vBIRD WATCHING Dietrich decided it would be smart to identify the birds he saw so he continued from page 12 took photos. Eventually he just Mark’s personal rarest bird sighting became enamored with finding was a Ross’s Gull near Yankton at birds and of course, the rarer birds Lewis & Clark Lake. This particular he could find, all the better. Just bird is rarely seen below the Arctic recently he spotted a long-tail duck Circle and other birders from 20 at Lewis & Clark Lake, which he different states trekked to Yankton had seen before, but knew was a to see this bird. It was resting on the rare species to see in this area. ice with several other gulls. “Finding something unusual is Birds which typically do not a challenge for me and identifying appear in this area will show up if birds is a challenge, too,” Dietrich they are hard pressed for food in said. “It’s just an interesting the northern regions. Mark recalls May 23, 2014 Milbank SDOU meeting/field trip - Photo by Kelly Preheim pastime.” a few years ago there was an invasion Dietrich finds himself out at the Lake a couple times a week taking of snowy owls for that reason and sighting a snowy owl is a once-in-ain the birding sights. He considers trips to Sioux City, Ft Randall, Sioux lifetime event so spotting dozens was quite a visual treat for Nebraska Falls or Lake Andes fairly local areas or many birding opportunities. citizen scientists. He also has traveled across the country to see birds, traveling a far as “Birding is a passion and we do it pretty often as my wife is a retired Cuba on a birding trip. Dietrich has done vacation birding and he has science teacher also,” Mark said. “The equipment is pretty simple and also taken trips just to see a certain species of bird. some people keep written journals as well as electronic recording.” Whenever Dietrich goes places, he looks up on eBird to see what Mark is also well-known for writing over 50 papers on bird sightings birds have been sighted in the area. It will show a map where the bird and keeps very detailed handwritten journals of his birdwatching. was seen and birders can go to that area for a sighting. Now, since birds A good birder friend of the Brogie Brothers is Roger Dietrich of fly, they may be gone when he gets there. Several years ago, a Ross’s Yankton. Gull – the same one spotted by the Brogie Brothers - was sighted at Dietrich, a retired clinic administrator, spends a lot of his free time Lake Yankton and it stayed for a week or more and several people now as a birder but has spent the last 25 years enjoying birdwatching. traveled here to see it. “I enjoy getting out in nature and seeing birds,” Dietrich said. “I used to do a lot of photography back in the day and I was seeing a lot of birds.” vBIRD WATCHING continued on page 18 Building or Remodeling... Mozak’s features quality cabinetry for any room from Dakota Cabinetry and Marquis Cabinetry plus many types of countertops including laminate, granite and quartz. Terri Roan, Interior Designer Specializing in Kitchen & Bath Design Terri can help you design the room of your dreams. Stop by or call the store at 605-665-9728 to set up a free consultation. Floors & More Your Total Home Design Center 1205 Broadway Ave., Yankton • 665-9728 Monday-Friday 9-5:30, Saturday 9-3 HERVOICEvJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019v13