Comments on: Birding While Driving

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:33:27 +0000

I drive a convertible (Mustang GT) in NW Florida and driving through the wooded lots near my home I’ve become distracted by various raptors, a few turkey buzzards, herons, and other birds. You can get a great view of birds from a convertible at 25-35 MPH, but it’s hard to see the road when you’re looking straight up or over your shoulder. I doubt I’ll try the binocular trick. (I also avoid the periodic snake or turtle. I’ve stopped in the middle of the road to pick up and carry a turtle to a theoretically safer empty lot.)

By: townmouse

townmouse — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:34:53 +0000

So true. Never have I felt closer to death than in a car being driven by a birder in northern Greece. Generally when the driver gets his binoculars out, it’s time to start praying…

By: Shirl Kennedy

Shirl Kennedy — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:39:23 +0000

It rained some overnight…and flocks of ibises were all over the lawns as I drove to work this morning…attracted by whatever critters the rain had brought closer to the surface. It’s the time of the year when we see many young birds…the immature ibises are brown and so skinny. Large groups of them seem to cross the streets at random and the flock swerves out of the way of cars as if a single unit. Fascinating…and beautiful.

By: thm

thm — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:47:10 +0000

I think anyone who has driven out to a birding spot in a car has had the experience where a bird seems perfectly content to sit around while the car approaches, only to fly away once a person opens a car door and gets out.