[BCNnet] Contribute to CW "Birding Tip Sheet"

[Judy Pollock]

This message is forwarded from Don Parker, Managing Editor of Chicago
WILDERNESS
Magazine

Attention all birders!

Chicago Wilderness Magazine is putting together a tip sheet on birding and
wants to hear from you, the folks who are out there doing it  the real
experts.

Please do not "reply" to this e-mail. Please send your response to
dparker@chicagowildernessmag.org by July 28. Thanks!

Here is a list of some of the categories we're interested in, but if there are
others you'd suggest, or any other really great and interesting tidbit about
any aspect of birding in Chicago Wilderness that doesn't fall into a category,
please include that too.

Answer as many questions as you'd like, and try to provide detailed responses
that bring the topic to life and are specific as possible (contact information
such as phone and address is always helpful, as in the "best places to get
gear" category). Also, please indicate whether we may give you credit in the
magazine.

Thanks for your input! You are a vibrant community, and Chicago Wilderness is
always interested to hear what you are up to.

1. Hottest Places to Bird(with bird counts soaring, not temperatures) in
Chicago Wilderness (Chicago Wilderness roughly includes Kenosha County, WI;
Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kendall Counties in Illinois;
Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana)
     -Seasonal Favorites (what's best during what season? do you find yourself
migrating from place to place with the seasons?)
     -Underbirded Places (not those sites with no birds, but places that are
underappreciated by most birders and deserve recognition)

2. Chicago's Coolest Bird (what species have you unwittingly fallen in love
with? or is there a specific bird with whom you have developed a special
rapport?)

3. Fascinating Fact the Beginning Birder Might Not Know

4. Strangest, Most Fun, or Most Intriguing Juicy Tidbit Seen or Heard About CW
Birds, birding experiences, or the CW Birding Scene

5. Best Local Places to Get Birding Gear (Binoculars, Guides, etc)

6. Best Birding Books (esp about local birding) Best for beginners, best
pictures, best stories, best life histories, best guides, etc.

7. Most Inspirational "Celebrity Birder," dead or alive.

8. Local Birders You Should Know

9. Best Birding Web sites

10. Other Birding Resources You Can't Survive Without (listservs, nature
centers and birding groups, official local tours etc)

11. Most Important Points of Birding Etiquette (Do’s and Don'ts)

12. Best Ways for a Beginner to Improve Birding Technique

13. Big Birding Events (Both those scheduled for fall and biggest regular
events all year)

14. Most Important Contribution(s) A Person Can Make To Bird Conservation

15. Best Ways to Get Even Closer to Birds (bird banding opportunities, boat
trips, great bird exhibits, rehabilitated captive birds you can get close to,
etc)

16. Hot Trends in Birding

17. Recent Local Trends in Bird Populations; Predictions

18. Your Most Inspiring Birding Experience

19. Most Common Birding Injury