by Tom & Jo Heindel | Jan 7, 2002 | Blog, Heindel, Sierra Wave
At the beginning of every field guide is an illustration of a bird with all the parts named. Some such as the Peterson guide limit this to a single bird, while others, such as the Sibley Guide to Birds, devote seven pages to show bird parts of different groups of...
by Tom & Jo Heindel | Nov 7, 2001 | Blog, Heindel, Sierra Wave
Eleven species of gulls have been reliably documented as having occurred in Inyo County. This group of birds typically stirs strong feelings of love or hate among birders. Those who love them not always began that way, and, in fact, appreciation of the group is gained...
by Tom & Jo Heindel | Sep 23, 2001 | Blog, Heindel, Sierra Wave
One of the great things about birding is that wherever you travel there is an excellent chance that you will run into old friendsand some of them may have feathers! You probably expect to see new birds as that may well be one of the reasons you travel. But seeing...
by Tom & Jo Heindel | May 9, 2001 | Blog, Heindel, Sierra Wave
The Orioles are arguably one of the most beautiful groups of birds in the world. Those found in the US are members of the blackbird family Icteridae. They are not closely related to the orioles of the old world, which are in the family Oriolidae and also brightly...
by Tom & Jo Heindel | Mar 8, 2001 | Blog, Christmas Bird Count, Heindel, Sierra Wave
Most birders enjoy woodpeckers. In fact, many can relate a favorite birding experience that involves a woodpecker. In a conversation with Roger Tory Peterson, a decade before his death he recounted to us that the first species that really got him hooked on birds was...
by Tom & Jo Heindel | Jan 7, 2001 | Blog, Heindel, Sierra Wave
It seems that each fall report starts by stating that some spectacular birds were seen and this recent fall is no exception. The fall season for birds extends primarily from August through November when most of the birds are heading south but a few begin in Jun (e.g....
by Tom & Jo Heindel | Nov 1, 2000 | Blog, Heindel, Sierra Wave
The energy output required of birds to molt, migrate and mate is so great that these events usually do not occur simultaneously. A bird’s year is spent balancing the energy needs so that these events do not interfere with each other. It is no surprise that birds...
by Tom & Jo Heindel | Sep 12, 2000 | Blog, Heindel, Sierra Wave
This years IMBD was the best ever regardless of which indicators are used. From dawn until dusk thirty-eight observers (a record) covered the Owens Valley, White & Inyo mountains, eastern Sierra canyons, Deep Springs and Death Valley (record coverage) looking and...
by Tom & Jo Heindel | May 11, 2000 | Blog, Christmas Bird Count, Heindel, Sierra Wave
The winter of 1999-2000 has been a relatively mild one east of the Sierra. It has also been a relatively dry season with late storms leaving the area with below normal precipitation levels but not the disaster predicted by some. Winter is ornithologically our most...
by Tom & Jo Heindel | Mar 14, 2000 | Blog, Heindel, Sierra Wave
Those who are long time members of the birding fraternity can look back over the years and recognize the stages through which they have passed. There are plateaus that mark an advancement in knowledge, skills, and techniques from those held previously. Often the...
