Subject: Teenage birding (very long)
Date: Jul 28 23:13:57 1994
From: Nathan A. Swick - nswick at OZARKS.SGCL.LIB.MO.US


My name is Nathan Swick. I am 14 years old and am in the ninth grade at
Ozark High School in Ozark, Missouri. This summer I had the opportunity
to participate one of the ABA/VENT camps for young birders. From June 30
to July 11 I attended Camp Chiricahua in SE Arizona. I received support
from several organizations including the ABA, the Audubon Society of
Missouri, and the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society. I appreciate greatly the
help these groups provided to me. The following is the report of my trip.

June 30: Left Springfield for Tucson. My first impressions of the area
were incredible. The mountains from above looked amazing. Landed in
Tucson where Rob Day picked me up and headed for the Best Western at the
Airport. Immediately got settled in and went birding. Met a few people
in the camp in the parking lot of the motel. Several birds were in the
trees surrounding the parking lot, including VERDIN, GAMBEL'S QUAIL,
BRONZED COWBIRD and CACTUS WREN. Later Kenn Kaufman, who lives in
Tucson, came to our motel. We went to Sabino Canyon with him for our
first taste of Arizona birding. We saw BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, CURVE
BILLED THRASHER, BLACK TAILED GNATCATCHER, GILA WOODPECKER, AND COMMON
RAVEN. Even though it was 5 in the evening it was still 116 degrees.
Ate at a cafeteria then went back to the motel. Got 8 lifers.

JULY 1:
Got up early and traveled to the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum near
Tucson, Walked through the aviaries and got "sneak previews" of what we
were going to see. Then got an opportunity to walk around by ourselves.
About 2:30 we left for Cave Creek Canyon. It was a 3 1/2 hour drive
through some beautiful country. We stopped to look at some BURROWING
OWLS and also at Wilcox Sewer Ponds. At Wilcox there was a flock of
RUDDY DUCKS, MEXICAN MALLARDS, and a possible MASKED DUCK. Among them
was an EARED GREBE. Standing on the shore was a big flock of LONG BILLED
CURLEW, AMERICAN AVOCET, and WILSON'S PHALAROPE. In this flock was a
LAUGHING GULL, a very rare bird in Arizona. Traveled on to Cave Creek
Canyon and had dinner at the Portal General Store/Diner/Inn. Later that
night went out and found an ELF OWL. Got 14 lifers.

July 2:
Got up early on our first morning at Cave Creek Canyon. we were split
into 3 groups. My group traveled first to the South Fork area of the
canyon with Dave Jasper. This area is unusual in that it has tall fir,
cypress, and sycamore trees. On our way a pair of MONTEZUMA QUAIL
crossed the road, the only ones seen the entire trip. Several birds were
just a short way down the trail. GRAY BREASTED JAY, PAINTED REDSTART,
SULFUR BELLIED FLYCATCHER, and HEPATIC TANAGER, just to name a few. We
also spotted a female MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD building a nest. We
tracked an ELEGANT TROGON way up the trail until we finally got an OK
look at it. On our way down the trail we got a stunning view of the male
TROGON facing us just 50 feet away. We sat down and watched it for 20
minutes. That just about made my trip. Later that afternoon We walked
over to the Spofford's where a female LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD showed up.
What a day! That night we went owling and got a pretty good look at a
COMMON POORWILL and a quick look at an ELF OWL. Got 27 lifers.

JULY 3:
My group went out and walked the creek bed with Barry Lyon. Saw several
birds in the sycamores on the river bank, including BLACK PHOEBE, ASH
THROATED FLYCATCHER, BUSHTIT, and a flock of about 100 BAND TAILED
PIGEONS. We then walked to Dave's house to watch his feeders. All 3
species of ORIOLES, SCOTT'S, HOODED, and BULLOCK'S, frequent there. We
also saw a VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, rare at this low altitude. It was
probably pushed down by the fire. We then sat at the Spoffords for a
while but saw only the usual. Went back later and got a great look at a
VIOLET CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD. That afternoon went to the Southwest
Research Station and saw several species of hummingbirds including BLACK
CHINNED, ANNA'S, RUFOUS, BLUE THROATED, MAGNIFICENT, AND BROAD TAILED.
One of the kids heard a THICK BILLED KINGBIRD and we found it. Went
owling and saw a WESTERN SCREECH and heard a WHISKERED SCREECH. Got 9
lifers.

July 4:
Today we went out into the desert with Rob Day. Saw a LESSER NIGHTHAWK
right off the bat, but nothing else until we got a little higher.
Searched for BLACK CHINNED SPARROW, but to no avail. Rob, Eric and James
from Louisiana, and John from Alabama went out to look for it while Peter
and Katie from Pennsylvania and I stayed behind in the van. Rob and the
other guys came back saying they had seen the sparrow plus a Varied
Bunting. Peter also saw the BLACK CHINNED SPARROW for his 400th NA life
bird. It turned out that the others didn't see anything, so Peter was
the only one who saw the sparrow! Went out owling, but saw and heard
nothing. Got 4 lifers.

JULY 5:
Packed up to leave Cave Creek. Before we got too far along we crossed
the border into New Mexico for BENDIRE'S THRASHER and BARN OWL. Got both
without any problem. We then stopped again at Wilcox Sewer Pond. Much
was the same except all the Curlews were gone and in their place was a
flock of WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 5 species of
swallows, TREE, VIOLET GREEN, BANK, ROUGH WINGED, AND BARN. Plus a
solitary male YELLOW HEADED BLACKBIRD. The first bird we saw when we
reached Chiricahua Nat'l Monument was a YELLOW EYED JUNCO. Got 4 lifers.

JULY 6:
GRAY BREASTED JAYS woke me up this morning. Went out hiking with Dave in
Chirciahua Nat'l Monument. It's a beautiful place with amazing rock
formations. Dave picked a ZONE TAILED HAWK out of the sky that Eric from
Virginia had passed off as just another TURKEY VULTURE. Got good looks
at HUTTON'S VIREO and MEXICAN CHICKADEE. Went owling in the evening and
got an amazing look at a SPOTTED OWL that was called in by Eric from
Louisiana. Later that evening the owl came to our campsite and called
all night. Got 4 lifers.

Must log off. To be continued . . . . .
Nathan

========================

From: "Nathan A. Swick" <nswick at OZARKS.SGCL.LIB.MO.US>

My Trip Report (con't)

JULY 7:
Left Chiricahua Monument for Ramsey Canyon. On the way passed over the
San Pedro River, a line of sycamores and cottonwoods in the middle of the
desert. We also stopped at the Sierra Vista sewer ponds and saw BLACK
CROWNED NIGHT HERON, WHITE FACED IBIS, and several ducks, including
CINNAMON TEAL. In the reeds there was a large flock of YELLOW HEADED AND
REDWINGED BLACKBIRDS. Traveled on to Mile High where we found great
accomodations and great birding! Staked out the hummer feeders and were
rewarded with BROAD BILLED AND WHITE EARED HUMMINGBIRDS. Hiked up the
Hamburg Trail with John from Alabama and Jenny from Ohio. At a bench we
heard a very annoyed EARED TROGON, but the bird would not show itself.
After a half hour of deligent searching we finally gave up when the bird
sounded like it was getting farther away. When we returned, Kenn Kaufman
and some of the other kids saw a female FLAME COLORED TANAGER! Well, you
can"t get them all! Spent the rest of the evening at the headquarters
checking out the gift shop and buying T-shirts. Got 5 lifers.

JULY 8:
Woke up with EARED TROGON in the backyard, but still couldn't find that
bird. Went to San Pedro River,
a
really
beautiful
place. Didn't see GRAY HAWK, but did see nesting GREEN KINGFISHERS and
TROPICAL KINGBIRDS. Searched for EARED TROGON all afternoon but didn't
find it. While looking for the trogon I did see RED FACED WARBLER,
WESTERN TANAGER, AND STELLER'S JAY. The staff of Ramsey was banding
hummingbirds in our yard. I go to hold a BROAD TAILED. Went out at
night and saw a family of WHISKERED SCREECH OWLS. Got 9 Lifers.

JULY 9:
Left Ramsey Canyon for Lake Patagonia State Park. On the way stopped at
Sawmill Canyon in Fort Huachuca for high elevation birds. With the help
of a tape we got GREATER PEWEE, BUFF BREASTED FLYCATCHER, PYGMY NUTHATCH,
and an incredible OLIVE WARBLER. Normally this bird is high up in the
tree. This one was at eye level. The bird books don't do this bird
justice. It's beautiful! Lake Patagonia was sort of a disappointment
for all. It was hot, no shade, no trees, no birds. However, we still
got a few flybys of BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS. In the evening went
to Patagonia/Sonoita Creek Sanctuary and got some nice looks at riparian
birds like THICK BILLED KINGBIRD, VERMILLION FLYCATCHER, and YELLOW
WARBLER. Came back and Dave called PYRRHULOXIA into our campsite. Got 5
lifers.

JULY 10:
Got up early to go to the famous Patagonia Roadside Rest, home of the
Patagonia Picnic TAble Effect. Finally saw a CANYON WREN, a bird that
had eluded me the entire trip. Went across the road to the ROSE THROATED
BECARD nest where I got a look at the female at the nest. We then drove
to Kino Spring for waterfowl, but instead got Gray Hawk and VARIED
BUNTING, beautiful looks at both. Jenny Brumfield, an 11 year old from
Ohio, spotted Dave his life MISSISSIPPI KITE, a bird no one was
expecting, least of all Dave! It perched long enough for everyone to get
a great look at it. Went to Madera Canyon for lunch and then split.
Half of us hiked up Bog Spring Trail in search of the nesting FLAME
COLORED TANAGERS. The other half went to Santa Rita Lodge to watch
hummers. Traveled on to Tucson where we swam and relaxed. We had our
goodbye dinner and handed out awards. Jenny Brumfield won the Super
Camper Award and a pair of Zeiss binoculars. Varsha Mathrani won the
most improved camper and a pair of Swarovski binoculars. Got 4 lifers.

JULY 11:
Got on plane for Springfield and Home! My trip total ended up being 95
lifers and 171 total species. Again I thank all the people who helped
me. It was a lot of fun.

Thanks,
Nathan Swick
Ozark, MO
nswick at ozarks.sgcl.lib.mo.us