Birding and botanizing
2011 January 6
By Ken Moore
Flora Columnist
There are birders and there are botanizers. Birders are not necessarily ornithologists and botanizers are not necessarily botanists. Most of them, however, are passionate in their observational pursuits. Some botanizers, like many birders, keep life lists of their sightings.
I’ve begun many times to keep a life list of birds, wildflowers and trees. But making notes of what, when and where for each observation is simply beyond my powers to remain focused. “Oh, what is that bird up in that tree? Wow, let’s go gather some of those ripe persimmons. I’ll try to remember which blue aster that is when we return.â€
Keeping a life list is an enviable discipline, but it’s not for me. I am too easily excited about making the same observations over and over again. Each time I see or hear a common bird, like a red-bellied woodpecker, I respond as if it’s a first-time discovery. Similarly, every time I stop to admire a common tree, like the American beech, it’s a really, really special moment.
The Citizen’s December MILL included descriptions of several local birding resources and “hot spots.†Hopefully, that will be followed in the not-too-distant future by a description of botanizing hot spots. I’ve saved a copy of the birding hot spots for future reference, though for me a birding hot spot is wherever I manage to sight or hear a bird. Memorable experiences are those least anticipated.
I had such an experience recently while exploring the short Winmore neighborhood nature trail. I heard the busy chattering of what I thought was a wren. When I looked up, I was surprised to see a titmouse and chickadee fussing at one another. Both were perched about 12 feet above me near a cavity on the side of a sourwood tree. That cavity had become a kind of permanent water reservoir. Those two birds were obviously contesting which was first in line for a drink. It turned out that the titmouse exerted authority over the smaller chickadee. A sighting perhaps not of note to a life-lister, but for me it remains unforgettable.
Birders who are also botanizers are fortunate. When there’s a lull in bird activity, there are always plants to spot. Botanizers have an advantage in that plants can’t quickly relocate. Plant discoveries can be exciting and are more frequent than bird discoveries. Finding common plants along the way is like happening upon old friends. Most you never, ever find boring.
Smooth-barked beech trees, holding their copper-colored leaves in the winter, are always greeted with pleasure. One beech tree hot spot is Battle Park, particularly that extensive grove of big trees adjacent to the Forest Theatre. Another beech tree hot spot is the upland elfin forest on the upper heights of Triangle Land Conservancy’s Johnston Mill Nature Preserve between Mt. Sinai and Turkey Farm roads.
A new beech tree hot spot for me is that same short Winmore bird encounter trail where the giant trees create a Tolkien-like forest.
Wherever you go birding or botanizing, when armed with an appreciation for greeting old friends, you will always be rewarded with finding your own “hot spots.â€
Email Ken Moore at flora@carrborocitizen.com.
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