Laura Erickson's For the Birds

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Brrrrdathon!!!


Gray Jay
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Erik Bruhnke and I had a fabulous time this weekend at the first annual Brrrdathon. This fun event was created by the ever-wonderful Sparky Stensaas in order to raise money toward four goals:
1. Acquire bog habitat in the Sax-Zim Bog area of St. Louis County, Minnesota
2. Build a small “Birder Welcome Center” on the land
3. Create a HD natural history movie about Black Spruce/Tamarack bogs
4. Fund educational/research projects centered on peatlands and associated birdlife

Erik and I only went out one day this year, but next year we hope to do the 2-day count. It's a great way to start a new year of birding--celebrating northern birds in the service of ensuring their futures.

Erik and I both entered the photothon, too, and he won!! We had really good conditions for photography--I'll be posting some of my photos in the next few days. We had great light and cooperative birds, though the Gray Jay in this photo didn't hang around long. If you're on flickr, make sure you check "see original size" to see the detail in some of the photos.

No one should start their year listlessly!