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CAMP REPORTS 2004

2004 Young Birders' Conference Report

26-30 June 2004

By Andy Bankert

After saying goodbye to my friends who I had birded with for 10 days in Florida I went home for a few hours to pack for the third Youth Birders Conference. I was being forced to take the longest line to check in I checked my luggage and received my boarding pass to Bakersfield, CA. Following five and a half hours to Los Angeles I met two other youth birders on my flight from LA to Bakersfield. It took less than an hour to meet our leaders for the next week at the airport. Everyone that was on an early flight got in one van and went birding on the way up to our hotel in Kernsville.

The road followed the Kern River which had several stops that should produce American Dippers. These are one of the Passerines that does not show much relationship to anything else in North America. At our first stop I was shown a Black Pheobe, my first life bird of the trip. We could not find a Dipper, so we moved on to another spot. This is where a pair of dippers nested earlier in the year. We watched the state bird, California Quail, run around the campground, Northern Rough-winged Swallows fly over our heads, and Western Scrub-Jays fly across the river and hop around on the rocks. While I was looking at the jays in the scope Mark, a young birder from San Diego, yelled out DIPPER! Everyone in the group looked up to see a rather nondescript dipper flying down the middle of the river. The views were quick, but I was really pleased to see a bird I had never seen before. As we were going back to the van we crossed paths with a flock of Bushtits. Steve Howell, one of the leaders, imitated a Pygmy Owl, the equivalent in the east to imitating a screech owl, and the flock jumped to life. The group was able to pick out an Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, and several Lark Sparrows. I was really impressed.

We arrived at the Hi Ho Lodge, where we would spend the next few days. There were Brewer's Blackbirds and Acorn Woodpeckers in the parking lot, birds not common in the east. We met some of the other youth birders that were in different groups on the way up. As the last of the birders arrived at the lodge orientation commenced. We were informed about the area, and all introduced ourselves. Then for dinner Pizza was served. Like usual, I found the smallest slice of plain cheese and washed it down with soda. The talk for the night was going to be by Steve Howell and on hummingbirds.

I have found hummingbirds to be one of the hardest identifications in North America. Being from Florida, I already had some experience with the Black-chinned/ Ruby-throated identification, but I learned a lot of tips in Steve's presentation that I will use for the next several winters in Florida. Another major focus of the speech was differentiating Archilochus and Calypte by primaries. There was not much time spent on the hummingbirds that we would not likely encounter on this trip, but I tried to absorb as much information as I could. After the talk was over they announced that the group would be split in half for some of the field trips. We were also assigned rooms. I was in a room with Mark Billings, who was also on my flight from LA. As we were entering our room another young birder, Dan Ladder from Virginia, who had missed his flight and was going to room with us greeted us. There were enough rooms for each of us to have our own.

We left our room to meet the rest of the group to go owling. Our first stop was full of Barn Owls, a lifer for many. For the ones who had already seen Barn Owls many times, we stood back a little and chatted. Our next stop was the one that interested me the most. It had Western-screech Owls. After we walked back the trail and played a tape we heard a response from a Western-screech Owl and some Barn Owls. For my list, if I can identify it by sight or sound I will count it. The group of young birders and their leaders went back to the lodge for the next day of birding.

In our room, two alarms were set an hour early to make sure we were up and ready when the group was leaving. We all heard our alarms, woke up, and left to grab some breakfast. Some people had cold pizza, some had cereal, but I had my usual Hershey Bar. The groups split into their two halves and went birding in the same areas, but at different times. My group was welcomed by a calling Brown-crested Flycatcher. We did get satisfactory looks, but I was not able to capture it on video. Since I had seen several in Florida, I was more impressed by the Ash-throated Flycatchers, Lazuli Buntings, and Lark Sparrows. As we walked further down the trail we observed Western Meadowlarks, Lesser Goldfinches, and a Summer Tanager. One of the coolest birds of the trip was an Indigo x Lazuli Bunting Hybrid. The dazzling blue bird sat up on a fence post and allowed the group to shoot some great pictures. A failed attempt for Grasshopper Sparrow did yield Say's Pheobe and multiple Western Bluebirds.

A few quick stops gave us our first views at species like Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, and Nuttall's Woodpecker. We also scoped a Vermilion Flycatcher, but the distance did not please everyone. On the drive to our next location, a Great-tailed Grackle flew over. "Where?" I asked. I never did get on the bird.

One of our first birds at the next stop was a Great-tailed Grackle, which was a lifer for some other people, even though people in Texas complain about how common they are. More Bushtits jumped around in the bushes giving a little call. While trying to relocate a Least Bittern heard by the other group a cuckoo flew by. Everyone got all excited as the really long thin brown bird flashed its rufous wings at us. Further down the trail we encountered our first stinging nettle. The group was told how much this plant could hurt and nobody decided to find out for him or herself.

The whole group satisfied, we went to a place that had feeders for lunch. In the parking lot there was a feeder with at least four Lesser Goldfinches. As we approached the hummingbird feeders we could see the bright pink in the head of the male Anna's, and the dark throats of the Black-chinned. We took a little sidetrack to a Willow Flycatcher territory. The bird was singing its Fitz-Bew song. The whole group met up at the feeders for lunch and a presentation on feathers by John Schmitt. While eating lunch you would hear, "Costa's on the right feeder," and everyone would look at the feeder that was being described. After the feather presentation, everyone headed to a little park that had Tricolor Blackbirds. I think I was more impressed by the ravens at the park, but the blackbirds were also interesting to study.

Our next stop was on a large reservoir that had Western and Clark's Grebes breeding. The Clark's were easy to find with their white faces, and bright yellow bills. The Westerns were further out and not as attractive with their gray faces and unattractive olive bills. We were lucky enough to see a Clark's Grebe carrying babies on its back. Some of the group was also impressed by the roadrunner in the area.

After the good part of the day was done we went back to the lodge for a break. Once the time was right we all gathered into a room where Louisa Zemaitis was going to give a presentation on field sketching. Oh no, I thought to myself. This was one of the last things I wanted to do. Drawing was especially hard for me. As the presentation moved on, I learned how to take notes and make sketches that others could understand. At the end we were given four birds to sketch/take notes on to show others who had not seen the pictures. Surprisingly people knew three of the four birds that I took notes on. The group was dismissed to do whatever they wanted to do until dinner.

Hamburgers and chicken was served for dinner. This was one of the few times I would eat a complete meal the whole trip. After dinner the whole group went out to do some owling, but soon learned that John Schmitt, a local artist, knew of a feeder where Rufous-crowned Sparrows frequented. On the drive up to the feeders a few sparrows flushed off the road. The vans were parked a good distance away from the feeders, and the group walked down the hill to get in view of the feeder. When we opened the doors of the van, we could hear the song of the Rufous-crowned Sparrows. At first only Lark Sparrows and a California Towhee were seen at the feeder, but as we waited a Rufous-crown showed itself. Since the light was fading, pictures were not that great. After everyone was content we loaded up the vans and headed further up the mountains to listen for owls.

Everyone got quiet and a tape of a Flammulated Owl was played. After a while we heard the bird, and decided to follow it. As we went up the mountain, we lost the bird, and a car alarm in the distance made it extremely hard to hear. Some of the group heard a Northern Saw-whet Owl, but it sounded like it was a mile out. After several attempts to draw the bird in closer, we decided that it was not going to cooperate. Our final chance of an owl was Spotted Owl. John gave an impeccable imitation, but the owls did not want to respond. The vans were loaded, and most slept on the way back to the lodge because of the early start the next morning.

The group I was in was lucky enough to be allowed to sleep in a little bit, but it was not that much. We watched the first group leave twenty minutes later than expected, but our group grabbed breakfast, loaded up, and got out on time to visit birding areas on the west side of the Sierra Nevadas. Our first stop had a singing Wrentit that would not give us much of a look. California Towhees were also among the avian life in the area. As we were driving out someone shouted "Band-tailed Pigeon." It was passed to the other vans via radios and we all stopped and set up scopes. The people who had them in their yard came out to greet us, and they were informed that we were looking at the pigeons.

Our next stop was kind of unexpected, but very productive. We set up scopes to look for swifts in an area that looked good someone spotted a group of Black Swifts. After we studied their distinctive shape and flight pattern I heard the word Vaux's. Everyone in the group looked up and watched a Vaux's Swift fly overhead. Many of the Easterners were surprised by the difference between Chimney and Vaux's. White-throated Swift, the most common of the western swifts, was also present in the area. As we were getting ready to leave a Western Tanager flew overhead giving us good looks of a species that we would see plenty more of. A quick stop was made that allowed us to see Lawrence's Goldfinches.

Our next birding location was where a Pacific-sloped Flycatcher had a territory. The flycatcher was not there, but that did not ruin anything. Western Tanagers sang from the tops of the trees, a Purple Finch showed its face, and a Plumbeous Vireo was pointed out. While we were caught up in all of the birds, a Lawrence's Goldfinch was put into a scope, and stayed long enough for me to grab some video.

As we climbed higher into the mountains we entered the Quaking Aspen campground. When we exited the vans the songs of Fox Sparrows, Green-tailed Towhees, and Audubon's Warblers filled the air. We ventured further into the campground we spotted a Fox Sparrow. Then a Red-breasted Sapsucker flew across the road. It allowed us to get great looks when it was less than ten feet away. On the way out a White-headed Woodpecker allowed good viewing, a tiny Wilson's Warbler put on a good show, and a MacGillivray's Warbler danced around within twenty feet of us. A lunch that consisted of sandwiches was served near the Trail of 100 Giants. One special bonus was Hermit Warbler. Closely related to the Black-throated Green Warbler, this western bird was the 450th species I had seen in the United States. A Pileated Woodpecker gave its loud call was a life bird for several people in the group. We walked back to see one of the giant sequoias then went to the lodge.

Our break was longer than expected because the group that birded the east side of the mountains returned later than expected. After everyone had returned we went for an Italian dinner. My favorite. I talked with the waitress and she brought me out a plate of plain sausage. This was the third time that month I ate at an Italian restaurant, and the third time I just had sausage. Once all the food was gone and multiple stories were exchanged everyone returned to the lodge to watch Jon Dunn's presentation on the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He talked about how the mountains separate bird life in half. Then halfway through the talk the projector's light went out. I did not mind that much. I got to sleep more, and I could ask Jon the next day on the east side. I got most of the information that was going to be in the end of the presentation the next day, but kept asking if we were going to see a Violet-green Swallow.

Seeing how late the other group got out the day before, we all decided to wake up anyone who was not up so we could get out on time. Because of this, our group left on time and got out birding rather quickly. Since it was still dark most of us elected to sleep on the ride to our first stop. Once we arrived at our first stop everyone was wide-awake and ready to see Le Conte's Thrashers. We walked past all of the "No Trespassing" signs only paying attention to the little blue sign that said "Birders Welcome." Western Kingbirds sang from the tops of the trees, a Costa's Hummingbird hovered around a bush, and we chased a Verdin around some of the yard. It took a while, but the pale colored thrashers flew by and perched in a tree allowing views through a scope, but no video for me. As we tried to get better looks at the thrashers a Prairie Falcon flew overhead. I missed it, so went back to try and scope it. That did not work. Later the falcon flew again and landed on a telephone pole allowing the whole group to view it through the scope.

The group continued up the mountains to a hillside that contained Black-throated Sparrow, Chukar, and Scott's Oriole. All three of these birds came through for us, except the Chukars never walked out into the open only allowing fair looks. The Scott's Oriole sat up on a cactus, and the whole group got remarkable looks. We headed on to a campground, where in early May a Grace's Warbler was discovered. When we got there we first saw a Cassin's Vireo with a nest. Then the Grace's Warbler sang. Since the song can resemble Audubon's Warbler we tracked it down, and were rewarded with great looks. As we looked at the warbler, some new birds were spotted. We saw a Cassin's Finch, Western Tanagers, and a Cooper's Hawk nest with young.

The next stop produced good looks at Sage Sparrows, a flock of Bewick's Wrens, and two singing Wrentits. This time the Wrentits allowed us to view them. Next we drove further through an open area where the group the day before saw Mountain Bluebirds. It wasn't long before five of them flew across the road, and kept going. We stopped three times after that to look at bluebirds on the wires, and they were all Western Bluebirds. Further down the road after I had asked about Violet-green Swallows several times a Pinyon Jay flew across the road. This lead to a stop, and we set up scopes that allowed us to observe Pinyon and Western Scrub Jays at a feeder.

Oregon Juncos, Townsend's Solitaires, and Clark's Nutcrackers were all in the campground where we ate our lunch. A few minutes after finishing lunch a few of us chased down the nutcrackers, and got great looks. Word was spread that someone had seen Pygmy Nuthatches in the campground, so the group went out and searched for them. It was not long before we heard the nuthatches make their peeping call. The group was able to locate the flock and get good views of the nuthatches as they climbed up and down the trees. On our way to the next location we made two quick stops. One was to view a Dusky Flycatcher on a nest. The other gave us spectacular looks at a Calliope Hummingbird at a feeder.

On the way up to Bald Mountain a group of Mountain Quail was spotted on the side of the road. Since nobody had gotten great looks at one yet the group stopped and looked around. Once the bird was located we watched her walk out into the open to the amazement of everyone around. When we arrived at the end of the road we could see nutcrackers flying around. After waiting so long I finally got to see my first Violet-green Swallow fly around, and bank to where the sunlight hit it showing the vivid colors on its back. Not long after going to the tree where the Blue Grouse was seen the day before we found the grouse. Like every other experience I have ever had with a grouse the bird was not very active. It was still neat to see a Blue Grouse, and we studied it for more than fifteen minutes. Our last stop was a Williamson's Sapsucker nest that had a male and two females flying around. That wrapped up most of the birding for the trip.

The last presentation of the conference was Michael O'Brien's presentation on shorebirds. The presentation was a little quick for a presentation on shorebirds, but there was some very useful information. At the end of the slide show we were asked to identify the shorebirds. Everyone in the group joined in the discussion about whether the peep was a Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper. We were then dismissed for our last dinner, which was Mexican, a food that is not even close to being food I eat. I grabbed my Hershey Bar or two and ate with the rest of the group as we rushed to exchange email addresses and screen names before we all set out to leave the next day. The last organized event was a panel discussion, where everyone joined in and talked about basically whatever we wanted. Then we were allowed to do almost anything until we did one last birding trip for whoever wanted to.

A group of us stayed up for a while and talked about basically nothing. We knew that once we were done the YBC 2004 would be done. Around midnight it all came to an end, and the group dispersed for bed. We woke the next morning missing some of the group and had two choices as to where to bird. I chose to go to the area that held the California specialties, and a possibility of California Thrasher. There were no thrashers, but we got great views of Phainopepla. Other birds in the area included California Towhees, California Quail making their "Chicago" calls, and Oak Titmice. Finally, the rooms were cleaned out and the group left for the airport in Bakersfield. My plane was delayed two hours, so I was the last one to board. In the event of the plane not taking off I was given numbers of people to call. The plane did take off and I had time in LAX to get to my next plane. On the way to the plane I saw several Western Gulls, my last life bird of the trip.

Other than seeing new birds I had a lot of fun and met several new birders.

July 2004

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