bobfair@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Bob Fairbairn) (05/22/84)
To Jay at U.Md.: Thanks for your article - it brought back pleasant memories
of my years across the river from you in Fairfax. Regarding your wondering
which birds to get excited about - I don't think you should let someone else
influence you too much in that regard. To me, any bird is rare that I have
never seen yet or have seen only briefly. What makes birding special is the
*personal* experience of seeing and/or hearing a unique little creature,
identifying it to your satisfaction, and making it "yours" without disturbing
it. I saw Indigo Buntings 2 or 3 times in the Fairfax area for a total of
about 30 seconds, so to me they are still "rare". (Have you ever tried to
describe the color of the male Indigo Bunting to someone?) And the Wood
Thrush - there is no other sound like its song ringing through the woods just
before dark.
To Ron Lewen at Tellabs: The Killdeer seems to be a fairly widespread bird.
I have seen some in this area, usually around drainage ditches and newly plowed
fields.
Thoughts and inquiry on Peterson's Field Guide: In Virginia, I used Peterson's
"new" guide to eastern birds. The "new" format has the pictures right across
the page from the text. Unfortunately, the western guide is still in the old
format, with the pictures lumped together near the center of the book. This
can be very frustrating when you are trying to identify some shy little bird
for the first time - two hands aren't enough to manipulate book and binoculars.
Does anyone know if Peterson intends to re-do the western guide in the new
format? I hope so, but until then I'll keep using the less complete Golden
"Birds of North America".
Bob Fairbairn
System Development Corporation
Camarillo, CA