Author Archives: Lauren Harter

About Lauren Harter

I live in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where I work as a field biologist and spend as much of the rest of my time as possible looking at (and listening to!) birds.

Birding Beal Lake

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Lauren Harter

The past week, since returning from the Western Field Ornithologists meeting in Sierra Vista, David and I have made several trips to Beal Lake. When we moved to this area last December, we were only vaguely aware of Beal Lake, … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding Locations, Havasu NWR, LCRV, Mohave County | Leave a comment

Shorebird migration begins!

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Lauren Harter

I guess I jinxed myself the other day when I said birding has been slow around Lake Havasu. The next morning (August 10), David and I went to the north end of the lake and found an adult Tricolored Heron! … Continue reading →

Posted in Havasu NWR, LCRV, Migration, Mohave County, San Bernardino County, Vagrants | Leave a comment

Birding the Arizona Strip

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Lauren Harter

I admit it, birding around here has been slow lately. It’s hard to get the motivation to bird when it’s over 110 out, but it’s worth it if there are birds! Unfortunately, shorebird migration around Lake Havasu has been little … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Strip, Big Year, Trip reports | Leave a comment

New AOU Checklist Supplement!

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Lauren Harter

It’s that time of year again, when the American Ornithologists’ Union North American checklist committee has gotten together and made some changes to the “official” checklist of North American birds – adding new species, recognizing splits, reorganizing families, changing names, … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 1 Comment

How I Spent My Spring

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Lauren Harter

To say I had a busy spring would be an impressive understatement! I continued my part-time job with the City of Lake Havasu, but caved to my desire to get out in the field by working for the Great Basin … Continue reading →

Posted in Bill Williams, Conservation, La Paz County, LCRV, Migration | 1 Comment

Monsoon

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Lauren Harter

I promise I am working on a post to explain my long blogging hiatus. But for right now, I just have to note that our first monsoon storms paid us a visit! On July 3, a thick, dusty haze blocked … Continue reading →

Posted in LCRV, Migration | Leave a comment

Migration and Big Year Update, spring storms

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Lauren Harter

Blogging has been put on the back-burner in the past few weeks, due to increased demands from birding, work, and my immune system. I’m starting to get back into the swing of things, though, so here is an update about … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Year, Havasu NWR, Lake Havasu, LCRV, Migration, Mohave County | Leave a comment

Get Involved!

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Lauren Harter

I think one of the great things about birding as a hobby is that anyone, everyone, can get involved and contribute to our knowledge of birds. Citizen science also allows amateur enthusiasts to affect conservation and provides a learning opportunity. … Continue reading →

Posted in AZFO, Events, North American Migration Count | Leave a comment

Big Year update

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Lauren Harter

Things have been very busy lately, and unfortunately I’m not referring to birding! The past two weekends I’ve gone out of town, first to Phoenix then to Santa Cruz, CA. Not to mention the intervening week which I spent working … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Year, Havasu NWR, LCRV, Mohave County, Vagrants | 1 Comment

Long-tailed Duck

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Lauren Harter

On February 28 of this year, refuge volunteer Jan Richmond spotted a drake Long-tailed Duck near the Bill Williams River NWR headquarters. This is a rare bird in Arizona, a “Sketch Details” species found mainly on the Colorado River. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bill Williams, La Paz County, LCRV, Vagrants | Leave a comment