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CAMP REPORTS 2004

2004 Young Birders' Conference Report

26-30 June 2004

By Elise Becker

Like many young birders around the country, I have suffered from the lack of other young people who share my interest in birds. Therefore, I was delighted to learn from connections at the American Birding Association that they would be holding a conference just for us. As I had only been birding a short while, I was glad to be on the plane to California where I would learn quite a bit from other young birders and experts.

I arrived at the Hi Ho Lodge a day early with my mom and I was able to socialize with some of the instructors who were already there: Jon Dunn, Steve Howell, Jennie Duberstein, and Ben Winger (a previous editor of A Bird's-Eye View).

On the first day of the conference, we left the lodge to pick up the other arriving young birders in Bakersfield (one was Jessica Roberts, another 12 year old girl). On our way back from the airport, we went on a birding trip where we got a glimpse of an American Dipper. After that, all of the conference participants gathered at the orientation in the lodge rec room. We found that we had all come for similar reasons, to see some great new birds and meet some new people. Afterwards, we ate a splendid pizza dinner while listening to Steve's hummingbird workshop. (I think we can all honestly say we learned something we didn't know.) And though we were all tired, we gathered and were transported to some superb owling sites where we not only got spectacular views of the ghostly Barn Owls, but we also heard the eerie call of the Western Screech Owl. After a very tiring day, many of us went happily to our beds. However, a handful of boys and girls talked on long into the night. (I daresay some regretted it when we woke.)

Jessica and I grabbed yogurt for breakfast the next morning. Though some birders chose to eat cold pizza, the majority stuck with healthier breakfast food. After breakfast, both groups left for the Kern River Preserve. Highlights of the rigorous birding trip were seeing a Lazuli x Indigo Bunting hybrid, Brown-crested Flycatcher, and several other birds such as a Black Phoebe and California Towhee (almost all were lifers for me). For lunch, we went to the preserve's headquarters where we saw Costa's, Anna's, and Black-chinned hummingbirds at the feeders. While we ate, we listened to John Schmitt's detailed lecture on feathers. When we finally got back to the lodge Jessica and I rested and filled out our checklists before going to Louise Zemaitis' field sketching workshop. During this time, we tried to sketch four different birds. When we were all finished, the instructors tried to guess what the birds were based on our drawings. They then offered some other helpful pointers on field sketching. After a barbeque dinner near the lodge's pool we headed out again. We first went to John's brother's house to see the Rufous-crowned Sparrows that were coming to his feeders. After viewing these birds, we set out to owl at a site where we heard a Flammulated Owl which John called in with a Spotted Owl imitation.

The next very early morning, our group headed up into the mountains where we saw: Lawrence's Goldfinches, Cassin's Vireos, and a Mountain Quail as it crossed the road (these were just the highlights). We also went to the Trail of One Hundred Giants where I was awed by the size of the Giant Sequoia Trees. We then went to That's Italian Restaurant where I was able to interact more with Michael O'Brien, Louise Zemaitis, Andy, Luke, and Jessica who were sitting at the table with me. After dinner we went back to the lodge where we listened to Jon Dunn's lecture on the Sierras. Unfortunately it was cut short when the slide projector's light went out.

The morning afterwards, our group found ourselves in the desert where we were able to see some Le Conte's Thrashers that were coming to a woman's feeder for meal worms. In addition, we also saw a Verdin, Peregrine Falcon, hummingbirds, and an abandoned Le Conte's Thrasher nest. Then we birded on the way up the mountain and saw: Chukars, Black-throated Sparrow, Scott's Oriole, and Cactus Wren all darting among the Joshua trees. When we arrived at Chimney Creek Campground we all got excellent looks at a Grace's Warbler and a Red-breasted Sapsucker as well as Williamson's Sapsucker and Plumbeous Vireo nests. We also saw an adult Cooper's Hawk eating a dead rodent on a branch before it fed its three young, that were all in a nest that was also at the campground. Mark spotted a male Mountain Quail on the side of the road and after everyone got out of the vehicles, I also spotted the mother and chick. After we got up to Bald Mountain we saw a Blue Grouse in the top of a pine tree. On the way down the mountain, however, my allergies exploded and consequently so did my ears! For this reason, I was unable to attend Michael O'Brien's shorebird identification workshop and the closing panel discussion. Even though I missed these I still believe that the ABA Young Birders' Conference was an excellent educational birding experience, and a great way to meet new people.

September 2004

These young birders attended the camps/events they report on with the help of ABA scholarships.