They reported that, between the two of them, they saw 199 species of birds (they each saw 198, and each saw one that the other did not see). Apparently, there are “as many as 450 species of birds” in Alaska, which means they saw 44% of the species that inhabit the state.

I guess they’ll have to go back to finish the job.

The preliminary report of their trip did not include any data as to how many of these birds were new to their life list, but I’m sure that information will be provided in a subsequent report (or at least as a comment on this post).

Jack and Ed went to Costa Rica with my parents earlier this year, and Jack has now guest-written about the experience on the 10,000 Birds blog. It’s an interesting read, with some great pictures from the trip. The second of the two pictures that includes humans — about halfway through the post — features the backs and Tilley Hats of my parents.

Carson, of course, identified the barn owl just by looking at it (“I recognized it because of the heart shape on its face”) and the red-tailed hawks. And, he spent a good amount of time studying each one. We then moved on to what looked like a hiking trail that led off behind the buildings. It has not been highly used or maintained, but it had signs at various spots explaining the different types of trees and flora in the area, which Carson was interested in stopping and reading. And, of course, anything that looked climbable really held his attention!

We found a side trail that went down 50-80 feet to the water’s edge. I’m not entirely sure what the body of water was — part of the Scioto river, part of some reservoir? I simply don’t know. But, it was frozen and 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick (the temperature was in the high teens). I gave carson a stick to explore it with, and he proceeded to break through the ice for a good 30′ stretch of shoreline. He also occasionally “posed” for a picture that might get both of us in trouble when later viewed by his mother:

We also discovered that, if we throw a stick out on the ice, it would skitter along for a good, long distance (even to the other shore), which was pretty fascinating for a couple of warm weather natives! We agreed that we will be going back for further exploration!

Yessir. Black oil sunflower seed. That’ll bring the birds to your yard.”

So, the two men loaded up a 20-lb. bag and returned to the son’s new house. The previous owners had left a freestanding birdfeeder in the backyard, and the son’s middle child was quickly turning into an avid avian-watcher in his own right, following in the footsteps of his paternal grandparents.

It took only a couple of weeks for the 20-lb. bag to disappear. The last of the sunflower seed had been loaded into the feeder, and the son had made a mental note that he needed to get some more.

The feeder had attracted its share of birds, certainly, and also quite a few squirrels. “Wildlife is wildlife,” the son and his family concluded, so there was no point in trying to discriminate as to whom was fed and how.

A couple of days later, in the middle of the day, when only the son, his wife, and their daughter were at home, their eldest dog noticed a strange bird indeed at the feeder.

Strange bird, indeed! By golly, they had attracted an 8-pointed Deerbird! And it was BIG!

The son headed out that evening to buy a 40-lb. bag of black oil sunflower seed. And, he made plans to build a deerbird feeder in the near term as well, as he had heard that deerbirds, especially the 8-pointed variety, prefer corn.