tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post2463384336022237341..comments2023-09-16T04:08:25.750-07:00Comments on Butler's Birds: Where there is a Nemesis, there must also be a HeroLaurence Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-5177963107173555762013-09-01T13:10:00.699-07:002013-09-01T13:10:00.699-07:00Ah, regional and seasonal heroes. That is an impor...Ah, regional and seasonal heroes. That is an important consideration too Mia. After all, Batman can't be your hero if you don't live in Gotham City.Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-40586297949352206812013-09-01T08:15:35.790-07:002013-09-01T08:15:35.790-07:00Hmm, in Utah I would have to say my hero bird is t...Hmm, in Utah I would have to say my hero bird is the American Kestrel but on Antelope Island it is Burrowing Owls. In Montana I'd have to say my hero birds are Red-tailed Hawks. I have seasonal heroes too. Mia McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613385411156245829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-26574079666263958132013-08-28T13:59:10.333-07:002013-08-28T13:59:10.333-07:00Pheasant...nice one Accidental Birder.
When that ...Pheasant...nice one Accidental Birder.<br /><br />When that bird shows up in Arizona...people will go nuts!Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-43108253005588356222013-08-28T11:49:44.491-07:002013-08-28T11:49:44.491-07:00Thanks for contributing Kathie.
The similarities ...Thanks for contributing Kathie.<br /><br />The similarities between Roadrunners and Velociraptors are shocking! <br />That's an important point you bring up to, that even if we all have some general Hero Birds, there are also those who rise to the occasion on certain trips, either because they were unexpected, or maybe they showed some interesting behavior, or were new for the county or year.<br /><br />Nice!Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-70019373210173013122013-08-28T11:11:14.995-07:002013-08-28T11:11:14.995-07:00Laurence,
Okay, so first of all, this line cracke...Laurence,<br /><br />Okay, so first of all, this line cracked me up: "...in part because I'm not a great birder..."<br /><br />Yeah, whatever. <br /><br />Second, my hero bird would be the Ring-necked Pheasant. Not always a guarantee but oh what a joy to always see. Especially when in bright green tall grass. And if he lets me get a picture before he scurries away. <br /><br />Yeah, that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-3230337581243801242013-08-28T09:53:23.427-07:002013-08-28T09:53:23.427-07:00Laurence, nice take on an old problem. I don'...Laurence, nice take on an old problem. I don't let myself get too cuaght up in finding rarities or nemisis birds becuase I think there are always "hero" birds to make the trip worthwhile. Chris and I had just that experience a few days ago when we went birding at a local park. While we saw mostly the usual parkland species, we did find a pair of Spotted Sandpipers that made the trip extra special because they were my first sighting of them in Pima County this year! Later, on a drive down Woodland Road we spotted an unexpected female summer tanager. On that day they were my hero's, but it can be different birds for different location. On our trip to the White Mountains one of my heroes was finding a House wren on the Butler Nature trail. While not uncommon, it was the only one we saw on the whole trip. <br /><br />This post was a fun read with an interesting concept and gorgeous photos of the owl. I could do without the bloody beak on the roadrunner, however! ;-) (Can you say, Velociraptor?)Actually, it is a very good shot as well.Kathie Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10377224759599266209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-3774829475695062922013-08-27T20:54:56.300-07:002013-08-27T20:54:56.300-07:00Hey Lauren!
Seesh, having Nutting's Flycatche...Hey Lauren!<br /><br />Seesh, having Nutting's Flycatcher as a Hero Bird...that's something you can lord over just about all the rest of North America : )<br /><br />That's a good distinction to bring up to, pertaining to habitats and the limitations they bring. I mentioned the Le Conte's Thrasher being a Hero Bird of sorts, and while it's always a highlight and is reliable, like your Golden Eagle, it's only one of 11 or 12 birds I'll see out there in the sage desert anyway. <br /><br />I don't see Yellow-breasted Chats nearly as much as I should. Lawrence's Goldfinch though...that sounds like a perfect hero bird, and a really solid one considering their small size and erratic movement.<br /><br />Tommy and the Northern Pygmies...it's uncanny. He turns them up every time he's on Mt. Ord, and has nests pinpointed up in the white Mountains. Next time you're in Phoenix you'll have to team up with the King of the Mountain (Ord). <br /><br />Thanks for contributing. Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-80462966035859436272013-08-27T18:13:56.511-07:002013-08-27T18:13:56.511-07:00What a great concept, Laurence! Like you, thinking...What a great concept, Laurence! Like you, thinking about this I came up with several candidates.<br /><br />My too-common bird is definitely Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Every day is a good day with Black-tailed Gnatcatchers.<br /><br />The other side of that coin are Barrow's Goldeneye (I find them only rarely outside of the Bill Williams Delta, but they really make my day anywhere), and Golden Eagle (I don't bird their habitat often, but when I do they usually are just about the only highlight). Nutting's Flycatcher also comes to mind...<br /><br />So that leaves me with a list of birds that I don't have on every outing, but they're reliable in the right season and really make a day worthwhile. These include Costa's Hummingbird, Yellow-breasted Chat and Summer Tanager (which I can hear every day in the summer, but actually see much less often), Black Tern, and Lawrence's Goldfinch. Lawrence's Goldfinch, I think, is the winner.<br /><br />Also--if Northern Pygmy-Owl is Tommy's Hero Bird, then Tommy must be my hero! Or at least good luck charm! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-1976285536847601922013-08-26T18:59:25.432-07:002013-08-26T18:59:25.432-07:00Thanks for chiming in Tommy. You're totally ri...Thanks for chiming in Tommy. You're totally right, the Elegant Trogon is like Superman, with a strong red breast/chest and other-worldly powers of shock and awe. I<br /> can't include it for myself, having only seen the birds on two occasions, but that sighting in Patagonia, and subsequent photo-op, is one of my best birding memories in the last several years, and you're totally right, it totally saved our failed Spotted Owl pursuit, though we did have lots of other good stuff.<br /><br />I must also add--and I hesitate to speak for anyone here--one of your Hero Birds must also be the Northern Pygmy Owls!Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-77202306225529839622013-08-26T18:33:22.204-07:002013-08-26T18:33:22.204-07:00Laurence awesome post!
My hero bird would have ...Laurence awesome post! <br /><br />My hero bird would have to be the E.T. It saved us from Spotted Owl heart ache and me from my first day of Mexican Chickadee misses. The Elegant Trogon. And it really seems like an Extra Terrestrial hero from another planet, which is technically Mexico.Tommy DeBardelebenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14927348437153499516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-12099685924551042982013-08-26T17:53:15.185-07:002013-08-26T17:53:15.185-07:00Hey! Black-throated Gray Warbler is a good one. I ...Hey! Black-throated Gray Warbler is a good one. I don't quite seem them often enough for an overall Hero Bird for me, but within the western Warbler options I'd say it's the most heroic. <br /><br />Common Black Hawk...you spoiled : )Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791077723521794200.post-42083410953750640642013-08-26T15:47:22.763-07:002013-08-26T15:47:22.763-07:00This is a great question......Hero Birds. It'...This is a great question......Hero Birds. It's true that there are certain birds that make me stop and look everytime I see them. Great Horned(or any owl for that matter) always turn my head 360 degrees around:) As does the Lesser Nighthawk and Roadrunner. If I see one while I'm not birding, I still mark it down on the incidental reporting. I think the hero bird would be the Black-throated Gray Warbler and the Common Black Hawk or Zonie. Rohrerbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02136631378931478644noreply@blogger.com