Tweets: Jerry Blinn wrote

>In my other posting, I mentioned using a scope on a window mount --
>something new for me.

I'd like to jump on a soapbox here for a minute (maybe two boxes - I'm
"vertically challenged"). I am a passionate proponent of using window
mounts. As Jerry is discovering, they are wonderful, easy to use, and best
of all they don't scare wildlife away. It is amazing how something as
foreign to the landscape as a car or truck is tolerated by wildlife when it
functions as a blind. If you haven't used a window mount, you might be
surprised how *often* you can find a spot to use them -- even when scanning
large bodies of water (ocean). It's a two-way benefit: the birds/critters
are less disturbed, and you stay warmer by remaining in your vehicle, out
of the wind or other elements.

Also, they don't really cost that much. Unfortunately, I don't remember
what I paid for the one I have; I purchased it 4 years ago at the Portland
Audubon store. It was not as expensive as Jerry's -- a Bushnell, on the low
end of the price range. Several times I have stopped to watch/count birds,
only to have someone walk up and ask about my scope. Depending on what I'm
watching, the critters may scatter and the inquisitor is usually oblivious
to that fact. I try to stay pleasant and not growl when answering their
questions because they are usually new to birding and unaware of the
disturbance they are causing. More than once I've mentioned the fact that,
*if you stay in your car* you don't disturb wildlife (they show no evidence
of comprehension), and that the window mount/scope arrangement is ideal for
that.

The tricky part to using window mounts occurs when birds/wildlife are in a
location where it is difficult to pull off the roadway (e.g., in
agricultural areas with no shoulder). In that case you might have to take
care lest your lenses get sprayed by passing vehicles, or at least prepare
for the blast of air as they pass. Good idea to be well off the travel
lanes and have your flashers going!

Using a window mount can reap great rewards. One of my all-time best
encounters came last October when I saw my lifer wolf. It was in the
northwest corner of Yellowstone, in an area not known for wolf sightings
and indeed not usually considered one of the areas where wildlife can be
easily spotted. I was en route to West Yellowstone in late afternoon/early
evening, and noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye: a black bear,
high-tailing it up a talus slope and into the trees. Even then I didn't
slow down too much until a cloud of ravens flew up: "Ahh! - ravens mean
something's up..." Then there was a wave of brushy tail, bigger than a
coyote, and I put on the brakes. Pulled over, put on the hazard lights, and
used the window mount to scope out a lone wolf (no collar :) for about 45
minutes (until it got too dark and I was freezing). It was guarding the
remnants of a kill (deer?) a mere 80 yds from the road. Yes, it knew I was
there because it looked directly at me, but behaved as if nothing was amiss
-- even lay down to take a nap, paw curled around a rib bone. The truly
amazing part of the whole experience was that in that whole time not one
other car stopped to look or ask what I was watching. In a national park,
no less!

So, if you don't already own one, I would encourage those of you with
scopes or cameras to consider purchasing window mounts. You won't be sorry
- guaranteed.

-- Janet Hardin
wings at olympus.net
Port Townsend, WA