South Dakota birding coming up

I'll be heading up there for a few days (11/3-5) to move my husband to his new job in Rapid City. We'll have a commuting marriage for an unknown amount of time after that. In SD on my visits this winter I'm hoping to see more Snowy Owls and Snow Buntings than ever come to Texas, and maybe a few birds that never or very rarely do (e.g. Gray Partridge). But most of the time I'll be in Texas, working for my patent clients, doing a few local birding trips I hope, and fulfilling most of the various volunteer commitments that I promised to do.

Unexpected prospect of South Dakota birding

Just a few short weeks ago, birding in South Dakota did not seem to be on the horizon. But now, after applying all over the country, my husband has taken a job in Rapid City, SD, to begin in less than 2 weeks! I'm over the shock. But figuring out how to be a 2-state commuter marriage will take more time. I'll be staying here in Fort Worth, but visiting up there as often as I can manage between client and volunteer projects/meetings. I've been following the South Dakota listserv, and note that Gray Partridges (which I almost missed in my ABA big year), and a Gyrfalcon (only rarely seen by me), and wintering ducks have all been seen recently near Rapid City. I am looking forward to seeing northern birds up there when I visit this winter.

More Extreme book progress

A big milestone today - I finished indexing the WHOLE book, and I proofed the WHOLE book, and I sent it all off to the publisher. It's really nice to feel a bit at loose ends for awhile. I had just one week to do it all. Now it will be looked over/re-proofed at the publisher, and then off to the printers! The publicity people are supposed to be hard at work at this point. Next time (?!?) I'll be more familiar with the process.

Extreme Birder excitement

My book jacket has been designed by Texas A&M University Press, and I think it looks great. I know it's in bad taste to brag, but still... You'll note that it includes the Spotted Owls that are at the top of my blog, which not only is a species that is way at the top of my favorites list, but also was one of the species that I worked the hardest for (at least 6 mountain climbs) in my big year. Seeing a picture of a Spotted Owl brings back very many memories, mostly good ones.

Update - Extreme Birder

Yippee!! I received an email today telling me the proof of my book is "in the mail" and attached to the email was a PDF of the proof! I can actually see how my book will look - it may actually be real. My photos are scattered throughout the book, my poems about my big year are in nice little sidebars, and my owl painting (see above) will be on the cover! Of course, I do have quite a bit of work to do to do the indexing of the book, and reading the proof VERY carefully, word by word, one more time. It will happen!

One more slow step toward becoming a published author

I learned today that the proof copies of my Extreme Birder book should be in the mail to me this week!! I'll need to look it over VERY carefully and then do the indexing (I'm too cheap to hire someone). I can hardly wait to see what it's actually going to look like (inside - the outside cover is still being created I guess).

American Birding Association - YES!

THE BIG NEWS today among birders is Jeff Gordon's becoming ABA's new president!! Thank goodness that that extraordinarily important decision has been made and a well-known birder will be at the helm soon. Now, we can move on with doing what the ABA should have been doing all along - listening to its members and responding with programs and initiatives that are for the members and are in line with the mission of the ABA. I will be in Providence later this week, hopefully to congratulate Jeff in person, and to discuss our committee's proposed ABA bylaws changes with the board.