The summer span of school-free days from late June to early September always seemed to me to be an experience all United States students held in common. Thus, I was surprised and a little saddened to learn from my Kentucky family that kids in the Bluegrass State go back to school next week. No kid should be stuck in school in early August! Then again, my position is based on my personal experience and preferences. Maybe Kentucky has it right. When do kids get a break from school in your part of the world?
I’ll be driving from one Great Lake to another this weekend and will have to settle for highway birds. Corey will be in Queens, probably tracking rarities in real time at the East Pond of Jamaica Bay. How about you? Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.
Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend!
Sunsets over Lake Michigan are phenomenal!
I might spend tomorrow chasing after a Short-toed Eagle and a Woodchat Shrike in southern Germany, plus trying to get the last few of the southern German breeding birds outside the Alps I am still missing (2 owls, River Warbler, a crake or two), but that’s not entirely fixed yet. Other than that, no plans.
In Germany, school kids have the following holidays:
6 weeks in summer (July/August), 1 week in October, 2-3 weeks over Christmas/New Year, 1 week in February, 2 weeks over Easter, and 1-2 weeks around Whitsunday/Pentecost, for a total of around 14 weeks per year.
Truly phenomenal!
Please see mine at: http://amitaag.blogspot.in/2012/08/skywatchqueued-up-and-waiting.html
Ive plugged into the bloggers at the Audubon Society of Pa & last week they did a walk & got 33 species. One of witch was a Bald Eagle. A few yrs ago I had a face 2face encounter with one on my river trail . He was chowing down on like a 40lb carp. Altho ive always bin a nature lover that moment was bye far one of the best in my whole life & thats when I realized I really love birds more than the average joe. So thats where im going. Theres no walk this weekend but theres 5mi of ttrails
Yeah, that is sad that they have to go back in early August! I am pretty sure that I would have staged an uprising if that happened when I was in primary school. Kids in Costa Rica wont start “summer” vacation until December so it is the height of the school year down here.
As for birding this weekend, I will be doing some guiding in cloud forests on Poas Volcano. I hope the weather cooperates!
Love the beautiful photo, Mike. Sunrises on the other side of Lake Michigan are pretty spectacular too!
I’ve REALLY enjoyed working on the Loudoun County BB Atlas this summer, but I am ready for some new sights. Perhaps the Rockfish Valley Trail walk tomorrow a.m. in Nelson County Va. Followed up with the “Gone to the Birds” fest in Richmond tomorrow night! The Purple Martins are amazing!