The Hidden Singer

Photo by Bill Ravenscroft

The Hidden Singer


The gods are less for their love of praise.

Above and below them all is a spirit that needs nothing

but its own wholeness, its health and ours.

It has made all things by dividing itself.

It will be whole again. To its joy we come together --

the seer and the seen, the eater and the eaten,

the lover and the loved.

In our joining it knows itself. It is with us then,

not as the gods whose names crest in unearthly fire,

but as a little bird hidden in the leaves

who sings quietly and waits, and sings.

Wendell Berry

Binoculars for Kids and Youth

Children are naturally curious, inquisitive, and adventuresome. We should foster this whenever we can. One way to do so and foster a love and greater understanding of the world around us is to take them on outdoor adventures. Of course, we can nurture their zeal by providing them with tools of observation. Thus, the choice of binoculars is a gift that will serve our children well. So, what are the options?

For a youngster, kindergarten through third grade, you might consider the brightly (and fun colored) Audubon 7 x 18 Mini. It is small enough to fit smaller hands and light enough to be easily held steady. It has a large field of view, an important aspect for someone just learning to use binoculars. It allows for close up observation. It really is an affordable and very versatile first binocular.

Third graders to Middle schoolers can choose from the Vortex 8 x 32 Lightning or the Audubon 8 x 42 Vector. The Vortex Lightning is a mid sized wonder. It is light weight, only 17.4 ounces. Its field of view is substantial at 394 ft at 1000 yards. It is also water and fog proof. It can easily be pack in a backpack or is great for one traveling by bicycle. On the other hand, the Audubon 8 x 42 Vector is a full sized binocular, yet still light enough to be easily handled and steadied. It too is water and fog proof. The Audubon 8 x 42 Vector has another advantage in that it allows for observation as close as six feet.

High School age youth can take advantage of the Stokes 8 x 42 Talon. The name Stokes has long been connected with birding and excellence in field observation. The Stokes are considered experts in the birding community and have designed a complete series of binoculars and spotting scopes. The Talon is the introductory binocular in this regard. It is rugged, full sized, water and fog proof. It has multi-coated, phase corrected lenses providing one with crisp, clean, clear images. It has a whopping 420 foot field of view, one of the best in the industry. Also, one can focus on objects as close as 4.5 feet away. The Talon can help you just as easily view a bluebird across the field as a swallowtail butterfly on the flower right next to you.

May you and your children or grandchildren enjoy the great outdoors.

Golden Cheeked Warbler & Black Capped Vireo

Photo by Bill Ravenscroft

May 4, 2008, Sunday, Field Trip to Ft. Hood, Temple, TX. 5:00 AM-12:00 Noon. The skies were clear. The early morning temperatures were cool and crisp but it warmed later. Six of us from Waco left in the dark for Ft. Hood, arriving at the rendezvous at 6:25 AM, the sun having risen a little after 6 AM. We joined two from Houston, two from Kentucky, two from Temple with Rich of the Nature Conservancy and Gil, who led us around Ft. Hood. The roads were rough and we had to fjord a few creeks. Since the chiggers were out, we donned bug spray, too. Our first stop was to the Owl Creek Region where we were able to see the Golden Cheeked Warbler and the Black Capped Vireo, both endangered, many Painted Buntings, a female Summer Tanager, and a Yellow Warbler. Our second stop was to The Willows where we found Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Indigo Buntings, Prothonotary Warblers, and Warbling Vireos. We also sighted an immature male Blue Grosbeak at The Willows. Forty-two species sighted are listed below.

Golden Cheeked Warblers
Carolina Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Cardinal
Tufted Titmouse
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped “Myrtle” Warbler
Mourning Dove
Rufous Crowned Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-breasted Chat
Red-tailed Hawk
Painted Buntings
Black Capped Vireos
White-eyed Vireos
Red-eyed Vireos
Summer Tanager, female
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
American Crow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Least Flycatcher
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher
Black & White Warbler
Clay Colored Sparrow
Dickcissel
Indigo Bunting
Great Blue Heron
Eastern Kingbirds
Common Grackles
Baltimore Oriole
Warbling Vireo
Great Crested Flycatcher
Orchard Oriole
Prothonotary Warbler
Blue Grosbeak, imm. male
Mississippi Kite
Chipping Sparrow
Common Yellowthroat

Carolina Wrens Fledged

Our Wrens have fledged their first brood of the season. We were surprised by the interest in this house this year. We had to trim the Red Oak of some limbs that were wearing against our roof. One of those limbs fell on the birdhouse and did some damage. Yet, it was the correct kind of damage, for this proud little bird and its mate worked hard to put it in shape and built the perfect nest. Two offspring sat at the opening for the good part of a day and then took their first flight. Beforehand, we were able to watch these hard working parents bring worms and insects to those hungry mouths at a very steady pace. Quite interesting was the constant calling on the part of the parents while they did the “grocery shopping”. I suppose it let the young know that the parents were still about. Equally interesting to watch was the indirect route the adults took to the house changing the pattern a little each time. Bittersweet is the successful fledge, for the house is empty now.