The Search for Migrating Shorebirds

July 22nd, 2009

Scientists:

Marilyn Joseph
Associate Medical Director
Director Women's Clinic
Boynton Health Service
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health

Warren Regelmann
Interim Director of the Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Center
Associate Professor
Pediatrics



Location: Fort Snelling State Park

It has been some time since this first walk, which offers its own perspective. There is no recording so I am left with what my mind has filtered, what it deemed important and of course there is this assumption that my memories are accurate.

GNATCATCHER!

I went into this walk with thoughts of voyeurism. The act of birding is of course observation, and mostly removed, distanced. One looks at a distance through binoculars at an animal and identifies it. This is basically the extent of my knowledge on this subject.

On our walk though two levels emerged. The three of us chatted about backgrounds, and histories of birding. While this was happening these was this very diffuse level of concentration. I had ignorantly assumed one solely used eyes in this pursuit. As we walked Marilyn and Warren’s ears were active always searching. The other level was of course when there was a bird of interest. From this diffuse attention came intense observation. Attributes were listed, and the bird was identified. Moreover through songs and movements the social interactions could be determined.

Apart from this interesting switching from diffuse to intense, or chronic to acute levels of concentration was our social interaction. We were there for a purpose, to find and observe birds. This of course lend to odd social interactions. In the middle of a story there was an exclamation of a find, and things were dropped, thoughts went back to the bird. After that went, our story started again.

After having walked with two other scientists now, I need to revisit these thoughts. How does diffuse and intense observation play of each other? Seems in such a broad environment, these modes need to both be present and one needs to be able to hop back and forth as needed.

Also I will always remember Warren glee in yelling GNATCATCHER! as he heard a blue grey gnatcatcher. Plus looking through my notes, I did see an American redstart which was quite beautiful.

Lastly starting the Walk I remember Marilyn’s comment that it was kind of sad looking for the shorebirds since they are the first to migrate south. By witnessing them, the summer was starting to end. Instead of just witnessing birds and collecting experiences, these trained observers could see the seasons and hear families.