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Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 17-21, 2004 in Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 17-21, 2004 in Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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Twenty-five years ago, a young married couple accepted an invitation to join a birdwatcher friend on a spring walk. This venture proved very strange, with humorous names such as rufous-sided towhee and yellow-breasted chat resulting in giggles and raised eyebrows. Little did we realize that a seed had been planted. A winter trip that year to the Florida Everglades sealed my fate, and life would never be the same again.
It's a miracle of sorts that I am still married to that same newlywed, Dale Rosselet, since every vacation over the next twenty-three years involved watching and photographing birds. Although we often enjoyed breathtaking views of our natural world, many days found us skulking around smelly sewage ponds and insect infested marshes. Dale would have enjoyed an occasional relaxing resort vacation, or a bicycle trip to New England, but I was terribly obsessive and couldn't get enough birding or bird photography. She deserves a Medal of Honor for her sacrifices during these years.
As a former semi-professional athlete, my competitive juices had me striving to be the best possible field birder and photographer. I became a serious "lister", which meant that I NEEDED to see every bird, especially rarities and extralimital vagrants. For about twelve years, I talked, read, lived, breathed, and dreamed birds. I changed careers and became a partner in a carpentry/contracting business so I could devote more time for birds. I went to sleep at night listening to bird calls, hoping that they would reach me subliminally. If I was successful in seeing or photographing a target bird, I soared high as a kite. Conversely, if I missed a target bird, or a "perfect photo", I sulked and became depressed for days. With a lifestyle that resembled an addiction, something had to give!
Major changes came after missing a Swallow-tailed Kite by less than a minute in Cape May NJ, over ten years ago. I was so depressed that I sent Dale home and spent two full days searching in vain for the kite, which was obviously long gone. Afterwards, I sat alone in our vacation home near Cape May, realizing I hit rock bottom. I had "burned-out" on chasing birds.
From that time onward, a slow evolution has unfolded. I learned to appreciate all birds, not only new or rare ones, and developed a passionate interest in their lives and behavior. A whole new freshness arose for the natural world, with mysteries around every corner, and patience the key to unraveling them. I had come full circle, returning to my roots and re-discovering the excitement and joy that grace most new birders. I now realized why most of my adult life was devoted to the study and conservation of birds. To put it simply: "For the Love of Birds".
This is not to say bird listing is unhealthy, or that my path is a roadmap for other birders. It is simply a recount of experiences that resulted in my enjoyment of all birds with equal fascination (although I still have trouble getting excited over starlings and cowbirds). I get almost the same thrill watching nesting robins and catbirds in my backyard as seeing spectacled and king eiders in the Alaskan Arctic. This new perspective includes a realization that we must devote equal passion for conservation efforts for our remaining natural habitats to ensure future survival of native birds. Birders as a public interest lobbying group could be as strong as the National Rifle Association (NRA) if our collective voices were unified as one, using habitat conservation as the common connecting thread.
So as you enjoy your favorite birding location, or simply your own backyard, try to appreciate most every bird you see or hear. They are all important in this passion play of birding that brings us so much pleasure. These winged creatures have the ability to penetrate our very beings, while giving a lifetime of wonder and enjoyment in return.
2004 Festival Articles
2004 Keynote Speakers
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