ABOUT ME
I started Birding twice in my life. My Grandmother gave me a cheap pair of binoculars when I was very young, and by age 9 I could already identify the common species with ease. My fondest memory of that time was paging through the Golden Guide to Birds and picking out my first Black&White Warbler! Soon after, I managed to ruin the binoculars for good when I climbed a local sand dune to better view the nesting Bank Swallows. After that, it was many years until I had another pair to call my own. The love of the new hobby soon faded, but I was always avid about the outdoors.
My real surge of interest came while I was attending SUNY@Purchase. I was an eager student, and decided to enroll in summer courses at the ESF Biological Station in Cranberry Lake for a ten week term. I learned lots of Warbler songs in the next few weeks, as I worked closely with budding young ornithologists. When I returned to NYC, I purchased the Peterson "Birding by Ear" CD's, and began learning them. That was 1993, and some songs still escape me! In the autumn of 1994, I graduated SUNY@Purchase with a B.S. in Environmental Science and minor in Chemistry.
I consider the summer of 1994 the time I truly began Birding, or at least Listing! My girlfriend and I decided we would learn the local species together. We lived very close to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) that summer, and made frequent visits. We quickly learned to recognize the resident Ducks, Herons and nesting Bald Eagles. Later, I became obsessed with actually seeing an Indigo Bunting. It was depicted in a fascinating shade of blue, and was something I HAD to see. Late that August, I came upon a pair along the Pine Meadow Trail at Beaver Lake Nature Center. My first success at finding a target species!
In 1995, I relocated to the Midwest for four years. At first Toledo, Ohio seemed like a fate worse than death. In many respects, it was ( a stolen vehicle, house fire, horrible waitering job) but the Birding was excellent. Situated along the Mississippi Flyway, NW Ohio had new species to learn. An interesting phenomenon was more common there as well: the Western Stray! Also, Crane Creek State Park had a fallout of Warblers and other migrant Passerines in the Spring that was simply astounding. Soon, my Life List was augmented by such species as Lark Sparrow, Summer Tanager, Varied Thrush, and Northern Wheatear. For outstanding kindness and tutelage, I am forever indebted to Matt Anderson, Victor Fazio III, and John Szanto. These men all helped me to hone my field identification skills, and patiently answered countless questions. The restaurant job, though mentally degrading, did give mornings free to chase. So naturally, the obsession grew larger...
And grew... In the spring of 1999 I returned to Syracuse and finally obtained a job as a Field Ornithologist, though it was only seasonal. I worked for NYS Audubon on several Grassland projects over the next two years. Then, I picked up a seasonal position conducting a major survey for the Great Swamp Conservancy in Canastota, NY. These positions were a great way to incorporate a love of Birding with my environmental education. However, as great as this experience was, my ultimate Birding dream came true in 2000.
On New Year’s Eve, 1999 I began preparations for a year-long attempt to see as many species of Birds in NY State as possible. This Big Year attempt was well documented upon my former webpage, “The Race For 325.” By the end of 2000, I tallied 334 Bird species. I authored a Kingbird article about the endeavor, and spoke to a few local Bird Clubs about my adventures. This was a phenomenal experience, and many new Lifers resulted. However, I ended up driving 46,000 miles during the Big Year! Since 2000, I have toned-down my emphasis on NY listing.
In 2001 I began traveling to see Birds around the US, Mexico, and Caribbean. Each year, I took a vacation or two specifically designed to see new species. In 2001 I visited Curacao, 2002 it was Texas and the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), with a week also in Big Bend National Park (BBNP). Other treks included a return to the LRGV in winter 2005, Southern California in late-2005, and SE Arizona on 2004 and 2006. Most of the year, I eagerly awaited the chance to take another, albeit brief vacation birding trip.
Many Birding excursions had me visiting the American West. In 2006, I decided to stop visiting and simply relocate. After spending my whole life on the east coast, the allure of constant sunshine and unfamiliar Bird species was too great. In July of 2006, I left Syracuse, NY for Santa Barbara, California. Now, I could visit the beach daily instead of 3-4 times per year. Also, NO SNOW!!! No more winters, no more dreary darkness. Alas, no more decent pizza, winter Finches or irrupting Owls. Well, you have to sacrifice something...
Relocation was not easy. My efforts to start anew would have been impossible without the kind assistance of Wes Fritz. Wes and his wife Sharon helped my transition greatly by offering me a place to stay and encouraging me in my job searches. In fact, a referral from Wes lead to my very first job in Santa Barbara! Thereafter, I had a few false starts and for the next year or so I mostly worked and Birded very little... Now I have finally settled in and adjusted to life out west! The sun, mild climate and abundance of publicly accessible Birding locations will hopefully lead to many great new Bird photos. Check back often for new additions and updates!!
ABOUT FICKITY
When I moved to Ohio in 1995, I brought the cats along too. Moving did NOT sit well with Fickity (nor Squid…). During the trek to the new apartment, he bolted out the door and I had to chase him all over our new building as he yowled! His life in Ohio soon settled down and was very quiet…until March 13, 1996. That's the night the apartment complex burned to the ground. Because of Fickity's habit of hiding, I had a tense moment trying to rescue him and Squid. I got out of the building just as it began filling with smoke. I held the two in each hand, by the scruff of their necks (just like mom…). As we went down three flight of stairs and around the back, someone's gas stove ignited. Even though the flames shot out and the smoke was dense, the cats remained calm. I quickly got them into my car and away from the scene. I lost nearly everything that night…but ALL cats survived! Eventually, so did I…
It wasn't long before tragedy struck again. This time, New Year’s Eve 1998. That night, inexplicably, Squid went into renal failure. He was only three years old when he died. Not knowing much about their background may have cost him his life. I quickly had Fickity's kidney functions tested, and he was OK. It was a very hard situation.
Nowadays, Fickity's life is grand. He is the king of 4 cats, and rules his house. He has many toys and two cat condos with which to occupy his time and a brand-new bed to hide under. He has an odd habit that none of the other cats do. Each night, Fickity takes some of his favorite toys, and places them right next to his food bowl. No one can explain why he does this. Even if one were to sequester all his toys in the furthest bedroom, in the morning, they will be at the food dish! It is never the same toys, and sometimes it is more toys than others, but this habit is his and his alone. He is also fond of singing at night, especially while playing with his yarn puffs… A very interesting cat! Oh yes, his real name is 'Worf.' When you say "Worf kitty" you get 'Fickity'. See???
WHAT'S FICKITY???...
I don't know how many times over the many years I have had to answer this question! The short answer is, Fickity was my cat, depicted above. I got Fickity as a small kitten in October of 1994 from one of the WORST and most disgusting pet shops in Syracuse. Fickity came in from their Liverpool store, and had a HUGE swollen toe that was quite infected. When I inquired as to how this occurred, the clerk told me that the manager of the other store had slammed the cage door on his foot. Fickity's brother Squid (I also took him home) was there too. He had been chemically burned all down his back. The same manager forgot to dilute the flea dip before submersing him. I brought the brothers home and gave them the greatest life they ever knew. Fickity's toe soon healed, but his tendon was severed and his claw always sticks out on that foot as a result. Squid's flesh also regenerated and fur grew in, black and soft and vibrant. Unfortunately, the two formed a VERY strong pair bond, and seldom ventured away from one another. Often, they would hide for hours under the bed or in a cabinet or closet. The fear of their former life was omnipresent, and although they had no problem being affectionate toward me, they would run and hide from all others.
