I just read that “The State of Nebraska is ranked seventh in bird species nationally. In 1995 Forbes magazine listed Grand Island, Nebraska as the number one birding spot in the world.”
Well I’ll be pickled. Knowing what I know about birding in this state, I would move that a little further west say towards Kearney. And then I would have to fact check the Forbes site to see if they really said that. But I’m a bit lazy and resist the urge to disagree, especially when I kind of already believe it. Still, number one birding spot in the world. At least in 1995 anyhow.
Maybe. What has me more fascinated is how readily Deb and I have taken to becoming serious birders in the last year.
I got the birding bug in college and Deb finally got the bug as well. I have long enjoyed nature and its branches for comfort, solace and respite but Debbie is a bit of a late bloomer. Nothing wrong with that of course but it gives me a chance to not only observe birds again but to watch her as well as she finds a new passion.
And she has taken to it like, well, a duck in water you might say. In fact, she prefers ducks and waterfowl, I think because they don’t flitter around in the tree branches, making it hard to identify them. She likes to keep the list you might say.
Yesterday we saw Green Wing Teal, a first for her. She got child like with fascination. We also got a glimpse of Prairie Chickens, which might never happen again as they are declining. But two new birds for her made the day fantastic. This was north of town in the grasslands mostly. The region truly is bird rich.
We have a lake of over 100 acres to walk around every morning and Deb is well on her way to becoming the most passionate birder in the area. If you want to see some of our sunrise activities, check out our Facebook group, Holmes Lake Walkabout. Some pretty good pics almost every day of sunrise and creation.
Anyhow, since we’re in the number one birding spot in the world, I’m gonna clean up my binoculars and get ready for a new day.