Biking From Main Street To Birdland

 I spend a great deal of time during the week driving an automobile. I'm thankful for the conveninece a car provides but they do come with a cost. They are expensive to operate and maintain. Exhaust fumes pollute the air and the noise they make pollutes the ear. Driving requires a lot of concentration which adds stress to our lives. These are some of the obvious negative aspects of driving but there is a more subtle point to be considered. When you're in a car your are surrounded by a protective shell of steel and glass that isolates you from outside world. It is impossible to be fully aware of your surroundings while driving.

 I  recently rode my bike to Middletown and was able to enjoy a tour of Main Street that wouldn't be the same if I had driven my truck. I could the smell food cooking in restaurants I passed, see storefront window displays in full detail, and even hear the sound of horses trotting down the street. I was able to drop off mail, get my bike tuned up, and stop for  coffee without having to worry about finding a parking space.

   I was able to get a closer look at historical buildings that I passed by and found it easy to manuevere my way around town to explore anything that I was curious about.

 After leaving the Main Street area I headed down to river road to find some habitat that is more suitable for birds and wildlife.

 I found a Red Fox poking around for food in the woods. It was set back on an embankment near some railroad tracks. The fox seemed as curious about me as I was about him. it stared at me and even walked closer toward me at one point.

 There is a fair portion of land along the Connecticut River which is still undeveloped in the south end of Middletown. I've had good luck birding in this area over the past few years.

I didn't come across anything out of the ordinary during this particular trip but I had some nice views of some birds like this American Robin which tried unsuccesfully to camouflage itself.

 Carolina Wrens are frequently surrounded by vines and branches but they often give themselves away by singing, chipping, or making scolding calls.

   It seems that I'm able to get closer to birds while on a bike but taking photos while trying to stay balanced can be a bit awkward. I had a great view of this Eastern Bluebird but it wasn't at the best angle for a photo.

 I've learned that using a bike for transportation can provide a smooth transition from the modern world to the natural world. It allows you to enjoy the journey, not just the arrival at your destination.

Biking, & Birds With A Bad Reputation

     I had a couple of old bikes that had been sitting around for years collecting dust. I decided to bring them to a local bike shop to see if I could get a few bucks for them but instead, I ended up walking out with a new bike. I hadn't ridden a bike since I became spoiled by the ease and comfort of driving my first car. I wasn't concerned with exercise or high gas prices in those days but times have changed.

  My free time for birding has been limited this month but I've been able to maximize this time by using the bike for short, local trips. The top photo was taken along the East Hampton portion of the rail trail. I was hoping to capture a nice photo of a Black-throated Green Warbler there. They hang out in the evergreens that border the edge of the trail. I had a good opportunity when a BT-Green landed on a branch in plain view. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that I was in auto mode and was trying to manual focus so I missed my chance. I'm still trying to figure out how to coordinate the use of my binoculars and camera while riding a bike. On the plus side, it only took me 10 minutes to bike out there instead of the hour it would have taken if I had to walk the trail.

      I took this photo of a male Brown-headed Cowbird over near the Rocky Hill Ferry. The cowbird has a bad reputation because they lay their eggs in the nests of other species and let them raise their young. 

  

I also found this male House Sparrow making itself at home on a pier near the launch site of the ferry. Many birders don't like the House Sparrow because it isn't a native species and they often take over nesting sites of other native species such as the Eastern Bluebird. If the House Sparrow is still in The United States a thousand years from now will they finally be forgiven for being introduced here?

  I found this Black Vulture munching on some raccoon jerky along route 66 in Portland. Some may look at vultures as harbingers of death but they provide a valuable service by cleaning up roadkill free of charge!