BOOKS - OUT HOME RE-RELEASED

SOMETHING OLD – SOMETHING NEW
By Jim Foster

My first insights into the vast world of the outdoors came to me as I leaned to read. I pestered my parents for magazines I would see on the magazine racks at the drug store. Later, I would buy my own and read them from cover to cover including the ads. In the service the USO would send magazines overseas for us to read - I read them all.

Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Audubon, and Guns and Ammo were some of my favorites as well as True Adventure, where I acquired a taste for the prose of Ernest Hemingway. Of course the outdoor writer was my hero and may have led me down the path I followed years later.

One of these writers who will always stand out in my memory was John Madson. He wrote articles for all my favorites and gave each adventure his own personal twist accomplished only by those who do and then write about doing.

John Madson, an Iowa native (1923–1995) is considered the father of the modern prairie restoration movement. His books include "Where the Sky Began" (reprinted by the UI Press in 2004), "Stories from under the Sky" (reprinted by the UI Press last year), "Up on the River" and "Tallgrass Prairie."

John wrote extensively on natural history and resource conservation for Audubon, Smithsonian, and National Geographic, among many others.

John wrote, “My feeling for tallgrass prairie is like that of a modern man who has fallen in love with the face in a faded tintype. Only the frame is still real; the rest is illusion and dream. So it is with the original prairie. The beautiful face of it had faded before I was born, before I had a chance to touch and feel it, and all that I have known of the prairie is the setting and the mood—a broad sky of pure and intense light, with a sort of loftiness to the days, and the young prairie-born winds running past me from open horizons.”

The book OUT HOME has been out of print for years but has just been released by the University of Iowa Press and may be found at booksellers across the country or from University of Iowa Press at www.uiowapress.org.

Finishing this book left me wishing it had been more than its 203 pages.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

PHOTOGRAPHY -BIRDING THE BORDER

THE RIO GRANDE - BY CANOE
by Jim Foster

Taking a first hand look at the Rio Grande from as many ways as possible is an adventure all its own. And seeing it from a canoe can be an experience for the birds – birders that is.

Paddling is becoming a popular outdoor activity. After experiencing several canoe trips with my cameras has piqued my interest. One of the most interesting was on the Rio Grande separating The United States and Mexico. Members of the Friends of the Wildlife Corridor (FWC) guided me.

Roy Rodriguez the FWC member invited me on the trip to see the area and photograph the area birds.

Our day began at the little village of Chapeno. My guide in the back of the canoe was Ray Bieber a noted photographer. In the second canoe were Roy Rodriguez and Eric Ellman. Eric and his wife operate a bed and breakfast for birders in South Texas.

We headed upstream to see the area directly below Falcon dam a distance of about two miles. Even this far upstream there were signs of the invasive hydrilla.

The quiet ride took us close to many species of birds common along the Rio Grande; many sought after by visiting birders. The water here is extremely clear and the lack of litter was obvious.

All along the river, described to me as the anchor area of the wildlife corridor, there were numerous birds sighted that make their home along the river. It is many of these that are attracting serious bird watchers to the river. Painted buntings, Altamira orioles, greater kisskadee, belted kingfisher, and snowy egrets lead the list. Photographing a yellow-crowned night heron on the Mexican side of the river was very exciting.

The Friends of the Wildlife Corridor is a non-profit organization that was originally formed to support and enhance the Santa Ana and Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuges. The Valley is considered to be one of the most biologically diverse areas in the country and tragically one that is becoming imperiled. FWC members strive to work with and educate both children and adults and our elected officials (sometimes less attentive than children) in finding ways to conserving our natural areas.

To further their goals the group publishes a bilingual, bi-monthly newsletter for its members. At times they will also provide some funding for refuge projects.

The FWC offer two basic trips conducted on various weekends throughout the year and during special events. The first is their full day trip that explores the upper Rio Grande between Falcon Dam and Roma. The trip includes transportation from La Joya, experienced guides, thorough orientation, lunch, snacks, drinks, equipment and a one-year Friends membership.

The day I took this trip we took our lunch break in Arroyo Mortero. Paddling up this rock-lined arroyo is interesting enough but after lunch a short walk found us looking at fossilized oyster shells in the rocks that have been dated at 58 million years old.

Another great attraction of this trip is seeing the few remaining old bald cypress trees on the banks of the river. Once plentiful, there are now very few of these big trees remaining.

Many of theses bald cypress growing along the Rio Grande were cut down by General George Sherman’s army in order to build the narrow gauge railroad trellis across the Bahia Grande near Port Isabel.

Many of the photographs taken on this trip are found in my recent Bird Book on CD titled “FEATHERED IMAGES”. The cost is $9.95 plus $2.00 postage and packaging. For more information or to order go to www.jimfosteroutdoors.com.

The FWC may be contacted by calling (956) 783-6117 or send an email to: info@corridorfriends.org

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS -ONE MORE TIME ON GUN LAWS

COLORADO SCHOOL IS STUPID
By Jim Foster

I started this blog because I love photographing and writing about the outdoors and commenting on issues of the day. What has happened lately is that the topics I love to write about have been shoved aside by politically correct idiots of this country. In this case the Colorado school system.

It has always been my belief schools were to educate our youngsters. Now we have all these “chicken little” types who are setting policies they don’t have the brains to interpret correctly. But on to Colorado.

Marie Marrow is a 17-year-old high school student in the Cherry Creek School system who was described by responsible student and even spoken of highly by the brainless wonders that are trying to expel her.

For what you ask?

Miss. Morrow commands a Young Marines drill team, demonstrates drill-team maneuvers with a practice (wooden) rifles. She left these wooden rifles in her truck in the school parking lot. Now she faces possible expulsion for having the wooden rifles in her vehicle at school.

The team, which practices at a Lutheran High School in Parker, Colorado has been preparing for a national drill team competition in April at the Air Force Academy.

Colorado (I will never recommend anyone hunting or fishing there again.) has a "zero-tolerance" law when it comes to guns on school campuses. They even go as far as to consider a facsimile of a gun or rifle a dangerous weapon.

Miss. Morrow's group recently performed at several Douglas County schools for Veterans Day events, and no one said a word.
This was another one of those “knee-jerk” policies I have written about over the years, this one passed in response to the Columbine High School shootings. Don't you just hate it when people use the deaths of children to advance their political agendas?

Due to what could be called by some as “bad press” State Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, said he would introduce a bill that would exempt facsimile weapons from the law. (Where was this mental midget when they passed this type of law in the first place ?)

Just for the record Marie Morrow has a 3.5 grade-point average, is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, is president of the school's Environmental Club, is involved in the Key Club and the Multi-Cultural Club, and is on Cherokee Trail's track and field team. A real future terrorist don’t you think?

Marie may come out of this miscarriage of reality unscathed but the Colorado school people have been exposed as the over reacting jerks they really are.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS -THIS TICKS ME OFF

SCHOOLS GUN VIEWS GO TO FAR
By Jim Foster

I would think after all the time that has passed people would start looking at the way things actually are and stop the knee jerk reactions so commonplace in today’s society.

Several years ago I had a couple of friends who hunted regularly in Wisconsin and enjoyed the people along with their attitude regarding hunting and the safe and legal use of firearms. If you think that mentality remains – read on.

In a report – why did this even make the news – on WKOW television, a Beaver Dam, Wisconsin teacher has been suspended by the quasi-knowledgeable superintendent Donald Childs for posting a “Facebook” photo of her with a rifle.

The superintendent (AKA Jerk) told the reporters that he doesn’t know if the teacher will return to work.

The photo was very similar to the published stock photos above this article except the teacher posed with a rifle. The lady is a shooter, which is a legal activity and one of which she is obviously proud. Where is there law against this or say it makes her a bad teacher?

Unlike the school board she understands the first and second amendments of the constitution.

This overreaction because of a photograph of a gun has reached the point of showing how stupid the non-gun owning public has become. The bombardment of misinformation from the anti-gun Brady Bill dummies has gone overboard. Just as stupid as the expelling of an elementary student for wearing a pro-hunting t-shirt.

Is this activity really making a really bad statement or just more anti-gun drivel?

It is a shame we now have a guy in Washington who has been a Brady supporter and continues to be one. I hope the hunters and gun owners who voted for this jerk are happy. It’s time for this stupidity to stop and this “big-bad-gun” mentality come to screeching halt
.
As one who recommends travel locations, my advise is stay away from Beaver Dam unless it is made out of sticks and mud and has a real beaver swimming around somewhere.

To the person who reported her – Get a Life.

To Mrs. Ramsdale, there are millions on your side – hang tuff.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

SPECIAL NOTE : Mrs. Ramsdale has been returned to the Classroom - You Go Girl!

PHOTOGRAPHY - TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND

OPTICS AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER
By Jim Foster

Working outside photographing wildlife is one of the best jobs I have ever had and don’t plan on giving it up anytime in the near future. Arriving at the point where I could afford a Canon 2.8 500 mm lens was thrilling and it didn’t take long for me to take that lens outside for a shakedown spin.

Producing images of elusive wildlife, especially birds, with a long lens is at times very frustrating. Just about the time you find the bird in the viewfinder and are about to focus it moves. Rats – time to start all over.

If you are a “sighting” birder you may have added a species to your list. The photographer may be sitting there mentally beating himself or herself up thinking the opportunity is gone forever. It may be but maybe not. If you stay calm, sit still and be quiet it may present itself again.

The key here is advance notice. You may learn just when and where the bird will next be in your cameras range. So how might this be accomplished? The answer - a good set of binoculars.

After spending hour after hour sitting in a photo blind waiting for the right shot to offer itself I use my binoculars to scan the area, especially around water holes, to see what has landed in the trees and just may fly in to a closer branch, for a drink or, some loafing time. With this visual information I will know what “might” be visiting and where it is located, watch for the move, and be ready to take the shot. Binoculars make this not only possible but also very doable.

If I have room in the blind, I will set up a spotting scope as well for getting that closer look. Many times though after locating the bird my long lens will give me a good look while the spotting scope provides another option to ID the bird and get ready.
Photographing birds is best accomplished in the morning and late afternoon light. Photographers call this the “golden light” and will produce the best images. Try to avoid the long shadows that will stretch across the ground as the sun falls lower in the Western sky.

Actually any type of photography is best in the “golden light” times of the day.
Photographing in the mountains evokes a whole new set of problems where the binoculars and spotting scopes can come in handy.

Viewing the world from the back of a horse is a great way to spot wildlife. Sometimes shooting photos from horseback can be a risky but spotting a photo subject from the back of a horse is rather easy. Using a set of binoculars like my Alpen Teton 10x42 do the job with room to spare.

Adding Alpen’s Binocular Harness System keeps my binoculars snug against my chest until they are needed. They also help making getting on and off a horse easier by keeping the binoculars from swinging around and getting in the way.

One morning I had been riding for a few hours when I spotted a small group of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep with several large rams. Using the binoculars to confirm the sighting, I dismounted and set up my spotting scope to watch a while. It became clear this grassy ledge was a regular feeding area, and the light would be good the next morning.

After watching the feeding rams for several hours I quietly left the area and was there at first light. At about eight the rams returned to feed and I spent the next couple of hours photographing these beautiful animals.

These are just a few examples of how binoculars and spotting scopes help me take better and closer photographs. Try it – it will help you as well.

As a SPECIAL NOTE - Field & Stream Magazine recently did a field test comparing five different spotting scopes to see which spotting scopes performed the best. A variety of tests were performed - how well they performed in low light, how easy they are to hold one-handed, how sharp they are, and how bright they are were a few of the tests performed. Out of all five spotting scopes tested, the Alpen model 711 20X50 mini spotting scope received top honors.

"We are very proud that magazines like Field & Stream continue to see the quality and value found in Alpen Optics. The 711 is a great spotting scope for birding, hunting or any sport where a compact spotting scope is needed," Said Vickie Gardner.

To find out more about Alpen Optics visit www.alpenoutdoor.com or call 1-877-987-8370.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS -HOW TO “SPIN” A TRILLION DOLLARS

PUTTING ON THE SPIN
By Jim Foster

I haven’t seen this much SPIN since I was in elementary school playing tops with my friends. The shortsighted reasoning for the so called “recovery package” will do a few things but recovery? Not a chance.

What it will do is to create more spending, bigger government, and a worsening economy. If you don’t think so, just sit back and watch the Senate and Congress (and the president) reek of pork from dipping in the pork barrel. At least the last one put money in the hands of taxpayers not big business.

Of course if you have noticed, since the “new guy” was elected gas prices have been going up. Hummmmmm??? More spin?

Let’s hope the people in the Congress and Senate wake up and see that the stimulus package they have written won’t stimulate anything. The saying, "Haste makes Waste" sure seems to fit today. Sure we need a "FIX" but hey guys, slow down and get it correct the first time.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com