NPR Alert
Blue-winged warbler, foraging in the frost-burned black raspberries.Remember when I was carping about having so much yard and housework to do? Well, the day I got up at 5 to start it, and had the whole day laid out to do nothing but gruntwork, I got a call at 11 AM from NPR, wanting me to report to the studio in Athens (1 1/2 hr. away) for a taped interview with Melissa Block. It was to be a followup on the one titled, "Waiting for Spring, Waiting for the Birds," that aired April 10. Well, OK. I can do that.
Before I left at noon, I threw together a photo gallery at Melissa's request, for an NPR Web Extra. They're all birds I've photographed in the last couple of weeks, right on our farm. There's also one by BOTB, the worm-eating warbler, which was too sublime not to include. Emailed those off, leapt into the car, arrived at the studio with 15 minutes to spare, disgorged what I thought to be true about this spring's migration, and jumped back in the car, arriving at the bus stop in Whipple with ten minutes to spare, at 4:00 PM.
It definitely beat doing housework.
Understand: I have never considered myself a bird photographer, but I am waaay more excited about the photo gallery on the NPR web site than about hearing myself blather on the air. You can see it, and listen to the new interview, here.
The piece aired at about 4:10 pm Eastern time (the third story in the first hour of All Things Considered) and in many places it will air again at about 6:10 p.m. Eastern. Give it a listen if you read this in time, or you can hit the link above to hear it online.
Part of what's working here is luck, and part of it is being willing and able to throw my plans out the window at a moment's notice. It sure beats scrubbing toilets. You were right. The toilets and floors can wait.
A white-eyed vireo, puffed up like a tennis ball in the frost-burned willow. Today, it's all leafed out again!Labels: abnormal spring weather, bird migration, NPR
posted by Julie Zickefoose @ 5:19 PM
22 comments
22 Comments:
You got it, Julie! Between working, homeschooling, regular parenting and just life, something has got to give. I found that it is housework. My room is a mess but my kids are loved and intelligent, with interesting takes on life. I think it is pretty satisfying. Who cares if the dust bunnies grow as big as tumbleweeds? Well, when they do go tumbling, I do snag them. ;-)
I actually heard this piece as it aired. It was a great pick-me-up for my workday!
In the interview and your post a few days ago, you tried to avoid saying what becomes of your house sparrows. I read in the NY Times a few weeks ago about a guy in Brooklyn who catches, cooks and eats them. I wonder...
Whatever you do, I'm sure you can get away with it. If I tried it, I'm sure PETA would be all over me like sparrows on a new nest box.
I was just finishing up reading The Herd Mentality, with NPR on in the background, when on came your familiar voice. Serendipity.
The constant battle with housework, chores, whatever (for me--grading papers) reminds me of a rhyme someone gave me when my daughter was litte:
Cooking & cleaning can wait 'til tomorrow
'Cause babies grow up as we've learned to our sorrow,
So settle down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby & babies don't keep.
You know this, of course, but keep attending to the things in life that matter, and the things that don't matter--well, just tell them to settle down.
I regret that I missed this airing by 5 minutes. Fabulous, Julie. I just love hearing your voice and humor.
We all need to put the toilets on hold and go for it.
Your words and photos put all of us back to where we are comfortable and carefree. You're remarkable and cherished.
High five!
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Great photo of the Blue-winged Warbler! I heard your piece on NPR today and enjoyed it. I too have found at least the warbler migration delayed and think your insight on the relationship with the weather/tree buds is on target. I have heard your name a number of times and thought I should check out who you are.
I am primarily a birder-conservationist and bird/nature photographer. I also have a blog, though mine is in support of the Colorado Birding Trail in my neck of the woods in SE Colorado. It's just small, but I also post nature pics and give a conservation message (www.SEColoradoBirding.blogspot.com)
Your intervew was also the NPR Story of the Day podcast for today.
Oh holy smokes! Now I'll get even MORE hate mail from house sparrow huggers. I just love getting veiled e-mail death threats.
Keeps life interesting! But we don't like seeing hateful comments come your way...it ruffles our feathers.
Heard your piece on the 6-ish run of All Things Considered - pledge drive kept it off during the 4-ish airing. I'm grateful to you for sharing all of you outdoor experiences with the world in so many different formats (blog, NPR correspondent, your drawings and paintings), and I'm also especially greatful to NPR for taking the time to consider so many different environmental issues. I'm not a Mom, so I can't connect with you on that level, but I am a budding photographer and bird/nature watcher, and I am inspired by the ways you reach out to tell the world about how beautiful the natural world is if we just take the time to slow down and look... and listen (I loved your snoring impression of the Blue-winged Warbler during the interview, by the way). None of us keep immaculate houses, so try not to let that stuff overwhelm you. The only time my house gets a thorough cleaning is when I know family is visiting, which is only once every couple of months. Sometimes it bothers me, but then I hear that haunting melody of the Wood Thrush, and I just don't care anymore. Live, laugh and love, sister.
Don't worry, Mary dear,
the hateful notes are coming in through the online comment box. Generally from people who wouldn't know a house sparrow from a bluebird anyway: not my core group. If they find their way into my virtual "living room" (which I doubt they'll bother to do) y'all can do a pigpile!
I'm getting lots of thumbs-ups from people who recognize the need to protect native cavity nesters, too, and requests for help. The story is sitting at #5 on NPR's Most Emailed List this morning. It's all good.
I heard you in mid-sentence as I was getting in my car from my neighborhood co-op. "Oh, there's Julie!" I said to myself. You were just telling the host you'd rather not say how you "dispatch" the House Sparrows. I laughed out loud!
Oh, and I would have commented that you're certainly not alone on your lack of time for keeping the house up thread but I've been crazy dealing with two sick cats, one with a minor respiratory infection and one stray that is very old and in renal failure that needs IV fluids every other day. And don't get me started on my yard!!
Christine
Takoma Park, MD
There are house sparrow huggers? I didn't hear you, but my husband told me about someone he heard on NPR. As he talked, I realized he was talking about you. I laughed and told him you were my friend (OK you don't even know me) and that we had your book with an inscription for our Eden in North Carolina. "Oh," he said, "well she doesn't like house sparrows any more than you do."
I'm a new visitor to your blogsite. Love your pictures of the birds and the spring flowers. What model camera are you using. Those thundering cows were so cute! I'm in Mohawk Valley in upstate New York and spring is just starting. Will be cutting the grass today for the first time. Keep on taking those pictures.
I followed you here from Dharma Bums. I clicked on your site and have been sitting here admiring all your photographs. They are so lovely and many of the birds are birds we don't often see down here in Florida.
Just thought I would let you know that those two eyes who have been amazed by your photos, were mine :)
I always love hearing you on the radio. It's like you've gathered us all around the fire to tell us the story of the day.
I can understand (not really) how people might have a different opinion about house sparrows and whether they should be dispatched with ultimate prejudice, but to resort to threats seems to undermine any reasonable argument they might proffer.
Hi Karen,
I have a Canon Digital Rebel XTi SLR camera, with a 70-300mm zoom lens. I don't use a blind; I just get in close to the bird (in the case of warblers, I often imitate their songs to pique their interest).
Anon, that's hilarious that your husband came in talking about the NPR interview and you figured out it had to be me. I'm coming off as the meanest ol' treehugger in Radioland.
P.O.P., I love the Bums and their blog, and just talked to Robin Andrea on the phone, (about their junco nest)... she is sooo cute.
Unhappy Update: They read a letter on NPR's ATC today (5/3) from a woman in California likening someone who would kill house sparrows in Ohio to suicide bombers in Iraq. She wondered if the sparrows could be trapped and released live elsewhere.
Sometimes, I just have to shake my head and wonder what goes on inside some minds.
I have evicted house sparrows daily for weeks from my slot front bluebird house, the trap wouldn't work there , but they will not win this one! They killed my female violet-green in a nestbox last year, I am more apt to be a squeezer than a hugger!
I've got a sink full of dishes, but the star lilies are blooming in the side yard, so dishes and dust bunnies will have to wait till after dark while I search for other good stuff.
Caroline in SD
Bring on the haters, Julie.
My pigpile skills are ready to roll!
Someone threatens you? The Posse will ride, my friend. The Posse will RIDE.
BTW: I saw an indigo bunting today...thought of you. Remember when one flew by the tower during our visit?
I wonder if the house sparrow huggers would object to weeding to protect native plant species?
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