Bill Amundsen

1. Hooked on birding:
   Please describe:
   1. How you became interested in bird watching.
        It started as several assignments in various classes as a Wildlife Management major at Humboldt State University. After that I decided watching birds was fun and fascinating.
   2. What you did to increase your bird identification skills.
        During two summers, in college, I worked at two USF&WS wildlife refuges in Montana and Nevada. These refuges were at least 40 miles from pavement with little or no, television or radio. So, birdwatching and reading were my major activities. Since then I go birding as often as possible. When I am not birding, I am usually reading a book about birds.
   3. Why you continue to enjoy bird watching.
        Birds are fascinating animals. Frequently, I will sit and watch a bird or group of birds for quite a while just to see, and try to understand, what they are doing. How do birds migrate? How does an animal weighing less than two ounces survive the subzero temperatures of northern winters? These and other question intrigue me.

2. Field of Dreams:
   1. Share one of your memorable birding experiences in Stanislaus or Merced County.
        It was a clear but cool and windy winter day. I was at Turlock lake, at the highest parking lot, where you can see the whole lake. Just finished a bite to eat and looked out the window. There about ten yards out was an adult Bald Eagle. It was flapping its wings, but with the headwind it just hung in one place. It occasionally looked over to see what I was doing, and I just stared at it. This went on for about five minutes. Then it decided enough is enough. It flapped a little harder and flew a little way upwind and then veered off across the lake.
   2. Identify a birding location in Stanislaus or Merced County that you enjoy going to and explain why you like to bird there.
        The eastern part of these two counties. You can see almost all of the the raptors, many of the waterfowl, and a large portion of the other birds on the roads out there.
   3. Identify a birding spot outside of Stanislaus or Merced County that you enjoy going to and explain why you like to bird there.
        The Haul Road at Fort Bragg, California. This is a paved road that was built as a short cut for logging trucks to get to the lumber mill. Nowadays, the road goes from Pudding Creek to McKerricher State Park (2.5 miles). If you stay in a room, with a king-sized bed, at the Beachcomber Motel you can step out of your back door onto the road. These days the only traffic is local people walking and bicycling, and birdwatchers. You can find many landbirds along the road. Or you can walk along the top of the bluffs and find many shorebirds. With a spotting scope you can see a lot of the near shore birds, and occasionally a pelagic bird or two.

3. A Few of My Favorite Things:
   1. Pick 2 or 3 Stanislaus or Merced County bird species and explain why you look forward to seeing them.
        Bald Eagle, I am struck by the majestic presence of the bird. Spotted Towhee, it reminds me of a little scamp, hopping around and spraying leaves everywhere. Sandhill Crane, they remind me of watching them doing their courting and recognition dances, then raising their young, when I was working in Montana.
   2. What bird species that you have not already seen in Stanislaus or Merced County would you would like to find next? 
        My ultimate bird for these counties would be Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but in the mean time I would settle for a Least Bittern.
   3. What is your favorite bird field guide that you take with you in the field (or have in your car)?
        My favorite is National Geographic Fieldguide, followed closely by Sibley's Western Field Guide.
   4. What kind of equipment (binoculars, telescopes, cameras, etc.) do you take along with you while birding?
        10 X 50 Binoculars, 15-60X Spotting Scope with a tripod and a window mount, various where-to-go books. I also often bring specialized books on shorebirds, gulls, etc.

4. Dear Abby:
   1. What advice would you give to a new bird watcher?
        Almost all seasoned birders are willing to share information, go out with them if you can, ask questions. Study fieldguides. Go out on your  own a often as possible.
   2. What suggestions would you give to a parent to help them encourage their children to become bird watchers?
        If your child shows interest in birdwatching carefully nuture this. Do not overdo. Take them along when you go out in the field. If they are 10 - 12 years old take them along on an organized group field trip. Most people on these trips enjoy helping kids. Get them an inexpensive set of seven power binoculars and a fieldguide. Seven power binoculars have a wide field of view making it easier for beginners to find a bird. Being able to find the bird in their binoculars and in their book, makes the whole experience more enjoyable. Carefully nurture this interest.
5. Other:
     If you do not get  a kind of chill when you hear a Red-tailed Hawk scream out its presence and ownership of the air, you need not apply

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