two We have been fortunate in species, both of which are native expanding our knowledge about to Georgia. our local species because for a Lee arranged for us to stay at quarter century there has been a Indian Ridge Bed and Breakfast breeding bird survey route that in Mission, Texas, where Su- almost encircles our home in zanne Herzing has decorated a Plains, Georgia, and we accom- remarkable home for visitors in- pany these expert observers each terested in horsemanship, birds, year when we’re home the first or butterflies. We were surprised week in June. to learn about the intense effort We had never planned a spe- being made by public officials cific birding trip until this year, and private citizens to improve when we began to look over our the habitat for wildlife and to North American bird list to see encourage all communities in where we might have the best the Lower Rio Grande Valley to opportunities for new sightings. capitalize on this commitment I mentioned this desire during a to pro mote the area as a desti- speech at a conservation award nation for committed observers ceremony, and within a few days and casual tourists. we received an invitation from Steve Labuda, U.S. coor- Lee Zeiger, president of the lo- dinator of the Rio Grande/ cal Audubon Society chapter in Rio Bravo Ecosystems, would Brownsville, Texas, to visit the be our chief birding guide and Lower Rio Grande Valley. Not we soon learned to appreciate knowing any thing about the his instant recognition of any area. I called him and suggested local species either by sound or that it might be better for us to a brief glimpse. One thing we go farther northwest along the really appreciated was that he river to find habitat more differ- and the other birders were eager ent from that in Georgia. Lee to observe and discuss the spe- was taken aback, and extolled so cies in detail, and not just add fervently the advantages of his its name to a list. We learned a area that we decided to accept lot about each bird’s degree of his kind offer. prevalence on both sides of the I sent him a list of the birds Rio Grande, its migration hab- we had already sighted in other its, idiosyncrasies, and interest- states, and my only specific re- ing experiences these birders had

20 birdwatchersdigest.com • September/October ’04 • Bird Watcher’s Digest We had been frustratedfor searching years in for either ofthe Iwo species, both of which are native to Georgia. enjoyed with that species. grackle, least grebe. Mississippi We spent the first afternoon kite, white-tipped dove, golden- with Steve and Lee at Anzajduas fronted woodpecker. Inca dove, County Park and Bentsen–Rio plain chachalaca, Couch’s Grande State Park, and sighted kingbird, green jay, long-billed 20 different bird species. We add- thrasher, northern beardless ed to our ABA list the buff-bel- tyrannulet and Altanlira oriole. lied hummingbird, great-tailed While wandering through the FATHER TOM PINCELLI

Father Tom Pincelli of Harlingen helped the Carters find some of the 41 life birds they saw during their visit.

Bird Watcher’s Digest • SJanuaryeptember/F/Oebruaryctober ’17’04 •• birdwatchersdigest.combirdwatchersdigest.com 21 park’s trails we learned that woods. We stayed long enough there was an elf owl nesting to watch him fly to the tree, in a small dead tree, and we feed her, and fly away, it was a joined an assembled group, thrilling international event. including bird watchers from Father Tom Pincelli, Roy four different nations, all with Rodriguez, and Mike Hanni- spotting scopes or video cam- sian joined us for a delayed eras focused on the small nest supper on that first night in hole. We enjoyed sharing our Texas. I wanted to surprise and experiences with each other impress these experienced bird- while waiting for the tiny owl to ers with our knowledge about appear. Some of our compan- two special species, and waited ions wandered off, and it was for a chance to mention that we long after our scheduled supper had seen a rare visitor from the time before an excited murmur Falkland Islands to Colorado arose, when the tiny head finally in 1988—a red-backed buzzard emerged. We watched her for (Btiteo polyosoma) that was a few more minutes and were similar to a Swainson’s hawk. about to leave when her mate The other was a Bermuda petrel called, off to our left in the (Ptero droma cahow), which was GARY MESZAROS Least bittern was one of the Carters’ most sought after birds.

22 birdwatchersdigest.com • September/October ’04 • Bird Watcher’s Digest thought for two centuries to be our stay. The next morning extinct but whose nesting site we drove to Falcon Dam and we had visited with their discov- set up our scopes on a good erer, Dr. David Wingate, on a lookout point above the spill- small rocky island in Bermuda. way. Our first notable sighting To my surprise, the group was was a wild Muscovy duck, thoroughly familiar with both which flew back and forth over species, although they had not the dam before dropping out seen them in the United States. of sight to land. Rosalynn and We also told them about our I were caught up in the excite- meeting the whooping cranes ment of our friends at this rare that follow an ultralight air- sighting. We also observed, plane down from Wisconsin to for the first time, cactus wren. overwinter in Florida each year. Harris’s hawk. White-winged The flight path is quite near our dove, Chihuahuan raven, home and we have gone out to neotropic cormorant, black- meet them and assist in rais- bellied whistling-duck, crested ing the protective fence within caracara, and green kingfisher. which they eat and rest before At that time we began looking embarking on the next leg of especially for fulvous whistling- their long journey. It is truly an ducks, which are often seen in inspiring sight to see them in the area, but we were frustrated formation off the wing of their in this search. At the over look “mother,” and then following in Roma and en route to Rio the small plane down into a Grande City, we sighted a meadow. It is equally impressive pyrrhuloxia and grasshopper to know the dedicated workers sparrows. We stopped at the who are rebuilding this most Patio Restaurant for a delicious eastern flock. As is well known, Tex-Mex lunch, and the other the birds return to Wisconsin patrons seemed fascinated to quite successfully on their own see a former president and first initiative as the weather warms lady dining with them. When in the spring. I explained the purpose of our A severe thunderstorm visit to the area, they plied me during our first night in Texas with information about birds brought from two to four they had seen and were eager to inches of rain on the places give advice about some of the we planned to visit, so we had interesting sites. to avoid some of the wetter Roy Rodriguez joined us for sites and use fourwheel- drive the afternoon, having thor- vehicles for the remain der of oughly mastered information

Bird Watcher’s Digest • September/October ’04 • birdwatchersdigest.com 23 about local species during his 42 species, including a white- brief five years of birding. He faced ibis. He was determined is proud of an expanding group that we would find a tropical of dedicated birders he is teach- parula, and we covered a good ing who are blind. They seem portion of Santa Ma searching to have a special facility for for one. At one point a clay- learning and identifying bird ‘colored robin lit on the pathway songs and are excited about and picked up some grass straw, this new opportunity to enjoy and we watched this rare Ameri- an unprecedented relationship can bird build its nest. We were with nature, and even to demon- finally successful in finding the strate their skills competitively. parula before ending an exciting At the McAllen sewer ponds, day. Roy helped us locate an ad- Having thoroughly enjoyed ditional 33 species, including our stay at Indian Ridge in Mis- first-time Baird’s, pectoral, and sion, we accepted an invitation stilt sandpipers, sora, gull-billed to spend the next two nights tern, marsh wren, and long- with the Breedlove family in billed dowitcher. We also added their remarkable inn at Chacha- the tropical kingbird to our list. laca Bend near Los Fresnos. Roy had to instigate a return Located on an oxbow lake, their call from the bird, which can be property has been developed distinguished from the Couch’s into a beautiful haven for birds, only by its call. butterflies, and visitors. Our next We saw a number of species at excursion was to Port Isabel the World Birding Center in Ed- and Boca Chica beach. Rosal- inburg, and then walked through ynn and I had often visited the the 12-acre Audubon Center islands off the coast of Georgia, within the town of Weslaco, 50 we were familiar with most of where we added a Lincoln’s the shore birds and doubted that sparrow, curve-billed thrasher, we would see any new ones. On and groove-billed ani. During the way there, how ever, Father the day we put 49 more species Tom led us to an interesting bird on our trip list. he had spotted high on a power- Father Tom joined us the next line tower. We made a U-turn on morning for visits to Lower Rio the highway and soon had our Grande, Los Ebanos, and Santa spotting scope focused on an Ma wildlife reserves. A director Aplomado falcon. He explained of ABA, he is a walking ency- that this bird, which had become clopedia of birding lore and a extinct in the United States in delightful companion. We saw the mid-1900s, had been re-

24 birdwatchersdigest.com • September/October ’04 • Bird Watcher’s Digest introduced using techniques included a cruise around the similar to those used with the bay with Scarlet and George California condor. The nearby Coley. Steve had promised Laguna Atascosa National during our entire visit that we Wildlife Refuge was one of the would certainly see a least bit- places chosen for releasing birds tern on the island, and every- acquired in southern Mexico. one was eager for him to avoid Although there were a lot of failure. We sighted 51 species casualties during the early years there, including first-timers of the project, 37 pairs are Sandwich tern and Nashville, now known to have formed in yellow throated, Tennessee, and Texas, and about 85 young have blue-winged warblers. Despite fledged. eagerly searching at every site On the way back to Browns- for the bittern, Steve was un- ville from the beach we saw able to keep his promise, and a white-tailed kite, a flight of he apologized to us and the more than a thousand migrat- others as we headed back to ing white pelicans, and later, Chachalaca Bend for the night. over the city, an equal number Before crossing to the crossing of broad-winged hawks circling to the mainland after sundown, to land for the night. Brad he suggested that we make one McKinney joined us and intro- more visit to the convention duced us to green para keets center boardwalk. When we and red-crowned parrots, and arrived, an excited birder from accompanied us for our last full Ohio ran up to us and reported day of birding. We spent the having just seen a least bittern’ next morning at Laguna Atas- We converged on the site, and cosa NWR, where we observed soon watched it from a distance a total of 96 species, includ- of 10 feet, walking among the ing white-tailed hawk, reddish cattails and then flying across egret, Wilson’s plover, verdin, to the opposite side of the Bewick’s wren, and olive spar- small pond. His reputation row—new sightings for us. We saved, Steve was even hap- all noticed that after spending pier than we were to make this an hour or so trying to obtain a sighting. glimpse of a particular bird, we For our last morning in seemed to see them everywhere South Texas, we had only two after the first one appeared. hours to spend at Sabal Palm We drove that afternoon to Audubon Sanctuary, which lies South Padre Island, an enjoy- in the southernmost point of able and productive visit that the state. We arrived there with

Bird Watcher’s Digest • September/October ’04 • birdwatchersdigest.com 25 a few birds remaining on our our worldwide life list. This is wish list: gray hawk, brown jay, quite remarkable because of black-crested titmouse, ruddy our having birded in Mexico, ground-dove, ringed kingfisher, Nicaragua, Belize, Panama, gray-crowned yellowthroat and Costa Rica, Venezuela, Jamaica, short-tailed hawk. We heard Dominican Republic, and other both the kingfisher and yellow- states where many of the same throat, but were unable to sight species exist. them. As time for our depar- It was a special pleasure to ture approached site manager meet with the dedicated staff Jimmy Paz said he knew where members at several of the fed- there was a nesting site of eral and state wildlife refuges, the short-tailed hawk, which who assembled for discussions required a long and circuitous with us. They told us about route along muddy roads that their work, and I answered were almost impassable be- their questions about govern- cause of the recent heavy rains. ment policies, the passage of the We decided to take a chance, Alaska National Interest Land and were eventually close Conservation Act, and our bird- enough to focus our spotting ing experiences in more than 25 scope on the nest about 50 feet foreign countries. Before leaving above ground in a large tree, for a long-scheduled event in but it was empty. We waited California, we had a press con- as long as possible and just as ference arranged by Lee Zeiger we were preparing to leave, the at his RV park, where I was able hawk appeared from across the to express thanks to our new Rio Grande with nesting mate- friends and to congratulate the rial in its talons, circled over the assembled county and munici- large tree, and finally landed pal officials for creating such a on a bare limb overhanging wonderful opportunity for the river. This was a wonderful bird watchers in the lower Rio climax to our trip because it was Grande Valley. a the first time any of the other birders with us had seen this Jimmy Carter served as the hawk in the United States. 39th President of the United Throughout our visit Steve States and was awarded the 2002 Labuda kept an accurate record Nobel Peace Price. He is the of our sightings and reported author of 18 books, Chair of The that the trip total was 151 Carer Center for the advance- species. Of these, we added ment of human rights, and an 57 American birds, and 41 to avid bird watcher.

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