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| Great Egret |
(published 1-9-14)
I’ve seen birds go fishing many times. I have never seen a fish go birding.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. But there’s more. For some reason I’ve been
thinking about birds and fish. Birding
and fishing. Birders and anglers.
Actually, I know the reason.
Mike Jackson. In 2012 I started
reading his outdoors column in the Daily
Herald. I’ve been hooked ever since. Twice I even tuned in to his Sunday
morning radio show, which ends with a catchy little tune called “All Aboard the
Fishing Train.”
I haven’t met Mike but would like to, preferably over a
meal. He often refers to good food. We
could go to that Italian place with the zuppa di pesce he loves so much.
I also know that Mike has at least a passing interest in
birds, if not birding itself. He wrote a column in July that mentioned a bald
eagle, an osprey and a pelican. Each bird played a role in one of his fishing
adventures.
That column also mentioned yours truly, although not by
name. I was the “suburban birding guy”
who’d emailed Mike to ask if he might devote a few words to birds. And he did!
I’ll bet most fishermen know more about birds than they even
realize. How could they not? Their sport
offers considerable downtime. From a boat or a dock, there’s time to observe.
Birders and anglers are kindred spirits. Please tell me if
I’m wrong.
We both get up early. The best action is often before 9:00
am.
When the 5 a.m. alarm chimes, there’s a mutual feeling of
anticipation. Birders and anglers know that surprises await. What will be seen?
What will be caught? No matter what, we know it will be a good day because
we’re doing what we love.
Then there’s the lingo.
Birders speak of butterbutts, chippies, sandies, sharpies and wormies. Anglers have their bronzebacks, lakers,
smallies, silver kings and lunkers.
We both use bait and sometimes chum around.
We practice our hobbies alone and with others. Both ways are enjoyable but completely
different experiences.
We can easily bird and fish on a low budget. Or we can spend
thousands on tools, accessories and travel.
The technology for finding and catching fish is significant.
More birders are using electronics, too. But the simple, old-school methods are
still effective.
At all hours, in all seasons, we’re out there. Night
fishing. Ice fishing. Owling. Listening to the dawn chorus.
Competition is available for those who seek it. Fishing
tournaments exist for amateurs and professionals. Some take place this time of
year atop frozen lakes.
Birders have their Big Days and Big Years. And to prove our
toughness, we watch hawks from the top of windy hills in late November, engage
in all-day Christmas Bird Counts and scope gulls on the shores of Lake Michigan
in the dead of winter. (It’s not dead for us).
Some birders drive to frigid Duluth or Whitefish Point in
January to witness northern species that rarely visit Chicagoland. We bird where the birds are.
Devoted anglers have their favorite hole or secret spot. Birders have their local “patch.” The depth of
their knowledge about these special places is often astounding.
Anglers relish the spring bite and the fall bite. Birders covet the spring and fall migrations.
Both enjoy a challenge.
For fisherman it’s finding, hooking and landing. Fish that put up a good
fight are preferred, like the smallmouth bass that get Mr. Jackson all fired
up.
For birders it’s finding and identifying, where sometimes a
one-second glance is all you get. It’s the challenge of seeing birds we’ve
never seen before, motivating us to get out more and visit new places.
Patience may be the single greatest connection. Anglers and
birders wait for The Moment, using all of their senses to anticipate and be
ready. More often than not it eludes us, so we learn to appreciate the familiar
and unremarkable. Rare is just a bonus.
The process, not just the outcome, is part of the fun. I
can’t speak for fisherman but I believe if you don’t enjoy the process and
routine of birding then you are not long for the hobby.
And did I mention the one that got away? Anglers are famous
for these stories but birders tell them too. One of mine involves a likely
ferruginous hawk in Colorado back in 2003. It should be on my life list but sadly
is not. So, yes, we can relate to how our angler friends feel when they hook a monster
bass, watch it surface, and moments later feel the line go slack. It hurts, we
know.
But let’s close on a more upbeat note as we begin a new year
of outdoor discovery. Picture a group of happy birders and fishermen, gathered
in a cozy Northwoods tavern, sharing tales of feather and fin. It was a good
day in the woods and on the water.
All
are sporting khaki vests with lots of pockets, festooned with colorful
hand-tied flies or birding pins, depending on each wearer’s persuasion.
After a few longnecks the new friends disperse, retiring
early to their cabins. A good night’s sleep is advised, because tomorrow, like
today, starts before dawn.
Copyright 2014 by Jeff Reiter. All rights reserved.