Birds In Minnesota

My friend Bob Janssen is 86-years-old and has been birding since the age of five. He is one of the most renown birders in Minnesota and just this year completed his goal of seeing 225 species in each of Minnesota's 87 counties, a feat that will never be equaled of surpassed. While not a trained ornithologist, he knows more about bird distribution in Minnesota than anyone. He is an author of several books and has recently revised his 1987 work Birds In Minnesota. Along with numerous other photographers, he asked that I contribute photographs for this revision. I gladly agreed and have seventeen photos to my credit within the book, including the iconic Great Gray and Boreal Owls. But late in the summer, Bob approached me and said he wanted to use a Common Loon photo of mine on the cover of the book. As it turned out, however, the cover photo had already been chosen by the publisher and used in a pre-publication notice and could no longer be changed. So, I got the back cover instead. The front cover of a Black-backed Woodpecker is a photo taken by my late friend David Brislance, whom I first met through this site about ten years ago. It has all worked out well and I couldn't be happier. Birds In Minnesota, at nearly 600 pages, will be a wonderful resource for birders now and for generations to come. Bob figures he has traveled between 2.5 and 3 million miles birding in Minnesota over the years and has worn out '23 Toyotas' doing so. That equates to 'six round trips to the moon.' Attached are the front and back covers and my original Common Loon photo.

Al, thank you so much for this post. My travels have taken me to Minnesota several times. On one of those visits I spent time with Dave Brislance, whom I had gotten to know through this forum. I had not heard of his passing, though I had wondered what his situation might be and was reluctant to investigate. Dave took me for a walk in his woods and impressed me with his intimate relationship with birds and mammals there. He told me he would never leave because the animals needed him. I'm sure they, and his many human friends, miss him terribly.

Congrats on your back cover photo.

sparker1 wrote in post #18960075
Al, thank you so much for this post. My travels have taken me to Minnesota several times. On one of those visits I spent time with Dave Brislance, whom I had gotten to know through this forum. I had not heard of his passing, though I had wondered what his situation might be and was reluctant to investigate. Dave took me for a walk in his woods and impressed me with his intimate relationship with birds and mammals there. He told me he would never leave because the animals needed him. I'm sure they, and his many human friends, miss him terribly.

Congrats on your back cover photo.

Thank you so much for this post, Stan. Oddly enough, I never met Dave in person, though we corresponded regularly for nearly ten years. While we both lived in northern Minnesota, getting from our place to his is a major undertaking as there is no direct route. So, you are fortunate at having done so. Dave and I always had fun comparing migration notes, among other things, as his area sometimes saw different birds than mine and at slightly different times. Dave was always good at helping with a difficult ID, as well. Since Dave's passing, I have become great friends with his son Jean, who is a talented bird photographer in his own right. Also, Jean likes to cook and I swear we spend as much time talking about food as about birds. Dave's widow Mary is still living in Lutsen and has friends who can help her get through the winters. So, as I say, if I had to lose out on a front cover, it makes me happy that it was to Dave.

We have a great birding community in Minnesota. Bob Janssen is a treasure and if your travels ever bring you back to the State, be sure to pick up a copy of his book.

Al

I think I want to grab a copy even if I’m no longer in state! Born & raised near Grand Rapids, I had never quite been to your neck of the woods. Northeast to Lake Vermillion and northwest to Lake of the Woods...but never straight up. Congrats on the back cover and I’m sorry for your loss.

Quadna71 wrote in post #18960165
I think I want to grab a copy even if I’m no longer in state! Born & raised near Grand Rapids, I had never quite been to your neck of the woods. Northeast to Lake Vermillion and northwest to Lake of the Woods...but never straight up. Congrats on the back cover and I’m sorry for your loss.

Thank you kindly. I recognize your username! It really is a nicely produced book and full of information. The U of MN Press website, as well as other on-line book retailers seem to indicate the book will be available for purchase in January. Bob appears to have gotten ahold of some advance copies.

I'll be picking me up a copy for sure. Thanks for posting this up Al. I never would have known of the book, or heard the back story.

Naturalist wrote in post #18960356
I'll be picking me up a copy for sure. Thanks for posting this up Al. I never would have known of the book, or heard the back story.

You're welcome, Doug; I'm sure you'll enjoy your copy once it becomes available. You might want to check out the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOUMN.Org), it is a great organization.

Thanks for sharing your story Al with Bob’s book. He sounds like he is quite a guy. Congratulations on the images. Well deserved. I can only imagine but I bet it’s an honor to have your work featured. Also along with Dave too. I remember Dave on here from years ago. I had wondered about him recently. It’s sad to see he passed away. He was such a great nature photographer and very well in touch with nature.

txcanon wrote in post #18961360
Thanks for sharing your story Al with Bob’s book. He sounds like he is quite a guy. Congratulations on the images. Well deserved. I can only imagine but I bet it’s an honor to have your work featured. Also along with Dave too. I remember Dave on here from years ago. I had wondered about him recently. It’s sad to see he passed away. He was such a great nature photographer and very well in touch with nature.

Thanks for your kind words, Brad; they are very much appreciated. It's nice to know you remember Dave. I am fortunate to have been able to bird with Bob Janssen on a number of occasions. In fact, I helped him add seven species to his checklist for our county. My wife and I had him over for dinner a few years ago and it was a most entertaining evening. He had so many great stories about his birding life that I encouraged him to start on his memoir, which now, with the completion of his revision of Birds In Minnesota, he is doing. It will be another much anticipated volume.