I am a birder. Not at all hardcore during the last years, but when the autumn arrives and the sibies call, I like to call myself a birder. Since 2007 most of my field activity during summer has been focused on nocturnal moths. I don't know why or how moths managed to outdo birds as my main interest, but they did. Anyway, when I was a "full-time" birder I was intrigued to see how some people combined birding with mothing. When diving into the subject I was gradually transformed. By 2008 nothing else mattered during the summer season, and it is still like this. Will I ever revert? Probably not.
Closeup of the neck-mark of the Death's Head Hawk Moth. Click on the picture to see the whole animal.
I remember a story about a moth that was found in Sweden. It was a day-resting Death's-head Hawkmoth. The ultimate migrant for many moth enthusiasts in Northern Europe. It is a large moth, up to 15 cm. wingspan, with a mark shaped as a skull on it's back. Once the news of it broke, several birders (!) drove long distances to get views of the rarity. Unfortunately, when they arrived an entomologist already had caught it and stabbed a needle through the body. Ornithologists and entomologists are different. It is not too important for the latter to enjoy specimens alive. For an ornithologist and birder it is crucial, even when it comes to moths. The stabbed moth was no longer twitchable, and the disappointed birders cursed the collector appropriately.
After spending lots of time getting to know native Norwegian moths, moth migration and vagrancy has evolved into a favorite subject. In many ways it is similar to birds, but in another scale. Since the start of my moth-career the Death's-head Hawkmoth has been number one on the most wanted-list. It is not interested in light-traps, but prefer to steal honey from beehives. In other words, a hard species to find. When a colleague called me at work a few days ago and uttered that the most wanted was waiting for me in the neighbor office, I got the twitchy feeling I recall my from dark past. Joy in a symbol of death - as long as it is alive...
After spending lots of time getting to know native Norwegian moths, moth migration and vagrancy has evolved into a favorite subject. In many ways it is similar to birds, but in another scale. Since the start of my moth-career the Death's-head Hawkmoth has been number one on the most wanted-list. It is not interested in light-traps, but prefer to steal honey from beehives. In other words, a hard species to find. When a colleague called me at work a few days ago and uttered that the most wanted was waiting for me in the neighbor office, I got the twitchy feeling I recall my from dark past. Joy in a symbol of death - as long as it is alive...
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