Yard Vermin..... bird feeding gone wrong

This is the first in a series of entries I'm planning to blog, about the more common yard pest vermin, that has plagued my yard and environment, and the people that think they are doing good things by feeding them , and attracting them. This is not so much to critique the people that feed them, but to better educate them.... and present the facts, so that they can maybe (hopefully) make better choices, so we can all enjoy a greater variety of the wildlife, that is constantly around us, while not allowing our property to be contaminated and damaged, by over populations of these pest species. People can possibly get sick and ill from this problem. Just because they haven't yet, doesn't mean it can't happen. For all we know...it could have happened, already(?)
Let's talk about a species, the House Sparrow (or English Sparrow) that is an invasive species here in N. America, and has caused great problems, and devastated native song bird populations. Here in New York, it has greatly reduced the population and former range of our State bird, the Eastern Bluebird. These House Sparrows (or puttz's...called by many NYers) are cavity nesters (like the Bluebirds), but are much more aggressive by nature, and have 3-4 broods of young each season, to the Bluebirds 1, or 2 broods.
When I lived at my former residence on the western NY lake plains, near L. Ontario...the first several years I lived there, I saw no Bluebirds. I did my research and talked to some knowledgable folks, and joined the NY State Bluebird Society. I began building nest boxes, and placing them in pairs, on my property, and on State lands (where I had permission). I also took measures, to guard against the House Sparrows, by trapping them in the boxes, and in large cage traps, on my property.
Within 2 years...I'm pleased to say, that I had nesting Bluebirds, and these areas were no longer dominated by the non native (and unprotected) House Sparrows. There were farms nearby, so this was a constant battle. The invasive Sparrows, flourish on farms, due to the grain feed that supports them, and ample nesting opportunities. The farmer has no time, to deal with this problem...thus, the farm hopping spread of this species marched across the entire continent...from a few pairs that were released in NY City (brought over from England), around the turn of the century. If those well meaning folks...had only realized what they were really doing, and the consequences that would come of it !
To prove something to myself, I leg banded several of the trapped sparrows, and released them...at least 10 miles away from my property. The same year, I spotted one of the individuals again, and eventually re-trapped it. This time, I destroyed it, and all of the other ones I trapped...which numbered in the thousands, over the years I lived there. While monitoring my nest boxes, I personally witnessed cases, where House Sparrows had pecked to death, the little bluebird fledglings, and sometimes, the parents...and had constructed their new nest (in the newly taken over box), right over the top of the dead bluebirds...and began to mate and lay eggs. This species...as long as I have breath in my lungs, will never breed on any property where I live or reside on.
Let's look at the facts on what else can happen, when large flocks of this species are fed, and allowed to breed and flourish. First, ask yourself...what happens when over populations of humans or any species tales place...without the needed sanitary facilities or means to accommodate them ?
Here's what's happening in our yards, from a large pole feeder that is constantly supplied with cracked corn-millet cheaper spread feed:
There are large flocks of up to hundreds of these birds (I've counted over 400), that are in the trees, roofs, and sitting on the fences , gates, and walkways...that are a white wash of fecal matter. These flocks often go into our open garage, where I find the fecal droppings on the floor, and everywhere else...where I frequent, and where my little daughter plays and my family walks. I have to restrict my daughter from going to the area near the feeder (on the border of the yards), because of the constant mess and activity there. I tried to put out a kiddie wading pool for my daughter, last year. Changing the water daily, was not enough...as I saw these flocks of birds drinking and crapping, on and in the pool...constantly. This summer, I only set up a sprinkler for her to run through in the yard, and had to decide...that having a little pool for her, is not a good idea.
Ok, here are the facts on the diseases and problems that these birds are known to cause:

http://www.bird-x.com/birddiseases.html


http://ke4fej1.tripod.com/id4.html


Makes me wonder on the recent bed bug outbreaks, this hot summer...around the country. So..who likes bed bugs?
Does anyone that reads this, and Now knows the facts...really want their family, a neighbors family or visitors, sitting around in this kind of outdoor environment, getting this fecal matter on their shoes, clothes and hands...and then coming into the house (it can enter, by many means...including your window fans and air conditioner) ?? How about the innocents (like my daughter) that just want to play out in the yard ? The problem is (again) the large flocks of these birds, that are always around, producing this filth. A bird feeder that has a moderate population of birds that visit, does not present this problem, and any fecal matter.... is localized, and easy cleaned up... on or around the feeder. This is much more than just my opinions or angry ramblings....these are indeed, the facts.
We all enjoy feeding birds, and watching the feeders. Yes, I do also....and I want my neighbors and relatives to continue to enjoy it, as well.
There are things that can be done, to help prevent this from happening, and still be able to enjoy the same feeder watching pleasure...without, the large unchecked flocks of vermin, disease ridden invasive birds, that Are polluting your yard, and your neighbors yards.
First, make a change on what you are offering at the feeder. The cheaper cracked corn, millet small seed feed mix...is the main problem. Instead of putting this in the large hanging feeders where people walk, close to the house, put this feed (if you really must) in a platform feeder...Well away from the houses , near the very back of the yard. Refill your hanging (close to house) feeders, with Safflower seed:

http://www.ebirdseed.com/page/EB/CTGY/safflower

Thistle seed is great also, but more expensive.
You will get the same birds you enjoy seeing, but far less of the flocks of House Sparrows, and other pest birds (grackles, blackbirds, cowbirds) that you've been feeding with the millet seed.
I've learned from this info, also...and I am going to make adjustments. I have been putting out black oil sunflower seeds for years...but now realize that House Sparrows will eat them, readily...just as soon as the millet-cracked corn seed runs out, next door. Here's a little more info on what is best to put out, and what is not:


http://www.thewildlifeporch.com/2009/11/12/house-sparrow-problems-at-the-feeder

What people don't know, can hurt them, and others close by...in ways we never considered before. I post this... as a solution to help my neighbors, my family, and for anyone else that chooses to read this blog. Thanks for reading, and for considering these facts, and the information that I've gathered.

Getting lost in the forest.... it's not hard

Since this blog is mainly focused on my field experiences and outings, I thought I would write about this very humbling experience, that happened to me back in the spring of 2001.
I was at an all time low, concerning my home life and first marriage situation, and really needed to get away for the weekend. In fact, I decided to leave a day early and head for the Adirondacks, after throwing together (hastily) some food and belongings, and my outdoor gear. I took a quick look at a topo map, and decided I would backpack from the Moose River Plains recreation area, and take a foot trail into the depths of the West Canada Wilderness. This would certainly get me away from it all, for a couple days. I was somewhat prepared... gear wise, and wasn't in bad physical shape. Mentally though, I was kind of a mess at that time in my life, due to the stress of a marriage gone bad and an unbearable home life. I can say this with all seriousness... that your mental state should be normal and clear, before deciding to venture into any unfamiliar wilderness, alone. It effects everything you do, including your attitude, common sense, and decision making process.
When I arrived, late that Friday morning, I crammed everything I thought necessary into my large Kelty backpack...accept for the means to spend the night...the first bad decision. I actually thought more of packing my film camera, bulky lenses and minidisc sound recorder.. over a sleeping bag, thermarest mat, and little bivy tent (which I forgot to bring, and left at home)... a terrible decision. I actually thought I could make it back before dark, and be sleeping at a campsite, where my vehicle was parked. I only packed one flashlight, an old headlamp... another bad decision. I packed enough food for a day, but enough water for several...well, only half bad.
I was taught better while out in the field.. training, in my youth.. but didn't seem to heed that knowledge at all, and thought that I would have no problem sleeping anywhere, and would certainly come across a lean-to, to crash, if I really needed to... you know, it was the Adirondacks. I fancied myself as a pretty good outdoorsman, ready for any of it... or so I thought.
I had my trusty Garmin Emap GPS unit with fresh batteries...so, how could I get lost, or go down the wrong path ?
Leaving too late in the morning, was my first mistake. I thought I was going to walk a ways in, and walk back out.. and get out by dark. About seven miles into the hike, I realized I had better turn around, if I was going to make it out by dark. I had a headlamp and a flashlight for backup, but this trail was quite overgrown, being it still the spring and before Memorial Day, and it didn't look like there was much maintenance done at all. The deeper I walked in, the more narrow and hard to navigate, the trail was. The trail markers became harder to spot, and the forest became very thick, with many more mature trees that blotted out the sky.
I could see there was a pond through a clearing in the trees, and decided.. I would walk around it, and do some exploring, grab a quick bite to eat out of the pack, and then head back to the vehicle. The walking was slow and difficult, and I had to stop frequently to drink. It was somewhere on the far side of the pond.. while blazing, that I got turned around. Not only could I not backtrack, but I couldn't even find the damn pond. I must have stomped around for an hour looking for the reference marks I thought I had down pat, until the fear first came over me. I could not get a reading through the forest canopy with the GPS, to head me back toward the waypoint I recorded.. where I started to blaze off the trail, near the clearing. I spent the next hour or two, trying to get a GPS reading (in a bit of a hurry up panic), and find a decent clear spot to do it.. but it just didn't happen. It got thicker and thicker, and harder to navigate through. I was really pissed at myself at that time, and my emotions went from being mad, to feeling sorry for myself.. to the realization that I was losing the daylight behind the trees, and I was ... lost. Yes, me.. lost. It was really hard to admit that to myself, and I wasted a lot of valuable daylight time, not admitting it.
Finally, I dropped my gear in a clear spot near some pines, and started to gather some dry wood. I was going to be spending the night there, and should have accepted that fact, hours ago. I had no sleeping bag, but did have several emergency reflective cheapo blanket packets. I got a poor, smokey fire going, with some kindling, but the larger wood was quite wet, and did not burn at all. I had to keep gathering what smaller dry stuff, I could, and gathered a good pile of it. As darkness set in, the temps dropped. It was a day in the high 60s, but the temps were soon in the 40s, and falling, as it was the Adirondacks. I assessed what I had in my pack, for food and water. Enough water for several days, and enough food for a day. My headlamp crapped out in about 4 hours, and was down to the mag lite. I looked at the map and found my compass, and asked myself.. why I didn't use it sooner, and just walk east, to intersect the trail. I thought, that I might have been doing this, and thought I was.. by memory, and might have walked right by the poorly groomed trail, and maybe in between the trail markers. All kinds of awful thoughts popped into my head that night. Finally, I decided to save the flashlight, and had a little snack and drink, took a pee.. and then unwrapped the thin emergency blanket, and wrapped it around me. I took my pistol, flashlight, GPS, and water bottle, and crawled under the pine with the lowest branches. I said a prayer to God, for the first time in many months, and asked him to guide me out, somehow. If he did, I would do things different, next time out.. and share my experience and mistakes, with others.
During the night, I woke up many times.. only to realize where I was, and relive how a got there. I could hear a pack of coyotes howling and yipping, and it seemed like they were getting closer. My mouth was very dry, and it was really cold now. I guessed it was near freezing, and I could see a few stars though a gap in the pine, looking straight out from my forest floor bed of pine needles. I woke up, to hear something moving around me on the ground, and the hoots of a Great Horned.. that seemed to be mocking me, in my tired and unpleasant state of mind. The movement was an animal, but not something too big. After I didn't hear it anymore, I went back to sleep.. with my hand on the loaded pistol, for that false sense.. of some kind of security.
I awoke to the sounds of birds, with dew dripping down through the trees around me. The pine kept me dry, and probably prevented me (along with the reflective emergency blanket, and my chamois flannel shirt.. from getting hypothermia).
I crawled out, got the fire going, and looked at the map again.. and got a bearing with the compass, to head east - northeast. I felt a little better, but still knew my situation was dire, and that I had to make the right choices today, and stick to the compass heading.. keep moving slow and steady, conserve my food and water, and hope I could intersect the trail, and find it.
I felt like I was walking in circles, and would swear (literally) that I came upon the same trees, and rocks, and small creeks and markers.. I had before in the day, or yesterday. I felt like it was a scene from the Blair Witch Project movie, but nothing was after me.. accept the forest.. would not let me out. A haunting song by a band that I love, took over my thoughts, at this time.. while persisting to blaze through thick pines and dense thicket tangles, at the same compass heading I had promised myself, I would not vary away from :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGT4V6JmINA

Finally, after becoming very discouraged (but not letting myself sink into panic and dispair... like the late afternoon before)... I found a decent sized clearing where I would try the GPS again, and hope the batteries were still ok, after the very cold night. I was smart enough, to keep it inside the blanket, wrapped against my body.
I cryed out, in happiness.. when I got a position reading, right after the Garmin fired up. I had the area topo on the Garmin, and I was still in the area of the pond, and about a half mile east of the trail, and not far from the main intersection of the Northville - Placid main trail. Not more than a half hour of hard hiking later, I had the pond in view, and than came upon what I thought was the trail.. nope, not yet. It turned out to be a game trail, that finally lead me to the narrow foot trail, and I saw a very relieving site.. a trail marker on a tree. God did listen to me, and must have felt it was not my time yet, and gave me the inspiration to walk myself out of.. being .. good and damn lost. It was 2 PM, the next day from the morning I started out. I let out more breaths of relief, mumbling stuff to myself, and ate my last meal.. left, and drank up. It took another six hours to walk out, and back to my waiting vehicle.. just as dusk was settling in, again. Was never so glad.. to see that Ford F-150. I took a nap in the back of the truck, laying on the pad, and in the sleeping bag I didn't bring. I left.. well after dark, and had no bad feeling about going home to the ugly marriage I ran away from.. because I was alive, and unharmed. Just freaked out, and a little scratched up from ducking through briers and thickets, and as sore as I'd been in years, from the long hike.
I never told anyone where I was going, and knew that was dumb, and thought about how long I would have been gone and lost, before my soon to be ex-wife or teenage son, would have reported me missing, and / or someone found my vehicle near the trail head.
Years later, I read an article in Adirondack Life magazine.. about how the area I was in, had swallowed up many a hiker. Some were found, and others were never found. All of them in the "lost hikers" article, did not live to tell the tale I'm telling.. and the others like me, probably held off on telling it, until a moment like now came along.. and they decided to share their experience with others, about what they did wrong, and most important.. what they did right.. to be able to walk out, and not become one of the names in that article.

A witness sighting from the Philippines .... that can now be seen

In 1985, my wife (then a 10 year old girl) was walking home, taking a short cut through a large abandon lot that bordered a cemetery, that was surrounded by thick concrete walls. There was a very large and old tamarind tree in the corner of the lot. As she walked past the tree, she smelled what she thought was tobacco smoke . When she paused, turned, and looked back, she saw a large, dark, hairy figure sitting on a limb of the tamarind tree. The creature (she calls "Agta") was already staring down at her. She was able to see enough detail, to implant this fearful childhood image in her memory. I won't go into any further detail about the incident, because it can be read about.... here, on a post and write up I did a while back on several forums (the NESRA forum, an information inquiry and write up on the BFRO forum) :

http://s2.excoboard.com/BFRO/125234/2013756

I have spent quite a bit of time gathering all the information and details from my wife, about this incident. It was an emotional and somewhat terrifying experience for her. She agreed (at first, reluctantly) to share the details, and have a witness sketch done of the creature.
Getting someone willing to work with her (via myself as the middle man, to relay the info and details) on a sketch, has also taken some time. I was hoping that this could somehow be accomplished through the internet. I was lucky enough to hook up with several artists (recently) that were interested, on the "Search for Bigfoot" forum. I think that this helps to demonstrate, how these BF forums can be used in a positive manner, to help folks meet up with each other, that might have otherwise.... never done so, and now have opportunities, to work together.
One gentleman, was quite backlogged with folks waiting for his services ( that are well worth the wait).... but still, kindly offered to do a portrait, and work with myself and my wife.
Another gentleman also offered his assistance, and wanted the chance to work with an eyewitness, and see if he could be of help. I'm very pleased that we gave this person the chance. I provided all the details of the encounter, and some comparison sketches that we had looked through on another site (The Painted Cave), that my wife thought looked somewhat similar to what she witnessed, as this was a good starting point.
After a few email exchanges on information, the artist ( screen name - "Knuckledragger") sent me a very well done sketch, for my wife to review and critique. I was impressed by the artistic talent and accurate detail (based on the information given) in this portrait. I was even more amazed, by the reaction of my wife... that I noticed from the second she laid eyes on it... was emotional, wide eyed, and a bit fearful, from seeing this image on the monitor. I asked her to please look at it again (when she could), and tell me if it needed any changes, and what they were. She told me that it was all accurate, in regards to what she remembers seeing... but in a more "close up" way, than the wider field of her actual vision. I asked her many times...until she got mad at me (yes, this happens sometimes... lol) , and she concluded that there were only several details that needed to be changed in the portrait.
I think, that between my wife's implanted memory of the incident, my many hours of talking to her about details, and putting this down in written form, and finally... "Knuck's" portrait drawing talents, and understanding of the information provided .... made this come together, more quickly than any of us had expected.
So, what does the creature in the portrait look like ? In my opinion, it has the characteristics of many described eyewitness reports of sasquatch-like creatures and/or hominids around the world. I think there are more things human-like to observe in the portrait, than pongid. That said, I still can't come to any accurate conclusions, of what this is... maybe in a class all by itself (?) It has a very close resemblance (in Knuck's first sketch) to another drawing, from a book I have (The Field Guide to Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates) by Coleman/Huyghe... page 123. The creature in that drawing ( Nguoi rung, or " forest people") has been seen by many, in Vietnam. To my knowledge, the artist had never seen the drawing in the book, until I sent him a scanned image of it, for comparison. By her say so...the creature my wife saw, did not have an upturned nose... but a wider, flatter one. What she also estimated, was a larger creature than the 6' tall Nguoi rung described in the book.
I think that Knuck has a great future as an artist, and helping out eyewitnesses transform their sightings, into a portrait, for all to see... if he should choose to do so, of course.
I'm glad that this has finally been accomplished, as I've been trying for almost two years, to get it done. My sincere Thanks, go out to everyone that was involved in the process. I'll be happy to share this with my friends, family and contacts in the Philippines, as well as any folks that might be interested in the N. American and International BF communities (researchers/investigators or enthusiasts) .
I have attached an image of the first sketch, and the finished painted portrait. I have blotted out the artist's real signed name on the portraits, to protect his identity.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, I'm always looking for more info out of the Philippines, and to hear about other peoples experiences in the RP (both Pinoys and foreigners) . I plan to personally field investigate... into the mystery of this creature, in the future. The question on whether it's still out there, and where to find physical evidence of it... is what my goals will be. I'm uncertain if this can be accomplished or not, but plan on... at least trying.
Since this involves my wife, and the artist (and not just me)... I'm very serious on making sure, that these portrait images do not end up on forums or blogs, that search out and import other's materials and past communications, for their entertainment and/or ridicule purposes . The artist, has copyrighted his portraits and images. Respectful opinions and comments (including skeptical ones) , are always welcome. Thanks for reading, and understanding.

Iggy look-a-likes, and Whippoorwills...in Wawa land

I had never been to New Jersey, much less the Pine Barrens. The thought of 1.1 million acres of unique forested landscape between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, seemed interesting, and something I've always wanted to explore.
The spring NESRA expedition would take place there, in the Wharton SF...within the NJ Pine Barrens. I made the 7 1/2 hour drive there, after work in the the overnight hours. I was pumped up with instant energy drink, but that did not make driving through almost 90 miles of thick fog from Binghamton to Allentown, any better. AAA can shove their trip ticket, as I found a much better way to get into Jersey, than through the heart of Philly....and the 6 hour time estimate, is not for anyone using cautious and defensive driving skills, at night. I missed the exit I wanted, and came into the forest from the south, which turned out interesting, to see the pigmy pined forest on each side of the Atlantic City Expressway.
In the town of Hammonton, I experienced a lot of hurried (ride your bumper) type of drivers. I was in no hurry, and was just making sure I was following the right roads in. At a stop sign, I had to pull out left onto a divided highway, that had a fair amount of traffic. While waiting for my chance to pull out, I heard the constant horn of the driver behind me, and upon looking in my rear view mirror....saw him waving his arms and flipping me off, from his convertable sports car. Apparently, he thought it was Ok to pull out into on coming traffic with my big, loaded boat....and that I was driving like grandma (?) I could feel myself starting to get pissed, and when I finally did get the chance to pull out, I pulled over to let the jerk by me, and if he wanted to discuss the situation...all the better. My anger turned to amazement, as the dude drove by in the weird looking orange colored Lamborghini, and continued to throw me the bird...but didn't have the nuts to stop, and put it in my face, and tell me what he thought of my cautious driving. When I looked at his face, it was like a blast from the past...the splitting image of punk rock icon, Iggy Popp. Right down to the eyelashes, mop hair, short bangs style, no shirt, facial features...a dead ringer (a saw his act twice, on stage). It obviously wasn't the real "Iguana", as Iggy is well into his 60s now. So, for most of the weekend, I had this song buzzing around relentlessly, in my head (ever had that happen ?) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4hPnZUMBwA&playnext_from=TL&videos=wA7YkHY6O_U

I wonder if two roadies had to carry this dude into his leather bucket seat?
Conclusion, the closer you get to the megalopolus near the Atlantic (Beantown, NYC, Jersey, Philly, Baltimore,Washington).....the more aggressive and impatient, the drivers. All the more fascinating, that there is a large tract of wild forest left preserved, within this mass of humanity.
I arrived at the ranger station early, and walked around a bit. I took a nap, and then met my NESRA contact (Mike), who was the only one that would be at the meeting location, for this expedition. We got the skinny from the forestry people, and proceeded down the narrow white sand duned forest roads , to the heart of the forest, and parking area. We hiked into the primitive camp, and set up our tents and organized our gear. This was truly a large and beautiful area, next to a branch of river, that had very red-brown and slow moving to still waters. It turned out to be the norm, for this area, as we encountered the same in all of the water locations we visited. An explanation for this can be found here:

http://www.bcls.lib.nj.us/pinelands/water.shtml

We hiked and scouted out a large open area, that we thought suitable for our first night operations location, where we would observe this area from a hill, with night vision.... and listen, with our audio setups. We had no success in finding any unusual tracks, accept for a couple questionable depressions...that could have come from many sources. I also did a test run on my new helmet cam, that seemed to need repositioning forward on my helmet, after my partner (Mike) pointed out that the angle of the video, was probably pointing up in the lower tree branches. Dinner was fast, as we were assaulted by mosquitoes (at dusk), that seemed to like flying into my mouth, and following the trail of hot Bush beans and giant hotdogs, from hand to mouth. Just one of the things you have to put up with, in a boggy environment. When my partner went to pick up our third member (John) at the ranger station..., I waited by the vehicle, and just listened in the dark, before the mosquitoes drove me into my vehicle....that was also filled with mosquitoes.....nice ! The good news was, I don't recall getting many bites...just constantly buzzed and annoyed. The tropical insect repellent I used overseas, seemed to do well here, also.
After John arrived, we let him eat, and helped get him set up in camp. The other two guys that were camping in the other end of the area, came down and talked while we were setting up, and asked Mike for a ride to their vehicle, claiming the forest station folks had not told them how to drive to the parking spot, where we were parked. The guy offered to buy our ice (that I needed) and anything else, for the ride. Possible... yes, but I found the story and the guys...a little far fetched. Just a feeling (survived , so far...with my gut feelings) I had about these guys. One was doing all the talking, while the other was looking a bit like Egor (a nutty, kiss ass, tag along type) that just grunted and looked around all crazy eyed. The shirt he was wearing "White Trash and Proud of It" gave the rest away...to me, anyhow. Other than this rather bold (but well ending) encounter, they kept to themselves...so, absolutely no harm done.
Our night opps took place on a hill we scouted out earlier, that overlooked a large open sandy area. We got a little excited when I heard and recorded a set of 9 distant knocks...that after further review and talking to John (he listened to the recorded track) back at camp...turned out to be our neighbor buddies chopping up more wood, for their fire. We were about a mile and a half out of camp, and well with in the pickup range of my dish and mics. The ongoing sound of Whippoorwill courtship (or maybe nesting?) could be heard all around in the forest. Other than that...a dead calm and silence, that was rather eerie. We were out, and up till 4 AM, but did not have any other results. While driving back to camp on the sandy narrow road, Mike's headlights revealed... none other, than our camp neighbors walking in the opposite direction. After talking for a bit, we found out, that they decided to walk (in the pitch black darkness) back (Lord only knows, how far) to get their vehicle. The Egor looking dude was sharing down at me, and saying nothing (like usual). That's when it hit me, that he really looked just like the older kid enforcer (Malachai) , from the first Steven King horror flick "Children of the Corn". There was something strange there, and I didn't want to find out, what. A comfortable distance between us , and them.... is what I wanted.
The Whippoorwill activity got rather intense, a couple hours before dawn. I think these recordings will attest to that, recorded from my tent set up in camp. I even got some owl action along with the whippoorwills. Some of the close up Whippoorwill events (within our camp) can be heard here, at these two links :

http://soundcloud.com/imonacan/155-clip-whippoorwill-courtship

http://soundcloud.com/imonacan/155-clip-whippoorwill-upclose-and-personal

The following day we hiked along a trail that followed the river, but after a while, we realized that there were no muddy or sandy areas (or riverbank) to speak of, to look for tracks...only an immediate drop off from the forest, into the red-brown water. We heard a dog barking, and then saw that a family had taken the dog along in the boat, for the canoe adventure. We turned around and hiked back, finding more spots to check out, away from the river...than near to the river.
We scouted out our 2nd night opp spot by vehicle, before we made an ice run. Our Saturday night position was next to a large pond and forested area, where we set up with chairs and our equipment, and silently viewed the pond and forest with night vision goggles.... and just listened. While Mike was test tapping trees for a set of wood knocks, I had heard what sounded like a whistle (through the teeth) coming from the forest on the east side of the pond. We walked up the road near the area, and scanned with the goggles (and saw nothing), and even tried a couple of our own whistles, to maybe provoke a response...but nothing. After I got home and reviewed the entire recording, the "whistle" turned out to be a deer blow. The clip can be heard here, and there are actually a few deer blows, and the sounds of a deer bounding around:

http://soundcloud.com/imonacan/pinebarrens6-19-10-clip-nghtopps

The next day, we packed up leisurely, and could tell it was going to get hot. On our first night there, we actually had the heat cranked in the vehicle, and bundled up in the tent.... as the temps went down much lower (clear sky and calm), than forecast. While hiking out of camp with full packs and equipment, we came across 3 younger guys that asked us where they could find the pump toilet, and some water...as they were running low (and probably had to crap). They also, did not have a vehicle anywhere nearby, and looked very exhausted...with a story of how they hiked all day, and didn't find this campground, slept out in the forest, and didn't seem to know exactly where they were. One of the guys followed me up and asked me (politely) if it would somehow be possible to catch a ride out of the forest, and if I owned the big vehicle. The three of them were all around my son's age (early twenties) and looked like... they'd really had enough. They also had a dog, that was thirsty. We gave everyone some water, and I rearranged my vehicle to accommodate sitting everyone for the ride out. Although I was happy to help out these guys, it did distract me from doing my own gear check, and the usual things one would do, before leaving a camp area.
We got everyone (and my vehicle) out of the forest without incident, and I ended up taking them to the nearest store, so they could eat, drink, and wait for their ride, in comfort. I said my goodbyes to Mike and John, and proceeded to drive to one of the famous area mini marts in this region (on Mike and John's suggestion), to check it out, and get another large cold drink for the long ride.
It was at the Wawa store, that it hit me like a hammer....my f@#%ing recorder was still in a tree and recording, from where I left it, near the parked vehicles for the last overnight.........damn. After multiple awe shits, and curses....there was no doubt...I Was going back for it. At least I was not yet out of Jersey, or even worse ...back home in NY, before the thought had occurred.
It took another 3 hours, before I was back by the same Wawa (where I stopped again for more drinks, and a sub). I did not go all the way back, to where we parked near camp, because of the fear of my big rear wheel drive"burban" getting stuck in them sand dunes, with no one around to help me. On the very hot and sweaty walk back in , I spotted a lizard sliding through the white sand dunes...very cool, and the only highlight of this little unplanned return. And after researching it..... came to the conclusion that it was definitely, this:

http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0077

So, what is with this Wawa thing here, I'm hearing.... and just what the hell is a Wawa ? It's Jerseys and Eastern PAs (and elsewhere in the region) version of our Seven Eleven.
Anyway, I thought it was a nice store, and it had it all..... and the AC was blasting. The people were even.... friendly ! I had asked Mike about it, earlier, and he seemed to think that the name could be a take off, on the Beach Boys classic song (Little GTO).
Well, after getting caught in an hour long Sunday traffic jam in the heat, from the Jersey shore crowd, all trying to get on the Turnpike, at once..... I'd really had enough. For the long seven hour plus ride home, I had That Beach Boys song (to replace the Iggy one) buzzing around in my head, relentlessly...but it Was, a damn good sub.

Why am I going to continue my journey into bigfootery ?

The question has been asked, to me. To start with.....I'm interested in the phenomenon. I first and foremost want to prove this creature exists, to myself....as seeing is believing. I'm almost totally convinced now, but I need to see it for myself. This must come first, before I would ever consider trying to prove it to anyone else. I don't consider this selfish...it's just the way it is, with me. So far, I've experienced enough strange unexplained things happening out there, to more than keep me interested. Were all these incidents sasquatch related ? I'm not completely sure on that, but suspect that they very well could be. Whatever unknown source caused them... I would very much like to find out, more about. This blog contains many of those experiences, and I'm hoping there are more to come. I would like to be able to explain them...first, to myself. These incidents have only been a tease, and I feel the need to go out and (at least try to) get more solid answers. Forums are helpful for gathering information, and I've met a lot of good people in my internet travels ... and also some not so nice ones, of whom I try to avoid, and not argue with...about things that none of us are really sure of. Anyway, the answers are not there on the internet... they are out there in the forest....... somewhere.
The other things that have convinced me.... is my wife's eyewitness encounter (as a young girl, in the Philippines), and hearing from indigenous tribesman (that had no qualms about telling us... that hairy, stinky "wildmen" do exist out there, in the mountainous regions of remote forest, on Luzon) ..... half a world away. Also, the sheer amount of witness reports, and the similarities of the reports across N. America and elsewhere... although I can accept that a certain percentage of these reports, are BS. What percent are actually real ?, I really haven't a clue...and neither does anyone else.
I tend to give the person telling the encounter story.... the benefit of the doubt, first. I can't see how someone reading a forum, can "red flag" a witness report, when they have nothing other than the report itself, to compare it too...and know nothing about the witness, personally. Just because certain folks are top dog posters on a forum, and have "heard it all", it doesn't make them capable of determining a true story, or a made up story....by just reading a report, or someone's post about a field incident.
At the same time, I am puzzled how the investigator taking the report can deem a witness "credible", by only a phone conversation. On a face to face interview...I can understand coming to a conclusion about a witness and account story. Witnesses are the best thing we have, in exploring this phenomenon, and should Always be treated with respect....whether one chooses to believe their incident story, or not. Respect is disappearing from our society in general, and bigfootery is just another example of that overall trend. Respect is contagious (just like ridicule and disrespect, are)... so it is my guarantee that everyone I deal with in this field of interest...will get that respect, from me...to start with.
I can understand some people involved with this research.... wanting to remain anonymous , to protect their professions and families, from some of the elements out there, that could do them damage. For me, I am beyond the point of caring what others think of me, in regards to my interest in the subject, within my family, friends, or at work. I will laugh out loud, the day someone tells me at work....to "come down off that ladder", or out from under that dirty crawl space or work station....and renounce any beliefs in sasquatch....or take my tools and get out.
My family does not worry about it. My wife worries more about my safety, and me not coming home from an expedition, or camping trip. She has seen a version of this thing, and already knows it exists. I give my little daughter, and my older son.... the straight answers (what little I really know) about my interests.
My long time friend and camping partner, no longer smiles at me...when I speak of the strangeness of the investigations. He has taken on a different attitude, since experiencing an incident while we were camping together (in an area with a previous witness report), last year. My other friends, don't really care at all. If anyone (outside of my family) wants to walk away from me for wanting to continue doing this, to try and get some answers....no big loss, on my part. As far as believing my stories, about my incidents....you either do, or you don't.....no big deal, or hard feelings here. I've never been a good liar, or comfortable telling a fib, or tall tale. I have no need to impress..... anyone.
I don't want to get deeply involved in the seemingly endless politics of bigfootery, that is mainly conflicts between people that don't like each other, or just have different opinions.... and has little or nothing to do with the actual field research...which is what I am interested in. This field of interest is not my profession (is it for most folks?) , but a pastime. I've vowed to keep my free time activities....fun, and not filled with unpleasantness, or bickering....like at work. This means, avoiding the people that will make it, not fun. This does not mean I am not serious about the field of interest. You can be serious and still have fun.
I see this as a "can't lose" situation for myself. If all of my future efforts in the field, are unsuccessful, than I still got out into the field, camped, hiked, recorded, was introduced to some awesome new field locations, and met some other like minded folks, that I can call friends.
Bigfootery is just a made up word, for a field of interest that involves field investigations, conferences, gatherings, radio shows, and whole lot of internet chit chat.
I'll stay the course, until I feel that I'm completely wasting my money and time. I can't see that happening, until my body won't carry me out there in the forest, any longer. Let the journey continue.

NY City....safer, but not cheaper or saner

I had little choice, but to go there. No longer can you renew an international passport, by mail. Another example of how 911 screwed the common folk in America, while others seem to profit from all of the many, post 911 regulations, so we are (of course) , safer ....... hmmmmmm.
My wife and daughter's Philippine passport was due to expire next month, and the Philippine consulate is in midtown Manhattan. I considered driving to the consulate in Toronto, but after adding it up (expenses) and thinking about the border crossings, currency exchange and the Gardner Expressway....naa, notta. Not to mention, that every time some China man airport security screener(while passing through Hong Kong) on route to and from the Philippines, examines my families passports...they Will ask...."why you live in NY, and this issued in Canada?...please step over here..... please".
I booked the flights, took a day off from work....and hoped for the best, in NYC. The only good part of the trip, was the flight down. From there, we waited in a taxi stand and then caught a cab to midtown. If anyone has ever traveled on the Van Wyck, during rush hour.... you already know what a nut house it is. Cabbies are all foreigners, and aggressive drivers, that will scare the crap out of you, all the way in, for the hellish ride in bumper to bumper traffic coming at you from everywhere. Fortunately, my wife and daughter slept through it all.
The Philippine consulate on 5th Ave, is not unlike any government building that I experienced while in the Philippines. In fact, it is a little slice of that experience...right here in the USA. Crowded, never enough chairs or space to get out of your own way, hot (no fans or AC), and an important looking Pinoy wearing a Barong Tagalog...pointing everywhere, and not speaking his known English (Yes, this is America). Despite this confusing (not to my wife, of course) run around pain in the ass....the process of paperwork, fingerprints, and photos all went ok, and was done there at the consulate, in an hour and a half. Everyone smiles there, at least. The main reason we went...is accomplished.
We caught another cab to Battery Park, so that my wife and daughter (and me) could experience the ferry ride to the Statue, and Ellis Island. The ride was bumpy, with the Arab looking cabby heavy on both the brakes, and gas peddle. My daughter has a riding motion sickness, and it kicked in high gear. You would think he would slow down and ease up some...well, not a chance. My daughter lost her breakfast, lunch.... and was suffering. When we finally arrived, there was a thick line of people, that I estimate was at least a quarter mile long, or longer. I don't believe we would have made a ferry ride, much before sundown . Due to my daughter's terrible condition, we canceled our restaurant plans (Jollybee, in Queens) and told the cabby to head back to JFK....which he was more than happy to reset his meter, and charge again, the flat fee ($45 plus more fees and ass burn) . The traffic at noon, was still heavy, and something told me...it always is. We were lucky to get on an earlier flight out, after canceling our later, planned one. We flew standby, and some nice lady made sure my wife and daughter sat together, by exchanging seats.
Although I've done my share of bitching in this post, let me take the time to compliment Jet Blue airlines for a hassle free trip, a free drink and snack each way, and for hiring two very nice and courteous stewardess ...that we had each way on the trip, and were very good to my wife and sick little girl. A refreshing change from the white trash acting stewardess hags, and the babbling, lisping feminine stewards.... that we had on our last several intercontinental flights on American Airlines. The pilot came through for us, with a safe landing , after another rough decent into Rochester (I've had more than a few, now) with gusty westerly winds.
This trip reminded me of why I was anxious to come home, after working in Manhattan back in the '80s. The streets are still smelly, crowded, and not any wider (accept for Broadway, and the Times Square area). Here's a rundown on the expenses :
Airfare for three.... $480
Passport renewals and photos....$120
Taxi fares...$120
Lost wages (unpaid day off)....$190
Meal and snacks...$60
On airport parking...$11
My wife and daughters passports renewed, so they can travel at will, to the country of their birth..... priceless

Unknown smell, shape, and sounds.... in the forest

During the NESRA fall expedition ( October of 2009 ) in the Adirondack Park, myself and the others attending..... experienced more unexplained happenings in the forest. Not a full blown incident, or absolute sighting....but more of the subtle occurences , that can cause you to question yourself, but evidently realize.....that there IS something out of the ordinary happening here, that could be easily missed, if you were not there for the purpose of investigating into this phenomenon.
This location was just a few miles (as the crow flies) away from the summer expedition location, where I (and night opps partner) also experienced some strange nocturnal surrounding movements, sounds, feelings...and a tremendously loud forest floor thud (heard by three of us), and a set of quick knocks and tree crash ( that was captured on audio). Once again, putting out a portable digital audio recorder... payed off, and there were distant (and some closer) sounds recorded, that do not add up to normal nocturnal sounds heard in remote wild forest.
On three different occasions, I heard the sounds of a rapid knocking, like a tree being whacked on randomly, with force. While out on the trail with my night opps partner.... twice .... I picked up this sound with my dish and recorder, to the south. I didn't get this recorded, due to a malfunction in the battery of my minidisc recorder, and me not being as quick to the draw as needed, to start the recorder off of the "pause"mode. The rapid knocks (7-8) and distant howls of a coyote pack on the move...happened at around the same time. I believe the knocks came from the the same general area, each time. The knocks were not heard by our 2 other members back at camp, or by my partner in our night opp position. We did heard the faint sounds of one of the members sounding off (announced) on his didgeridoo, in the hopes it might draw some kind of response from this low frequency blast of sound. We all did sets of woodknocks, and a couple of our own vovalizations, that drew no replies. An overnight recording was in order, setting out the recorder a ways down a path near the shoreline of the pond, a little walk from the camp. The knocks were once again picked up, during a more stranger vocalization...that could have been a Barred Owl...or else a good imitator of one. The sounds recorded were distant, from well across the pond, but still easy to recognize as the same "whacking" I had heard on the night opps. I find it interesting, that these sets of knocks occurred during known (or maybe unknown) nocturnal animal vocalizations. Here is a link to that recorded clip:

http://soundcloud.com/imonacan/ovrnght-10-11-clip-vocalizations-knocks

In addition to this, there was some strange percussive rhythms, that sounded closer, on the near side of the pond and forest. This sounded like wooden wind chimes, or bongos...that I deemed as coming from "forest hippies". It has even been more interesting sharing these sounds with others.... that have put out audio recorders, and have found some comparisons with some startling similarities to the sounds, in several other locations in the eastern and southern portions of the country. Here are the links to those recorded clips:

http://soundcloud.com/imonacan/ovrnght-10-11-clip-knocks

http://soundcloud.com/imonacan/ovrnght-10-11-clip-whooh-knocks

When a fellow NESRA member (Chuck) and local resident of the area, scouted out the basecamp location and seasonal road conditions back into this area....he arrived with several friends, and had heard woodknocks. Everyone noticed a strange (dirty wet dog) kind of unpleasant smell...but Chuck had waited to speak of it.... until his two friends mentioned it, first. It had rained, and was beginning to rain again, so they didn't stay any longer. It had also rained the first day of the expedition, when we all (three of us) noticed this smell again, and well into the evening and early morning hours. The smell came and went, and varied in intensity. It seemed to be coming from the path along the pond, where I recorded the odd sounds, the following night. Chuck had noted that the woodknocks and smell had come from another direction, on the scouting trip from the week before. We could not find a physical source for this smell, during our investigations of the area. Chuck.... a nearby resident, having frequented this area many times before...was unfamiliar with the smell, in regards to it being something natural, that might occur in the fall after or during a rain. So....what smells like a dirty wet dog that needs a bath...out in the forest? Could it be a stray wild dog...or maybe something else?
On the first evening - early morning, the three of us sat under a tarp, and around a table, dodging the occasional drizzle, and just quietly chatting under lights out conditions in the basecamp. The rain stopped and the moon came up behind the clouds, to brighten the sky over the pond. We had all noticed the wet dog smell...again, and I was facing the path where the smells seemed to come from. My eyes were very dark adapted at this point, and I could make out the position of the trees, and the horizon line on the opposite side of the pond. Below the horizon, the closer foliage was too dark to reveal any detail. There was a brighter window, just above through the trees, courtesy of the moonlight and brightening sky background. While staring in that direction...I noticed a dark, rounded top of a shape.... pass through quickly, from left to right. The shape was flatter on the right and more curved on the left, and came to a rounded point on the top. I was certain I saw a glowing red eye on the right (flatter side) of the shape as it passed. It happened in an instant...but I clearly recall what I saw. Chuck caught me still staring at the location, and asked me if I had seen something. I was in a bit of shock.... to be honest, and just trying to collect my thoughts..... making sure I had not drifted off (asleep), or was just imagining things. For some reason, I didn't feel the urge to shout out, or spring out of the chair. I told the two, the description of what I had just seen, and we all took a walk down the trail a ways...still smelling the wet dog smell, but seeing nothing (of course).
What did I see? Well, I definitely saw something, but heard nothing. A Barred Owl comes to mind, and does have orange-red eyes, and a rounded shape to the top of the head. After thinking about this a whole lot....I came to these conclusions:
There was no artificial illumination that was used by any of us...to make an owls eye reflect red, back at me. Whatever glowed red...glowed red on it's own accord...weird, huh?
If it was an owl...after getting a better perspective in the daylight on how far, and how large the shape actually was...it was a damn big owl.
There were other campers in the area, but they were long asleep, and could not have pulled off a stunt like that...without at least being heard. They did not know why we were there, or what we were doing there.
I did a rough sketch the next day of what I saw, in perspective to the trees, horizon, and as much detail in the dark shape...as I could produce with a pen. Unfortunately, I don't draw well (note the field drawing at the top)...but the shape , position of the eye on the shape, and size of the shape compared to the background surroundings...was as accurate as I remembered. I also noted where the horizon began, across the pond, in perspective to my field of view from where I was sitting. We did some measurements the next day, and determined that the top of whatever it was...was at least 8.5 ft off the ground.
We also found a large area of matted down grass, and an unusual tree twist, that was completely twisted off, with the twisted off part...nowhere to be found.
What does this all mean? Well, just what the title of the blog post says. I wish I knew more, but can't wish my life away. Hoping that more answers, and less questions...are in the stars, for the future of these investigations.