2008/07/06

First Blogoversary!!!

A first b-day treat from Tommy

On July 7th, 2007 (07/07/07) I was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A different country, new people, new places, lots of study hours and little money to spend on things other than rent, food and university.


The interest in birds 'started', as such, in January 2007, when Tommy and I made a trip to Paracas (south of Lima, Peru). Living abroad with no income wasn't exactly helping. I decided to start this blog as a learning tool, as some sort of virtual notebook.

At first, I didn't know what to do, where to look, or what to post.
My first post was a video about Peru's birds. National Bird of Peru was my second - the Cock of the rocks (Rupicola Peruviana) started me on reading more about birds, habitats, behaviour, etc.

Then the posts about the birds I saw on that trip to Paracas:
Snowy Egret, Guanay Cormorant, Peruvian Pelican, Humboldt Penguin, Larosterna Inca (which got the first comment ever! from John at Born Again Bird Watcher, who has helped me since then, THANKS!), and Peruvian Boovy. In August 2007, a strong earthquake south of Lima that killed few hundred people and destroyed habitats and observation spots.


I couldn't travel and lived in a large grey urban city. I missed home. I started posting about bird related topics, history, nature, environment and conservation, and continued in Peru: Birds in Pre-Hispanic Peru, the Nasca Lines (especially the birds), Promperu, T'ikapapa, the unbelievable Candamo issue (oil companies in Natural Reserves in the Amazon Jungle) and the update, Manu Natural Reserve, Peru World's Catalogue, Owl money, World Wetlands day, Birds crafts, the bird that inspired the Peruvian flag, etc.


Once in Lima, Tommy and I started to walk around the city, trying to get familiar with the local birds. We visited parks and got our first guide (small 100 birds of Lima), we saw beautiful Amazilia Amazilias and families of Vermilion Flycatchers too. We also started attending meetings and activities of the BFS- Brigada de Fauna Silvestre (Wildlife Brigade).


Some family issues forced us to make some quick trips and ended up visiting Guayaquil (Ecuador) and Arica (Chile). Guayaquil was fun, we went Iguana 'watching', walked around the parks, saw some pretty cool birds and unusual bugs. Arica was FAST!

Oh! And we are waiting for our first country guide ever!
Birds of Peru is on its way!! I can't believe how much I've learnt this year. It has been an amazing experience. I've met some incredible people and I believe the best is still to come! THANK YOU!!!

24 comments:

John B. said...

Congratulations on the blogoversary! I hope you have many more.

Susan Gets Native said...

Hooray! Happy First!
And many, many more!

So what kind of bird IS that on the Peruvian flag?

Amila Salgado said...

Congratulations!
Eat a piece of cake on behalf of me - will you?

Teena in Toronto said...

Happy blogoversary!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

What a pretty cake! Congratulations Mel, you have added so much to my blogging neighborhood. Many more for you!

Anonymous said...

Happy blogoversary Mel! It has been a great pleasure watching your blog develop over the past year. I wish you all the best for the forthcoming year and many, many more beyond that.

Q said...

Happy Anniversary!
Tommy is a dear heart!
Cake looks very yummy.
I am so happy I met you and your journal. I am learning lots too.
Looking forward to year two with you!
Namaste,
Sherry

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

Happy blog birthday!

Tommy said...

Mel, congratulations on the first year! Hope there's many more to come :)

Unfortunately guys and gals, I didn't actually make that great looking cake (I'm not quite artistic enough) - I tested out my beginner's photoshop skills specifically for this post!

I'm proud of you babe!

Tommy

Unknown said...

Oh that cake is too beautiful to eat! I love it!

Happy blog birthday!

Mary C said...

Congratulations, Mel, on your blogiversary! Blogging sure opens up new worlds for us, doesn't it? And we certainly have made many more new friends.

Sekhar said...

Congratulations on the First Anniversary of your blog :)
It is from you and 'Sandpipers Place' that I learnt how people find joy in their hobby of Bird-Watching.
And by the way the 7th of July also coincides with my younger sister's Bithday.
Thanks for taking us all on bird-watching. And keep up the good work :)

Mel said...

Thank you all for the great wishes!

I think I have to explain about the cake as most of you got the idea of it being a real cake!
I do wish it was, but it is actually something Tommy found and 'made' for me: a virtual cake, modified pic from a real cake!! (but he promised that he would get me the real thing soon... or something like it)

THANKS AGAIN :)

Elan Morgan said...

Happy Blogoversary!

ivars krafts said...

Congratulations on completing your first year with this most entertaining and educational blog! Keep up the good work!

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary!
May I wish you many more! It's so nice to have you as part of the blogging community!

Ecobirder said...

Congratulations on making it through the first year. Keep up the good work.

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

Congratulations, Mel! I always enjoy your blog. I'm going to try and slowly catch up over the next week, after being sick for awhile.

Beverly said...

awwwwwww... Happy BlogDay!!!

(belated)

You do good work,
Beverly

Anonymous said...

Happy blogoversary!!
I so am glad to finally reach to my blogroll and your blog is one of my favorites! It was nice to read your story and I will look forward to seing more of your pictures.

Mel said...

Thank you all!!
I just posted about the guide we were waiting to arrive... It came the very same day this blog turned 1 year old!!
I'm so excited!!
Thank you for your constant support, your advice, your comments, the time you spend reading these lines and the things I learn or wish to learn about.

Mary said...

Congratulations, Mel! You have a great blog and I would love to visit more often. Your birds are rare and I enjoy seeing them and reading your enthusiastic commentaries.

Keep it up!

Mary

Anonymous said...

Happy belated blogoversary, Mel! You've come a long way in just a year - I can't wait to see what your next year brings.

Mel said...

Thanks to everyone!
You have all been such good teachers!!