The Best Laid Plans...

...as Steinbeck wrote, "often go awry." Such is the case this week with my first ever go around at hosting the "I and the Bird" Blogging Carnival. Grandiose plans for posting the carnival in a manner that is uniquely me (something appropriately geeky, of course) sort of fell flat on my face as work, love and the trials of life all conspired against me this week.

Although, considering some of the ideas that had been bouncing around in my head (keep in mind that I am pretty giddy about the upcoming release of the new Transformers movie), maybe it's a good thing I didn't "geek out" for this post. You might have all been subjected to a multitude of obscure references to 80's pop culture, or even attempts to relate birding blogs to characters from old He-Man cartoons.

So, consider yourselves fortunate to have escaped such a fate. Instead, this 52nd entry into the I and the Bird blog carnival will be perfectly and delightfully normal.

Won't it, Frodo?

You got that right, Paul. You won't be hearing any mention about He-Man, She-Ra, or even the Smurfs from me. Too childish. Just ask Ultra Magnus, here.

Obviously, Frodo, those programs you mentioned are intended for an audience with significantly lower mental capacity than those who normally read the "I and the Bird" blog carnival. Take Greg Laden's post highlighting a popular YouTube video about a moonwalking manikin, for instance. Sure, the video is a bit silly, but do you honestly think someone who watches the Smurfs would find that interesting?

Exactly my point! You see, I and the Bird hosts need to maintain certain standards for their review of the submissions they receive. Likewise, post submitters often go to extremes to demonstrate just how sophisticated birders can be. For example, Clare describes the joys of early summer birding in the Arctic, a distinguished pastime I remember fondly from my time living in Fairbanks, Alaska. Although, to be honest, I never tried searching for Rock Ptarmigan while wearing a kilt before.

We've also got the Ridger, of The Greenbelt, who takes the time to share the frustration I myself have felt at being unprepared to capture an exciting bird encounter on film. She tries her best to capture the scene of two bitterns in a snag with her camera phone. Remember, when life hands you lemons.... Or, as my friend Samwise Gamgee would say, "What we need is a few good taters."

Uh oh... What's wrong, now, Malfurion?

Oh, nothing, Frodo. I just got done reading J Fischer's Ecobirder blog about his recent adventure photographing Great Horned Owl nests in Minnesota. Made me homesick, is all.

Wait, that's not my Homer Hanky from the 1987 World Series, is it?

Oh...um, yes, I mean, no...

Uhhh.... I'll wash it. I promise.

For crying out loud...anyway, I've still got a lot of blog submission to cover so I figured I'd enlist the help of some friends. Here are the Maul brothers. This is Darrel, and his other brother Darrel.

Ok, Darrel and I went through the list and picked out all of our favorite entries. Basically anything that had anything to do with blood, violence, monsters...

Or baby birds.

Yes, Darrel, or baby birds. So, first off we've got Lord Garavin’s Bird Blog, which highlights exciting photos documenting the fledgling flights of a group of young Peregrine Falcons in Rochester, NY. Now, you may be asking yourself where the blood and violence is in this post.

But they count, cuz they're baby birds!

Yes, I realize that. But my point was that these are raptors. And everyone knows raptors love to eat tourists. Just wait until these bad boys grow up and then you'll see the carnage. If you don't believe me, just pop in a copy of Jurassic Park sometime.

Next we've got Karen at Rurality, who shares some great close-ups of vicious Baby Barn Swallows. These little monsters have a bad rap with some folks (and are often the target of TV ad smear campaigns by the powerful and controversial mosquito-rights lobby), but they're perfectly harmless and are quite beneficial to have nesting in your yard, as Karen explains while trying to dispel the myth that these fascinating birds are a nuisance.

Third we have GrrlScientist treats us to a recount of a truly monstrous bird most of us are probably relieved not to have to worry about encountering on those cool, dark early morning birding adventures. This 26-foot long 3,000 pound “Giant Roadrunner” is my kind of bird!

And not to be out-done, we've got YC, from the Bird Ecology Study Group Nature Center in Singapore, who vividly describes the gruesomely unique behaviors exhibited by birds who prefer feed on the slimy, fleshy bits hidden behind the seemingly impenetrable shells of various mollusks. I tried eating an oyster once. Notice I said once.

Ok, those are the ones we wanted to talk about. Right, Darrel?

Thanks to the Darrels for their enlightening effort. Anyway, as you can probably tell, my wife here and I both love to travel. And the more tropical and exotic the better. So it was with great delight that I got to read through some amazing posts from all over the world. Now, while Peregrine Craig at Peregrine’s Bird Blog doesn't necessarily live in what I'd call a "tropical paradise," I was surprised to read about his life-listing story of spotting his first Common Spoonbill in Northern Ireland. A spoonbill just isn't a bird I would have expected to see on the Emerald Isles. He also shares some exciting news as the British Library recently invited him to have his blog archived forever!

Buzzing over to the other side of the globe we find another story about a spoonbill. This one in the Australian outback (ok, this probably technically isn't in the outback, but I'm an American...so anything located in Australia is automatically considered to be in the outback). B, from A Snail’s Eye View, reminds us that birds have evolved similar adaptations all over the world to take advantage of the food available in various habitats, as evidenced by the Royal Spoonbill she observed in an Australian marsh.

And no trip would be complete for a bikini-clad hula girl without a stop in the Caribbean! So we go to visit Tai, from Earth, Wind and Water, who posts some beautiful shots of an American Kestral perched atop a pole “somewhere in the Caribbean”.

Next stop, Africa! We actually have two entries from this fascinating continent. First off we have James, the Birdman, who shares a beautiful description of an encounter with the bird known as Spookvoël by Afrikaaners, as well as other fascinating birds observed in the wilds of Africa. And then we have David, from Search and Serendipity, who highlights some of the amazing birds that can be seen near his home in Yaounde, Cameroon. As David so aptly puts it, “there are indeed many things to love about Africa.” I think you all will agree once you see the video of the Splendid Sunbird (Cinnyris coccinigastrus), a species whose brilliance could put any of the hummers in my backyard to shame.

Forget about these posts over here you should not. Help you understand the force, they will. Hmm?

Yeah, yeah, I was getting to those...you know, if you're so smart why don't you talk about them.

Talk about them I cannot. See to my home I must. Snakes. Yes, many snakes must I arrange.

Whatever. Alright, fine. I'll do it. Anyway, several people submitted entries that highlight the work of others or share insights about bird behavior we may not have been aware of before. For example, Julie, from Pines Above Snow, reviewed David Gessner’s new book, “Soaring with Fidel,” a humorous account of the author’s adventure following the Osprey migration from Cape Cod to Cuba. And then we have Bora, from Blog Around the Clock, who explains that nesting habits of storks, unlike what we have always heard in fairy tales, typically do not include placing them on top of chimneys except as a last resort, as in the example he shares from Serbia.

Patrick, from the Hawk Owl’s Nest, spoke with reknowned nature artist Michael DiGiorgio, in the first of what he promises to be a series of such interviews. And the Birdfreak Team asks us the question, “Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Brown-headed Cowbird?” in a valiant attempt to shed a positive light on one of North America’s “Most Un-Wanted” birds. They also offer up a few solutions to solving what many see as the problem with a very opportunistic (and highly successful) species.

Next we have Carel Brest van Kempen, from Rigor Vitae, documents and describes some of the changes in the behavior of White Pelicans at Gunnison Island in the Great Salt Lake of Utah, as some of them have been spotted frequenting new areas around Salt Lake City lately. And then there is Trevor, who provides some useful tips for anyone who wishes to attract wild birds to their yard, regardless of whether the birds in question are a North American favorite such as the Northern Cardinal or, in Trevor’s case, some fascinating Australian species like the Spiny Cheeked Honeyeater.

We also had quite a few submissions from folks who simply wanted to share their love of wildlife, like this little froggy here. I love these posts in particular because they remind me of the excitement, laughter and heartwarming stories that often result from a love of birds and birdwatching. Mike, the illustrious owner of everyone’s favorite birding blog, 10,000 Birds, not to mention the infinitely patient coordinator of this very blogging carnival, shares his account of his first ever encounter with his very own “nemesis bird”, the Ruffed Grouse, seen during a recent descent from the top of Wakeley Mountain in upstate New York.

Next we find John, from a DC Birding Blog, sharing a rewarding morning of birding at the National Arboretum filled with Blue Grosbeaks, Acadian Flycatchers and Indigo Buntings, only a few of the 45 species he encountered that day. Meanwhile, Julie reminds us never to stop looking (because you never know what you’ll see, as she says) with an eloquent story of a rather heartwarming encounter with a lonely Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Then we have Wren, of Wrenaissance, who reveals her excitement at spotting (and finally capturing on film) a killdeer family with, count them, three babies! And, of course, Ben Cruachen recounts the experience he had exploring Lake Glenmaggie encountering a flock of Cattle Egrets sharing a meadow with…well, cattle.

And finally, Bill, of Gulf Crossings, reports on the rare sighting (in June, no less) of a Common Redpoll who somehow found its way to Galveston, Texas! Talk about taking the long route to the Arctic…

So, there you have it. A completely non-geeky version of the 52nd "I and the Bird" blog carnival, courtesy of everyone's favorite hobbit...me! I hope you all had as much fun reading it as I had writing it. And, even though it's a little late (it is now officially five minutes after Thursday), I certainly hope to be able to host it once again someday. Maybe next time I'll be able to convince Gandalf and Bilbo to help out. In the meantime, when planning a birdwatching trip don't forget your lembas bread!

Happy birding, everyone!