Europeans, which American bird would you most like to see? (2 Viewers)

[Scott98]

So why you have a Swiss flag in the avatar?

I'd like to have no flag under my name, like you do, but something changed in the settings and it's not possible, so I occasionally change it to various countries from around the world to keep it interesting

A trip to look for the Ivory-billed would be fun. Remote wilderness swamps with old-growth trees....sign me up!

 

[01101001]

I wonder how you all cope with all the Lone Star Ticks (which actively go after you) and mosquitos carrying lethal diseases, not to mention some of the reptiles that live in the water farther south--wearing only permethrin-treated clothes for birding, all nets and gaiters? Or have you become so much as used to it and resigned to the fact that something could happen to you with a tiny probability?

 

[mummymonkey]

Any hummingbird, American kestrel, Phainopepla, any bluebird, Pyrrhuloxia and limpkin are all cool looking birds.

 

[hookem2010]

I wonder how you all cope with all the Lone Star Ticks (which actively go after you) and mosquitos carrying lethal diseases, not to mention some of the reptiles that live in the water farther south--wearing only permethrin-treated clothes for birding, all nets and gaiters? Or have you become so much as used to it and resigned to the fact that something could happen to you with a tiny probability?

Probably that. I wear untreated pants generally. I've found a couple ticks that I had to pull off, not a big deal. I wear bug spray in buggy areas. I suppose a snake bite is possible, but even that isn't super likely, even in Texas. I've accidentally stepped right over a water moccasin before and seen plenty of other venomous snakes, but you really have to disturb them to get bit.
The only gator fatality in Texas in the last 100 years was a drunk guy yelling "F that alligator", theb jumping into water known to be patrolled by a giant alligator.
Chiggers are the absolute worst thing I've encountered, but I guess y'all have those too.

 

[Farnboro John]

Probably that. I wear untreated pants generally. I've found a couple ticks that I had to pull off, not a big deal. I wear bug spray in buggy areas. I suppose a snake bite is possible, but even that isn't super likely, even in Texas. I've accidentally stepped right over a water moccasin before and seen plenty of other venomous snakes, but you really have to disturb them to get bit.
The only gator fatality in Texas in the last 100 years was a drunk guy yelling "F that alligator", theb jumping into water known to be patrolled by a giant alligator.
Chiggers are the absolute worst thing I've encountered, but I guess y'all have those too.

No.

John

 

[Andy Adcock]

Probably that. I wear untreated pants generally. I've found a couple ticks that I had to pull off, not a big deal. I wear bug spray in buggy areas. I suppose a snake bite is possible, but even that isn't super likely, even in Texas. I've accidentally stepped right over a water moccasin before and seen plenty of other venomous snakes, but you really have to disturb them to get bit.
The only gator fatality in Texas in the last 100 years was a drunk guy yelling "F that alligator", theb jumping into water known to be patrolled by a giant alligator.
Chiggers are the absolute worst thing I've encountered, but I guess y'all have those too.

I got done in Trinidad, around my ankles, itched for three weeks.

 

[01101001]

I got done in Trinidad, around my ankles, itched for three weeks.

Do you mean 'jiggers': Tungiasis - Wikipedia

EDIT: Tungiasis caused by jiggers/chigoes (as opposed to chiggers) is endemic to Trinidad and Tobago, and looks much more nasty.

EDIT 2: From a quick search, it seems Europe has them chiggers as well: Country diary: Something about early autumn gets under your skin. I've never got them myself, though.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Do you mean 'jiggers': Tungiasis - Wikipedia

Trombicula - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Andy Adcock]

Do you mean 'jiggers': Tungiasis - Wikipedia

EDIT: Tungiasis caused by jiggers/chigoes (as opposed to chiggers) is endemic to Trinidad and Tobago, and looks much more nasty.

EDIT 2: From a quick search, it seems Europe has them chiggers as well: Country diary: Something about early autumn gets under your skin. I've never got them myself, though.

All I can tell you is that they lived in my ankles for weeks and each time I got in a hot bath, I could feel them get agitated!

 

[njlarsen]

Among the North American birds I have seen, the most memorable were hummers and roadrunner. Lots of other great birds, but those are at the top of the list.
Niels

 

[Mysticete]

The point (and my question) was really about density and ease of view. It's easy to see lots of Nearctic migrants in breeding dress in South/Central America. I'm not sure how true this is in Africa (say), and I'm not sure how density/ease of view compares in the North America migration hotspots. If there's little difference then I'd go further South

In a lot of migrant hotspots, part of what makes them a hotspot is they are locations that concentrate migrants in areas with usually good visibility, either because the deciduous trees haven't fully leafed out, or the vegetation in general is low. And at least once you get to the more northern hotspots (Tawas Point, Point Pelee, Magee Marsh), you are getting migrants that winter in very different parts of the neotropics. I'm not sure there is any wintering local where you will reliably get 20 species of warbler in a morning, versus there are certainly places you can do this in the USA.

 

[Mysticete]

I've seen quite a few of the species people have named and I enjoy North American birding but have a long way to go! Nevertheless I'll keep this to five species rather than the obverse of my NA "seen list"

California Condor
Tufted Puffin
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Spectacled Eider
Whooping Crane

I'm concerned that I may have just set a target I'll have to pay attention to.

John

If you have now set them as targets, that would be a hell of a trip, given that I have trouble imagining a single destination that will give you more than two of those species at a time!

 

[shrek48]

I want to see the Cardinal, Humingbirds and the roadrunner ;-) Oh also the Oriole, as I have seen an asian Oriole! Or any birds really, tired of thewet & cold here in the UK ;-)

 

[Mysticete]

I've never encountered chiggers in the states, although I certainly encountered them in Panama.

Ticks: don't walk in long grass, check yourself when you get to your vehicle, and make sure to wear appropriate clothing. I've only got hit a few times, but here in Wisconsin that usually is followed by a round of antibiotics given that Lyme disease is a big issue

Mosquitos/Black Flies: I mean....you have these in Europe? I don't see this as a NA problem specifically, especially as there are plenty of places where it isn't even an issue, like much of the west.

Snakes? Lol. I would be totally stoked to see a venomous snake where I currently live. We have two species but both are endangered, and I don't think either have been reported locally. Honestly, snakes don't want to bite you. Exercise a degree of caution and don't do anything stupid, and that will do wonders for you not getting bit.

 

[Scott98]

OK, that trip to Lousiana or Alabama isn't sounding so good anymore.....so many reasons to love the North and cold winters! Unfortunately the winters aren't so cold anymore and this region (New England) is now plagued with ticks, even in the winter months

 

[THE_FERN]

also the Oriole, as I have seen an asian Oriole!

Unrelated to the Asian ones. They're American blackbirds (icterids)

 

[birdmeister]

I'm surprised so many of you have gone for Spectacled Eider. Just my personal preference, but I'd put that near the same level as Common Eider (which I also like), well below King and Steller's!

As far as birding in tropics vs getting them in the States, I think one thing that might make that decision is how many species you're looking to get. If you're happy to get New World warblers as part of a whirlwind of lifers in the tropics, bingo. If you hit the right place in the US, you could probably soak in each species a bit more without getting quite as distracted.

As someone who's currently in the Southwest after years of the Mid-Atlantic states, the setting can be hard to beat. The song of a Canyon Wren trickling down the rock walls is unforgettable.

And I totally agree, Lewis's Woodpecker and Black-throated Blue Warbler are must-see birds.

 

[vergan]

I wonder how you all cope with all the Lone Star Ticks (which actively go after you) and mosquitos carrying lethal diseases, not to mention some of the reptiles that live in the water farther south--wearing only permethrin-treated clothes for birding, all nets and gaiters? Or have you become so much as used to it and resigned to the fact that something could happen to you with a tiny probability?

I am expert on rare/awful diseases. My first "American experience", barely 1 month after moving to the states, was Lyme disease...

 

[01101001]

I'm getting vaxxed for tick-borne encephalitis soon (one of the forum members falling ill plus a few narrowly avoided tick bites have motivated me to do it). I know there are no vaccines for Lyme disease and so quick diagnosis and then treatment are key--hope you did well with both, as I've also heard of people incapacitated by the condition.

 

[Xenospiza]

I am expert on rare/awful diseases. My first "American experience", barely 1 month after moving to the states, was Lyme disease...

No need to go the US for that: I got it in the Netherlands and Germany. Luckily I don't get the light allergy that comes as a side-effect to the doxycyclin treatment. (The US ticks are annoying in that they don't usually cause the circular rash that alerted me).

I agree with Mysticete's assessment on most annoyances, but I have yet to have an experience that tops the continuous mosquito onslaught that is Minnesota in July. Still enjoyed it greatly though!