Jog Walk Run Bird

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Birding and Jogging and Environmental Want to Be

My job is a routine. I work at least 5 days a week. I have very little time off. My job is not real fulfilling. I get my fulfillment from birding and jogging and simple things. Amazingly these simple things have led to results that I am proud of.

I have always wanted to be someone who helped the environment. This is much more difficult than it first appears. It particularly is difficult when one has to balance this with marriage family job.... The first decision was one of the toughest. It was a decision that depressed me. Should I have any children? Fortunately I made the right decision and now I am very happy. I now have two children. If everyone were to only have 2 children the population of the world would actually decrease. This decision taught me a lesson: the value of compromise. Other things I do are recycling and driving a hybrid car (not as good as how I used to ride my bike) In doing these things I run into problems such as is it worth it to drive to a place to recycle the plastic or paper? Is it safe to ride a bike? Will it rain while riding bike?

So How have birding and jogging helped me to help the environment? Through local Audubon and biking and running clubs I have done a little to set aside a beautiful piece of land into state land that I hope will be preserved. The key was when I wrote letters to congressmen... I simply stated that I

enjoyed watching birds and nature. They seemed to understand fun.


For the average person wanting to be environmentalist there are many kinds of environmentalists as role models:

a. Mother Earth News type
b. Writers of books. Amory Lovins…
c. Politicians…Ralph Nader, Jimmy Carter, Al Gore
d. Business men….Ted Turner
e. Health and sanitation advocates Ralph Nader
f. Chemical Removal…Silent Spring (Rachel Carson)…

The problem with most of these heroes is that it is very hard for the average person to achieve this kind of status. The problem with the Mother Earth, back to the land types is that it is inefficient. A good example of this can be seen in the criticisms of frank Lloyd Wright's city plan: "Broad Acres." Also by not fitting in with the rest of the world they are less likely to effect it; however I have seen some non farmer types make good progress in nice lifestyles.

My Question is: How can an average person make our environment better and what are the problems in trying?

 

Friday, March 20, 2009

Day One

This is not really day one, I have been jogging for 40 years and birdjogging for about 10 years. Birdjogging started when I picked up binoculars to take with me jogging. Besides seeing lots of neat birds, it had the additional benefit at age 47 that If a young person behind me was gaining on me I could stop and look at something without having to compete with them. I hate competing when I run but, it is my own fault.



Today I saw lots of flowers blooming in South Georgia. and heard parula warblers. They were not here last week, but now there are lots of them and they are singing their hearts out. (I assume males got here first and are searching for territory and mate.) I also saw and heard a blue jay. As jays often do it imitated a Red Tailed Hawk. I laughed to myself. (A Red-Tail want to be) then I got to thinking. When we growl are we imitating lions? When we howl are we imitating wolves? How much of our language comes from imitation?
 

 

Friday, March 20, 2009

Jogging Tip

Run only 3 days a week. No excuses. Keep up with your results on calendar or outlook. It is ok to get ahead
 

 

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Eagle

I have been birdjogging in this suburban neighborhood for 10 years and this is only the third time that I have seen a bald Eagle. I saw 2 of them. what is even more exciting is that a hawk was attacking the one that was high in the air. The hawk showed unbelievable Ariel attacks. I think it was a broad wing hawk, but I did hear the call of a red tail hawk which are even more common here.

Let me back up. The day started our great. The weather was beautiful. I immediately saw a white breasted nuthatch and I laughed to myself because he seemed to be a woodpecker want to be.I saw several winter birds that I know will leave this area soon. (chipping sparrow, ruby-crowned kinglet and yellow rumped warblers) I saw a catbird a species that I have not seen in months. The parula warblers are here to stay. I saw my regular neighbors the chickadees and titmouse. One titmouse I found drinking from a hole in the tree. I heard a red shouldered hawk.

Remember all of this takes place in about 1 hour. I left home at 12:45 and got back at 1:45. I have to take shower eat and leave for work by 2:15. ( Iam taking time to write this because it is so exciting and I found locals selling fried fish fries and a drink for $6 while birdjogging. I talked to them just before seeing eagle and showed them the eagles. They could recognize them with their bare eyes.

time to go to work 7 days a week grrrrrrr

 

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Tracking Foxes By Golf balls

 

I had a great day the day after seeing Eagles. I was canceled for overtime on that Sunday and had more than an hour. I took my camera. I walked an extra 3 miles and walked and jogged the back way to my parents apartment. On the way I saw a golf ball in the woods. I picked it up. Another one. I knew it had to be foxes. some collect papers some collect toys left in peoples yards but this one had a thing for golf balls. I found 10 new golf balls in a few minutes my pockets were full and then I found the den.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

1 + 1 = 3

Synergy. One of the key themes of this blog is synergy. I first learned about synergy while reading a book by Buckminster Fuller. It is the idea that everything is not additive. As you can see from my previous post. I had three different subjects for pictures. I was at the same time birding, jogging, visiting, enjoying nature, thinking.... Synergy gives me hope that as we slowly solve problems that those environmental solutions may solve other problems. Examples might be saving home energy by sharing a wall with someone might also reduce pollution and reduce car travel... Any other examples?

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

100 Acre woods

Today I felt like Winnie the Pooh in his 100 Acre Woods. It was a magical day birdjogging in my neighborhood. (I miss not having a young child and reading to them) Today I saw my first Wild Turkey in my neighborhood, I wish I had my camera because it stood still in the small field for several seconds. I did get a good look with my binoculars. I then saw the snowy egret again. I have not seen the wood stork for about a week. I found a new fox den about 1.5 miles from the last den I reported. At this den I collected 23 golf balls and left them the ones that were old... Also near by I saw a rattlesnake of about 5 feet with about 12 rattles. I did not want to get too close. I left it alone. I wander how foxes and rattlesnakes get along?

Oh! I run on grass and dirt roads, when I veer into the woods I walk carefully.

 

Friday, December 25, 2009

Traveling

It is now Christmas. I am able to go birdjogging (bird watching and jogging at the same time) even while visiting my in-laws. I brought my tennis shoes and my binoculars and that is all I need. I saw a beautiful golden crowned kinglet and a loon in the lake here in the last two days.

Birdjogging is a great hobby and great exercise for someone who travels. It is a new year. for free diet advice...see my new website... Ideal-Weight-Charts.com

 

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Birding and Rock Hounding

One of the things that I love about birding is that it can be done while doing so many other things outside. I have found a great little lapidary school in North Georgia. This Spring I am hoping to take a vacation there learning mineral ID. In late April early May it will be a great time because so many of the neo-tropical migrants will be passing by; therefore, I will be able to look for rocks and birds at the same time. Wish Me luck getting our of work and getting into the class.

 

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Bird Frogging

It is now January and no leaves on the trees. It was a beautiful blue sky after days of rain and over a week of sub freezing cold. I had my binoculars and I saw birds and deer, but what I really enjoyed today was the sound of frogs. I wish I could tell you what species, but I have not listened to my frog tape in a long time.

Binoculars do no good with frogs. One has to get close. It was about this time last year when I heard a frog close by. I slowly crept up on it. I could tell it was only about a yard away but I could not see it. I kept looking...and then I saw a snake strike out. ... the croaking stopped. I guess the snake was looking for the source of the noise also.