Hi Tweets,

There is now some literature and questions regarding the impact we
birders have on climate change. The instant transmission of
information on rarities and vagrants sends lots and lots of us off on
the chase. We mostly do it by car or plane and car. I doubt that
our jetting around really adds to climate change. Those planes are
up there anyway, whether or not I occupy a seat. Some birders are
taking up the challenge of no-carbon birding, by walking or bicycling
and using buses. I can certainly bicycle down to the Edmonds
waterfront and to the Marsh. Unlikely that I will bicycle much
further than that to see birds. I have been thinking about a scooter
for the last couple of years but the price of gas was not high enough
to overcome my fear of motorized two-wheeling in a world of SUVs and
other four-wheeled monsters. This has been the summer of overcoming
my fear.

I bought a 150 cc motor scooter, have my permit, and am waiting a
couple of months to get into a Learn to Ride course through the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation. In the meantime, I can ride during
daylight hours. It's a complete kick. I had no idea I would enjoy
it this much. This morning I went for my first ferry ride (Edmonds
to Kingston) for only $6.25 each way. First on the boat and first
off. I doubt that I used a dollar's worth of gas. I rode up to
Hansville, maybe about 12 miles from the Kingston dock. My odometer
clicks off in klicks so I have to do the math to calculate the
mileage. I got the 7:50 boat this morning and was in Hansville
shortly before 9 a.m. It was sunny with a light breeze and
comfortable temperature. The tide was way out but coming in. I wore
my binoculars, put the camera bag, field guide, and some snacks in
the small cargo box. My smaller, 65 mm scope and light tripod went
in a backpack that I wore. I wish that I hadn't forgotten my visored
birding cap, but I'll develop a checklist of what few items can come
along when I bird by scooter. This was a shakedown trip.

It wasn't a spectacular birding morning but it was great fun to feel
like I was flying at 35 and 40 mph. I saw no plovers other than
Killdeer and no other shorebirds. No cormorants were around either.

Hansville

Starling
Barn Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Belted Kingfisher (1 male)
Heermann's Gull (lots)
California Gull (lots)
Bonaparte's Gull (lots)
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot (3-4)
Killdeer (5)

Point No Point

House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Great Blue Heron (4 in the wetland)
Bald Eagle (2 adults in the usual trees above the wetland)
Spotted Towhee (1 male)
Crow
Rhinoceros Auklet (20+)
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Pigeon Guillemot
Brewer's Blackbird
+ the above gulls

I'm not sure where birding by scooter will take me next. The
speedometer goes up to 70 mph but I don't see myself riding this on a
freeway or other limited access highway. Surface roads can get me
to Juanita Bay, Spencer Island, the Fill, and Discovery and Magnuson
Parks. I toy with birding in Jefferson County by scooter but will
have to work up my courage and skills to cross the Hood Canal
Bridge. I doubt that I will use it for birding on a rainy day, but
winter possibilities are out there. I'll just have to look for dry
days without frost on the roads. I want to have fun with this but
also want to stay as safe as I possibly can when I am two-wheeling in
a world of four wheels. So here's to some carbon-lite birding.

cheers,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds