[mou] M-N Success

[Thomas Maiello]

Murphy Hanrehan, the final frontier.  This is the voyage of me.  My 
"been in Minnesota so long" mission: to explore M-H and not get lost; to 
seek out new birds and new bird habitats; to boldly go where no me has 
successfully gone before.  OooooOooooOoOoOo (pan model of Blue Prelude 
rocketing in front of the M-H park sign) - music crescendo and end.

Yes its true.  I finally had a successful day at M-H without getting 
lost but being goose-bumped with the thrill of seeing a life bird.  
YeeHaw!  After getting tons of support from this delightful birding 
community, reviewing the map, shifting my consciousness to travel on 
unnamed paths and be guided by numbered intersection, and noticing that 
they actually have a pretty good set of posted maps with little "you are 
here" arrows at almost every intersection, I made it to and through and 
left well before dark from the park that once drew frustration and 
consternation into the hearts of this man.

But let's get back to the bird.  I set out on the quest to see - not 
just hear - the reportedly secretive Hooded Warbler - and whatever else 
I might see - perhaps a Cerulean or Northern Parula - still both elusive 
life birds.  I read up on the H-W's habits.  I printed out the advice 
and directions from a few supporting emailing birders familiar with a 
Hooded Warbler at the park.  I brought along my Ipod with all the bird 
calls on it and put an ear bud in one ear, listening to the call of the 
H-W and arrived at the gated trail some 150 yards on the left on Sunset 
Lake Blvd after turning off of Murphy Lake Road.  The instructions led 
me along this trailhead to a circuit of trails that were connected by 
intersections 13, 14, and 15 on the map (almost a warped "D" shaped  
trail circuit).  Sure enough, at the first fork was a post with a number 
"14" on it (just like on the map!).  The email instructions said that 
there was an easy to find, un-mated male H-W singing almost constantly 
(thanks BAFall) just south of intersection marker 13 on this circuit.  I 
took the left fork that was supposed to head for #13 and put my ear bud 
in and started trying to find a matching sound in the trees.  There was 
a pretty steep climbing portion of the trail and after reaching the 
flats above it, presumedly just before marker 13, I heard a stereo match 
to the recording in my Ipod.  It was identical.

Now to see it!  The bird books said that the H-W likes to secret itself 
in low thick vegetation near water.  Uh-oh, I didn't see any water.  But 
I could hear the bird anyway (fleeting moment of doubt).  It just had to 
be the bird.  The calls were identical.  It seemed to be coming from 
pretty high in the trees just off the trail though - not in the lower 
thickets behind them.  Maybe my ears just couldn't locate it very well 
or it was a ventriloquist bird (as they all seem to be).  After staring 
at the supposed direction of the sound, changing my position and not 
seeing anything at all moving for about 15 minutes, I began the process 
of pin-pointing the birds location by finding where I thought I heard 
it, taking a few steps to the left and locating the sound again 
(fortunately the bird did keep singing and singing and singing) and 
again and again.  I could tell the little varmint was moving but I 
couldn't see it.  Finally I realized I had done the best I could do to 
generalize it location, roughly how deep into the woods and how high - I 
surrendered and decided to let the bird come to me.  I just stood 
staring at the area, waiting for any motion, change of light, shaking 
leaf - anything.  And then it happened.  Now I have an inkling how those 
who searched for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker must have felt when they 
saw it, if only in the smallest of degrees.  This beautiful little 
yellow bird moved out from behind the trunk of the tree I was staring at 
and then darted back into the first fork in the truck.  No wonder I 
couldn't see it - it was hanging out on the tree truck.  Over the next 
few minutes I only saw fleeting glimpses, just enough to tease but no 
positive visual ID - until finally it gave me a full, profiled and 
blatant view - a perfect Hooded Warbler. 

I enjoyed the little tyke for a good half hour - growing familiar with 
its behavior, movements, song, etc.  The rest of the day paled in 
comparison.  I bathed in the glee and satisfaction of seeing another 
miraculous creation - and the satisfaction of apparently conquering my 
fear, confusion and frustration that had been M-H.  I took on a few more 
trails - hoping to see a Dicksissel or Bobolink (how does a Bobolink 
make "computer gone mad" sounds?) but with the wind buffeting my ears, 
only managed to successfully navigate where so many had talked about 
before.  They are apparently destined to be on another trip probably in 
another place and time. (start up Star Trek trailer and fade).

Thank you all for supporting this momentous event for me.  Everyone who 
responded to my emails, everyone who reports what they see and gives 
directions, and everyone who stays connected through this server, you do 
make a difference in other's peoples lives.  I thank you abundantly.  
And now - What's next!

Thomas Maiello
Spring Lake Park

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