My New Blog is Finally Here!

Hi Guys,

I have been asked by many of my friends to create a blog and I finally got around to it. I am a huge lover of Birds, being out in nature and experiencing different adventures. It will be fun to share my birding adventures with you. I've backdated a few posts and then will be up and running with current posts.

For anyone who doesn't know me my name is Melissa Hafting aka "Birdergirl" (most people call me Mel) and I run the BC Rare Bird Alert blog, which can be found here: bcbirdalert.blogspot.com. I love sharing sightings of rare birds all around the province and I have a good group of regional volunteers helping me in this endeavor. I love to travel and have been to 13 countries in Europe, and  to 4 in North America and to 1 in Asia. I am passionate about conservation and have a strong interest in the conservation of birds and endangered wild salmon stocks.

I bird mostly in BC and WA on a regular basis and love to twitch rarities. I love photographing birds and feel it enhances my birding experience by giving me visual memories that last forever. I enjoy helping people with bird identification and finding birds and planning trips. If you ever need help with identification issues or help on where to find certain birds in the province, please feel free to email me at bcbirdergirl(at)gmail(dot)com. If you have a rare bird sighting in BC, I always love hearing about it.

I created the BC Young Birders Field Trip Program in 2014 and we have over 20 kids enrolled in it all over the province. I enjoy mentoring the children and take them out on field trips where I learn as much from them as they probably do from me. In 2016, I joined my young birders group with the British Columbia Field Ornithologists Association (BCFO) and it's been a terrific partnership where I have received funding and support to help me with the programs. The kids also have an official association (with fancy hats) to belong to. BCFO recognizes exceptional Young Birders in the province with an official award. You can read about the Young Birder Award program HERE

Working with youth and getting them out in nature is one of my passions and they continually astound me with their intelligence and ability in this hobby. I am very proud of the youth I work with and am lucky to know them. As a young biracial woman leader in the BC Birding Community, I believe it is important to promote a safe, culturally diverse environment for all young birders, regardless of race or gender. I am especially passionate about promoting birding with young women, who are still the minority in this hobby. I wrote an article in May 2016, for the ABA's "Birder's Digest Magazine" along with my friend Ann Nightingale, dealing with this issue which can be viewed HERE

If any kids reading this blog in BC want to join my youth program, please click our BCFO Young Birder's Website https://bcfo.ca/young-birders-program-field-trips/

I plan to blog about my trips with young birders, my twitches (mainly those with photographs, since it's too boring for the reader), birding in the province of BC,WA and around the world and to share my bird photographs as well. I will also discuss identification questions people write me about that I think would benefit others. I will also feature the work and achievements of young birders and notable  birders in the province. I plan to talk about interesting birding events going on locally and in the province; including the 2018 International Ornithological Congress where I am helping organize the youth events and doing some adult guiding. 

 I welcome blog post suggestions. Also, for a more interactive component, people can email me to submit cool birding things they did or know of, that they want to share on the blog. The BC Birding Community has always been important to me and I feel it is important to keep people connected and for us all to help one another. Links to events happening in the province will be in the "BC Bird Community Events" tab, just as it is on the BC RBA blog.

To see more of my photos please visit my Flickr photo site here:  https://www.flickr.com/people/126805965@N03/

Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Mel

*Disclaimer all photos, that are not mine on this blog are being used with permission from the photographer.*

Comments

  1. Jim CumminsJune 26, 2017 at 6:37 AM

    MELISSA, THANK YOU FOR THE LINK AND INVITE. YOUR NEW BLOG LOOKS GREAT. I HAVEN'T READ ALL OF WHAT YOU HAVE POSTED BUT WILL AS TIME ALLOWS. I NEED TO REMEMBER NOT TO HIT THE SHIFT KEY WHEN A CAP LETTER IS REQUIRED SINCE THAT RESULTS IN LOWER CASE LETTER. I ENJOYED YOUR DETAILED NOME REPORT. THANKS FOR SHARING. WHAT DOES THE BOX NOTIFY ME BELOW THIS MESSAGE MEAN? I WILL CHECK IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingJune 27, 2017 at 12:52 AM

      Hi Jim, that simply means that you will be notified if I or anyone responds to your comments or others in this thread cheers.

      Delete
  2. Len JellicoeJune 26, 2017 at 7:54 AM

    Nice format and Stories Mel. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJune 26, 2017 at 9:43 AM

    thanks Mel, for creating this awesome blog!
    m

    ReplyDelete
  4. currycanuckJune 26, 2017 at 12:07 PM

    Thanks for the invite Mel

    John

    ReplyDelete
  5. LonelytravellerJune 26, 2017 at 10:35 PM

    Great blog so glad you are sharing your stories with us!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Melissa HaftingJune 27, 2017 at 12:53 AM

    Thanks everyone for your very kind comments, it is appreciated! Glad you like the blog so far.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nigel TateJune 27, 2017 at 3:40 PM

    Great!!!! awesome !!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingJune 27, 2017 at 11:08 PM

      Thanks nigel!

      Delete
    2. David WongJuly 2, 2017 at 3:09 PM

      I have gone through most of your new blog. I am most impressed by the variety and depth of topics, local birding activities, birding news, conference and meetings, field trips, alerts to changes in bird species classification, and even bird comics. It is obvious that a lot of thoughts have been put into every aspect of the academy-award level blog. thank you melissa.

      Delete
    3. Melissa HaftingJuly 2, 2017 at 9:52 PM

      Thanks my dear friend, Truly touched.

      Delete
  8. Macs photosJuly 27, 2017 at 4:41 PM

    I finally found where you are hiding and I am really enjoying your blog. I have missed all your comments on the other site and I now have you bookmarked and will be following your blog. Congratulations on a great blog and i am really glad to see that you are continuing with the junior birders.

    Keith

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingJuly 28, 2017 at 4:06 PM

      Thank you kindly Keith I'm very touched by your nice comments!

      Delete
  9. AnonymousJuly 29, 2017 at 12:40 AM

    mel i am so glad you are back.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownMarch 30, 2018 at 12:52 PM

    Hello Melissa
    I have been running Pelagic tours out of Tofino for over 30 years and am very excited about the recent sightings our Short-Tailed Albatrosses last year and the sightings again this season. I was happy to Roger Foxall out yesterday and finding the Parakeet Auklet. I am planning more trips for April and this season. I also want to say thanks for your work with younger birders I have a couple of young local birders I am going to try to get out with me on my next pelagic. Keep up the good work and I hope our paths cross soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingMarch 30, 2018 at 7:43 PM

      Thanks John for the kind message. Yes Toby and cedar the young birders from Tofino are in my young birder program and they are such amazing kids! Very nice of you to take them out. Roger told me about the paau what a great bird that I would love to see one day. Seeing those STALs last weekend was incredible and I know you have seen them yourself as well! What a thrill glad to hear you are doing more Pelagics ! All the best and happy Easter

      Delete
  11. Karen MAugust 11, 2020 at 8:10 AM

    I really enjoy your blog. I am hoping to contact you by email. If you get this, can you please email me at oflandandlivingskies@gmail.com
    I edit a small community journal and our theme is love letters to nature. I would love to feature some of your writing, photography, and thoughts similar to your ebirder profile you just did! Thanks so much. Karen

    ReplyDelete

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