Listing Through Life

anas (duck) acuta (pointed)

Saturday, March 22, 1980 — 8:15 am

Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center

This pair of Pintails was standing on the ice on Crabtree Lake. Later, they were swimming in the open water in front of the blind.

By this time, I was becoming rather well known at Crabtree. This isn’t surprising, since I was there as often as I could find any sort of excuse to go. One of the rangers whom I got to know trusted me when I told him what birds I had seen. My name often appeared on the chart of recent migrants. There a few other birders who were there every Saturday morning, and I got to know them by name.

It seemed Saturday mornings were reserved for birders. On most other days, the trails would be crowded with school field trips, couples making out, and families with screaming kids. Sundays were the worst, and it wasn’t long before I quit going on Sundays altogether. But on Saturday mornings the serious birders would show up. I kept quiet most of the time about what I saw. People who recognized me would stop me on the trails and ask. I would answer confidently (and I was careful and confident most of the time), and they never knew that I had many of the birds I mentioned only once or twice. There was even a time or two when I actually pointed out birds to others when I was adding the bird to my life list as I spoke. I got a big kick out of doing this. Many of these people were conceited about their knowledge and ability to spot and identify birds. I was able to talk with them because of the time I spent studying field guides. They accepted me as a peer when I was really a rookie, but I was able to back up my claims.

anser (goose) albifrons (from albus, white, and frons, forehead)

Saturday, March 22, 1980 — 8:15 am

Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center

I heard on the Audubon Society hotline that White-fronted Geese had been at Crabtree since the 19th. My wife and I drove out first thing the next morning and went immediately to the blind on Crabtree Lake. Much of the lake was still ice-covered, but there was a large open pool in front of the blind. The White-fronted Geese were standing on the ice, out toward the island, right at the edge of the water. They were with a flock of Canada and Blue Geese.

anas (duck) strepera (noisy)

Wednesday, March 19, 1980 — 5:30 pm

Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center

This Gadwall was swimming in Crabtree Lake. I was on a duck craze this spring. I felt like I had to see them all during this one migration, as though I would never get another opportunity. And I almost succeeded. Day by day I went forth seeking new ducks. And Crabtree was where I was usually went because I still wasn’t aware of any other good birding sites. One by one, I added ducks to the list. The more ducks I saw, the more driven I became to see the rest. It was a month-long adrenaline rush.

aythya (seabird) affinis (related to)

Wednesday, March 19, 1980 — 5:30 pm

Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center

I agonized over these birds. They were swimming in Crabtree Lake near some Ring-necked Ducks. Were they Lesser or were they Greater? Their heads didn’t appear to be rounded, and in the fading light, I detected a purple sheen on the head of the male. After much deliberation, I identified them Lesser.

oxyura (from oxys, pointed, and oura, tail) jamaicensis (of the island of Jamaica)

Wednesday, March 19, 1980 — 4:15pm

Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center

I was sitting in the blind on Crabtree Lake when I spotted this Ruddy Duck. It was sleeping with its head tucked into the feathers on its back. It stayed in that position, drifting toward me, for approximately 20 minutes. It looked up only once, due to a near collision with a male Mallard. I left the blind and walked the trails for about 30 minutes. When I returned, it was swimming and diving in front of the blind. It held its long tail parallel to the surface and its bill was dark, not blue. I knew it was a Ruddy Duck, however, by its rust-brown plumage, white cheeks and dark cap.