You might know Andy Papadatos as the jovial owner of Snohomish Bakery and First and Union restaurant, the delicious, decadent eatery where New Year’s resolutions go to die…. But you may not know that in his off-time, Andy has a penchant for bird watching, a hobby discovered in his youth that has taken him around the globe to see hundreds of different species.  With Snohomish gearing up for the birding events planned this Winter,  I asked Andy how he developed his love for birding and a couple of tips to help others get started.

Bird Watching with Andy Papadatos

1. How did you get started birding?
   When I was twelve (early 1980), my mom gave me $10 leisure cash to spend at the mall. After a couple hours, I walked by a bookstore that had a display stand of Roger Tory Petersen’s Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies, 4th edition. I leafed through the book and realized I hardly recognized any of the birds, more than half of which occurred in my home state of NJ. The price for the new book was $9.95; sales tax was 5% then, so my $10 bill wasn’t enough. The lady at the register couldn’t have known then that for 45 cents, she would change my life. True Story! Within a year I had memorized the book. It would be another twelve years before I would see them all. 

   

2. What is the farthest place you’ve ever traveled to see a bird?
   I traveled to Townsville, Australia (1999) to see Southern Cassowaries and other birds. My most memorable birding trip.
   
3. What has been your most coveted siting?  
   Pileated Woodpecker, 1985 in NJ (they were much rarer then!) where I was a teenager at the time. I ’d been desperate to see one since I started birdwatching 5 years earlier. I got my driver’s license in April, and within a couple of weeks I found a pair in Northern NJ and spent an afternoon with them. 

   

4. What is the best bird to spot in Snohomish?
   I’d like to see another Emperor Goose. We had one about 10 years ago with the snow geese along HWY 9.

   

5. What birding equipment is most important (besides binoculars)
   Always wear good footwear for the outdoors. 

   

6. What is the best tip you can give to someone who wants to get started bird watching?
   Watch individual birds for extended periods whenever possible, and learn their behavior. It’s as important as field marks to help ID a bird. 

   

The Snohomish Valley is the Palm Springs to over 80 “wintering” bird species. Here you’ll see thousands of ducks, swans, and geese, hearty songbirds, and all of the raptors who chase them.

You can join a guided tour on January 18 to tour Snohomish’s well known, and lesser known meccas for sighting or go on your own. The tour will start at the Snohomish Wildlife Refuge. Participants can follow to the other sites in their own vehicle.  If you go on your own, check out www.snobird.org for popular areas with known sitings. You can also download a birding checklist and mark off the ones you see.

Dress for the weather and plan for muddy conditions.

Where do you go for great bird watching in Snohomish County? Please tell me about it in the comment box below.