Iowa Bed & Breakfast Caters to Bird Watchers
By Amelia Painter
When Connie Baschke first began spending hours at a time sitting very still in her garden, as she watched all the activity of the various species of birds nesting around her property, some of her neighbors didn’t understand. That was two decades ago, when bird watchers were often considered eccentric.
“I could hear my neighbor’s children say, ‘Mom, she’s doing it again,’” says Connie, who got hooked on birding and living a life filled with nature in the early eighties when she found herself battling chronic illness.
Times have changed.
Today, Connie is among millions of Americans who bird watch in one way or another. For Connie, birding doesn’t have to be a backyard affair as simple as watching chickadees and finches raise a ruckus at the feeder, because this nature lover is only minutes away from a 5,000 acre conservation area that is filled with birds.
One way she shares her bird watching passion with others is by catering to bird watchers of all ages at her cozy Bed & Breakfast in Northwest Iowa. Children are always welcome and guests that visit for a day or the weekend will receive a special, fresh from the farm, breakfast. Many items will be organic and served in a nutritious way, fresh from Connie’s own garden. No smoking is allowed on the property and guests will appreciate both the water and air purification systems in place.
People of all ages watch birds. It's an activity you can keep doing all your life, in any part of the world. Birding is also the fastest-growing outdoor activity in the US. According to a survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 51.3 million Americans report that they watch birds and 70 million Americans spend more than $30 billion annually to observe, feed and photograph wildlife. And, more are taking it up all the time.
At Connie’s Bed & Breakfast in Northwest Iowa, birders are only 15 minutes from Lost Island Lake, Iowa’s sixth largest natural lake. An absolute paradise for birdwatchers, Lost Island Lake has almost 5,000 acres of surrounding wetlands and approximately 300 species of birds – it is one of the top birding areas in the Midwest.
Lost Island Lake was formed by the Des Moines Lobe of the Wisconsin glacial period approximately 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. The shallow bowl shaped basin has a surface area of 1,266 acres, a maximum depth of 14 feet and 7.5 miles of shoreline. Local conservation boards have constructed a Visitor’s Center, RV campgrounds, wildlife observation blinds, and a number of picnic/grilling areas.
After September 11, many Americans flocked to urban parks in search of comfort, but even before this tragedy many, like Connie, were finding hope and tranquility in nature's beauty, rhythms, and resilience.
One of the joys of birding, and perhaps a key reason for its increasing popularity, is its flexibility: Each birder can decide how simple or involved it should be. Birding can be done from the kitchen window or in a specially designed wildlife observation blind; it can be done alone or in a group, in winter or summer.
The wetlands of Iowa can get pretty muddy, so Connie encourages her birding guests to bring their boots. But, her guests don’t necessarily have to leave the comfort of her country setting because just outside their quarters, the trees are dizzyingly alive with an array of birds. Hummingbirds whir through the garden area, and the resident wrens seem as contented as the sparrows splashing in the garden area’s bird baths.
Birds aren’t the only interesting part of Connie life. She also meets a steady flow of people, and whether the visitors are amateurs or advanced-level birders, most are easily won over by Connie’s hospitality and terrific home cooking. Connie makes a concentrated effort to stay in touch with many of the people who have come to visit.
That’s another aspect of birding that runs counter to the old stereotypes of loners and withdrawn intellectuals; birding can be surprisingly sociable. Connie spends many an afternoon getting acquainted with guests by discussing local nesting birds and giving directions to near-by native prairies and other nature sites.
Many bird watchers keep lists of their sightings: monthly lists, annual lists, local lists, county lists, and state lists. The most competitive birders are likely to keep lists of their lists. Connie makes it easy for her guests to create even more lists by having a computer available in the guest’s lounge area.
“It’s okay to have lists. It’s even okay to be good-naturedly competitive about it, as long as you’re having fun,” Connie says. Fun is important. But birding also is good exercise and good for your mental health. “Birds capture your imagination,” Connie says. “They can fly; they can sign. They’re sort of a symbol for the human spirit.”
Bird Watching Basics
For a satisfying journey into the world of birds, you need a good field guide, such as the Birds of Iowa Field Guide by Stan Tekielo, and a pair of binoculars—usually 7x35 or 8x35 for backyard birding. (The first number refers to magnifying power; the second to the diameter in millimeters of the objective, or outer, lens. This determines how much light is admitted.)
The easiest way to attract birds to your yard is with one or more feeders. Hang these where you can readily watch them and keep them refilled. The best all-around feed is black-oil sunflower seed. It is high in fat and easy for small birds to crack open.
Keep in mind that some birds, such as barn swallows and purple martins, dine only on flying insects and won’t be attracted to feeders.
Birds are also attracted to water, both for bathing and drinking. Your local department store will have selections in various price ranges and styles or you can go online for more choices. Connie plants Black-eyed Susans in the garden to attract seedeaters.
There are two ways of watching birds. They are by casual
observation and by monitoring. The first, and most common way is
through casual observation. This is done when you watch your feeders, or even
when taking a walk. Casual observation implies no set routine, just basic bird
watching. Keep in mind, however, that the longer you stay in one place while
birding, the more used to you birds become, and the more species you are likely
to see.
Monitoring birds, on the other hand, is done on a routine basis. It implies that
you watch birds in the same place, at the same time, for the same amount of
time, and in a manner that is not disruptive to birds, every time you watch
birds. Monitoring can take place at your feeders, on a trail hike, in your
backyard, on a lake, or wherever. Just remember: monitoring birds translates
into routine. This routine is of your choice, of course.
The timing of bird observation depends on which group of birds you wish to monitor or observe. In general, diurnal, or daytime birds are most active at dawn and dusk. They are usually more vocal and very active in the shrub and tree canopy cover. You'll have an easier and better opportunity to see a greater variety of daytime birds at these times than at any other time of the day, however, bird-watching can be done any time of the day.
The whole point of watching birds should be because it is fun! Bird watching is a great way to take in every part of the outdoors, from the weather and other wildlife, to the wildflowers. And, don’t forget that International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is held on the second Saturday in May of every year and is an invitation to celebrate and support migratory bird conservation in your area. Good birding!
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To learn more about Connie Baschke’s Bed & Breakfast or Lost Island Lake, visit the Iowa Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Association's Web site at: www.iabedandbreakfast.com