You are browsing the archives of 2005 April.

Langata Nature Centre (Giraffe Centre), Karen, Nairobi
24 April 2005

 
One day’s birding in Kenya - one WHOLE day in a country with a list of about 800, unforgettable birding highlights, a huge range of habitats and scenery…it was always going to be a little frustrating…

However, I’m not someone who dwells on what they’re NOT going to [...]

White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata
AFEW Nature Sanctuary, Nairobi, Kenya
 
The beautiful White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata is related to old-world flycatchers and monotypic within the genus Pogonocichla. An African endemic found from eg Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo, east to Kenya, and south to Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa, Sudan. Its natural habitats are subtropical [...]

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, 16 April 2005

Illinois, apparently, is recognized as the 6th most popular state and Chicago is the 9th most visited U.S. city by overseas visitors (which I guess includes me). Chicago - with a population of about 3 million - is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of [...]

Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
Montrose Point, Chicago, Illinois. April 2005.
 
Sole member of the Pooecetes genus, the Vesper Sparrow breeds throughout much of southern Canada south through the United States. It winters south to Mexico and the Gulf Coast states.

Of all the North American sparrows Vesper Sparrows will perhaps appear the most emberiza-like to European or [...]

Some of you may have noticed that politics hasn’t been a very welcome topic on this blog since early November. Like so many other patriots, I’ve been open-jawed in amazed disbelief at the way events have unfolded. All of my fears regarding the environment, economy, and social policy are coming true, and with gas at [...]

Hermit Thrushes Catharus guttatus
Montrose Point, Chicago, Illinois, April 2005.
 
Hermit Thrushes breed from southern Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland, south to California in the west and Maryland in the east. Typically they are the only Catharus species seen in the US during winter, and are the first to return north.

According to Sibley (”The North American Bird [...]

Another year, another Mikemas. We spent the weekend celebrating my 36th birthday, which was Saturday. The festivities included brunch with family, drinks with friends, and a fantastic time at Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion.  Although this radio show, which airs nationally on National Public Radio, is based out of Minnesota, Garrison and the gang come [...]

 
Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India
08 April 2005
 

This month’s inspirational verse comes from John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892), the famed Quaker poet.  Through his efforts as a writer, editor, and legislator, Whittier earned great fame and respect. Countless towns, schools, and natural formations are names for him, including Whittier Glacier in Alaska and, by extension, its tiny neighboring town, a gateway to Prince [...]