For countless hours I stand vigil on the windswept beach of Whitefish Point; my only shelter, the weather-beaten Shack. This season has often looked like this picture, a high sun casting a sparkling glare across the water in front of me. Scan after scan, my eyes set to maximum power, searching the horizon for any signs of avian life, most scans coming up empty except for the dancing shimmer off the water that to me look like a million diamonds on a sapphire sea. There’s an empty kind of beauty to it, which I enjoy. I prefer it best when I’m the only one out there, just the wind, the birds, and me. It’s peaceful. It’s calming. Although beautiful, I’m searching for another kind of diamond.
Today it happened, magic at last!!! With the Piping Plover monitor out on the beach taking notes on the plovers and I dutifully making my scans, out of nowhere comes my nemesis bird. My adrenaline spikes as I catch sight of it, streaking in off the water, cutting a line directly across the Point. I instantly know what it is, even though I’ve never seen one in real life. I scream into the radio, three words, JAEGER, JAEGER, JAEGER!!!!!!! For a waterbird counter on a lake watch, these are probably the best words you can hear! It’s a Parasitic Jaeger, a denizen of the high arctic. Just as quickly as it was sighted, it disappeared out over Lake Superior. My lifer Parasitic Jaeger interaction lasted less than 10 seconds, though this is what makes it all the more special. And I got to share it with just one other person, the plover monitor. My adrenaline still pumping, I officially entered the sighting, only then noticing my hands shaking from excitement!
A person might ask why I would subject myself to elements, for weeks on end, empty scan after empty scan, slowly numbing the mind. It’s for fleeting moments like this when the magic happens, and all those dancing diamonds on a sapphire sea turn into a feathered treasure, a mythic creature of the high arctic, often spoken of, yet rarely seen. JAEGER, JAEGER, JAEGER!!!!!! A Parasitic Jaeger!!!!!
Thank you for reading, and happy birding!
~ Matthew Winkler
2021 WPBO Waterbird Counter
Photo by Matthew Winkler
You can see live updates for the 2021 Waterbird Count on Dunkadoo, read Matthew’s weekly blog post, and follow WPBO’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for waterbird count highlights this season.
If you visit WPBO, please practice social distancing while doing so. Although not required, we encourage you to wear masks if you are in close proximity to other people, even if outdoors.
Celebrating Spring Migration at Whitefish Point — A Webinar Series
Demystifying Great Lakes Waterbirds
May 20 | 7 p.m.
Having trouble distinguishing what dabbling duck you are observing? Or maybe you aren’t sure how to tell the difference between a Long-tailed Duck and a Red-necked Grebe from afar. Join us for Waterbird Counter Matthew Winkler’s presentation breaking down his methods used to unravel waterbird identifications. For many of us, identifying ducks, loons, and grebes in flight comes with a high intimidation factor; these waterbirds travel quickly, and some are only subtly different. Matthew will help break down these barriers and help you better enjoy lakewatching and all of the exciting birding it offers! Matthew is excited to share his experience with you and answer questions regarding waterbird ID and the waterbird count at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory.
This event is the third in a four-part series of free webinars celebrating spring migration at the Point and highlighting WPBO research programs.
