From Paul Lehman, writing from Omaha at the conclusion of another very successful Nebraska tour:

Greetings. Currently at the Omaha airport, heading home. My Platte River
tour recorded three species of cranes. After we missed the Common Crane
in western Nebraska all day Sunday, it was re-found yesterday, so
we dashed back westward and had fine looks (new for me in North
America). On Monday we had a Whooping Crane near our hotel outside Grand
Island (my second in Nebraska). And of course we saw some 500,000+ Sandhill
Cranes.  Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying to Greater Prairie-Chickens at a
prairie-chicken lek. The weather changed hourly from very nice to truly awful.

Congratulations to Elwood Hain for identifying Yellow Warbler as the most widespread breeding Dendroica in North America! Elwood wins a WINGS cap–and you can, too, if you’re the first to answer the new trivia question correctly:

Which state or province has tallied record high Christmas Count numbers of all the following species: Golden-crowned Kinglet, Dusky Thrush, Red-throated Pipit, and Brambling?

Leave your answer here as a comment. The first correct answer, and the wittiest, most cogent, or most startling incorrect answer, will win the cap everybody who is anybody’s wearing. 

This year’s Tucson Festival of Books was a great success–not the least thanks to the participation of Jon Dunn, who took part in a panel discussion with Elizabeth Rosenthal on the history, significance, and future of the field guide.

As consultant, editor, and author of a number of field guides (along with innumerable articles on identification, distribution, and classification), Jon gave us some one-of-a-kind insights into the birth and evolution of the National Geographic guides and the other important references he’s responsible for.

The audience of about 60 birders and book lovers was enthusiastic, and Jon was, characteristically, patient and thorough in answering their questions, ranging from how to choose a field guide to how to make that difficult jump from beginner to “intermediate” birder.

Afterwards, Liz and Jon signed books at the Tucson Audubon stand.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Jon generously agreed to lead a Tucson Audubon bird walk at Sweetwater Wetlands Sunday morning; books were signed, birds were sighted, and everyone was impressed–no surprise to those of us who know him–at how fine a morning in the field with Jon Dunn can be!

Jon with Robert Meredith, Liz Payne, and Darlene Smyth at the 2010 Tucson Festival of Books.

So how do WINGS leaders spend their time when they’re not leading tours?

In the field, of course, birding and learning–and contributing to conservation by participating in such activities as “birdathons.”

Rich Hoyer‘s Voyeurs will be going head to head with Gavin Bieber‘s High Rollers in Tucson Audubon‘s annual event.

Where will you be birdathoning it this spring?

Southeast Arizona. Photo: Rich Hoyer.