Dear Birders,

Greetings from Australia. I just found this conference. I am very
excited because last week I passed the 3,500 bird species mark thanks to
Prosopeia personata--Sulphur-breasted Musk-Parrot. This and 14 other new
species were seen on a two work working trip to Viti Levu.

Birding has become a major passion over the years, and I would like to pay
public homage to the woman who started it all, my Great Aunt Mavis Herrick
of Mayfield, Fulton Co., New York. I knew my aunt for my first 15 years
until her death at the great age of 96. Spry as a new born lamb, she
dragged me across the Adirondacks, Green mountains, White Mountains, up
Katahdin, down Katahdin all the way to James Bay and back again. Being a
most precosious and mischievious kid, I quickly became her favourite, and
she imparted to me the many secrets of nature and the birds she loved with
all her heart. I still have her original list first started in 1910 and
almost daily updated.

Her list ended with 436 total species. Before her death, she told me how
much fun all our adventures had been and that she hoped I would always
keep my interest in birds. Well my dear sweet Aunt May, as I cross the
3,500 mark at the age of 32, I have you to thank for giving me a part of
my life that has taken me to all continents, 76 nations and countless
adventures in the most wonderful places imaginable. Although her body now
rests beneath the glacial soil of the southern Adirondacks, I know her
spirit is always there with me in the rainforests, deserts, mountains and
valleys. Perhaps everytime I see a new bird and think of my aunt, it
opens a heavenly window for her to see it as well.

So all you aunts, grannies etc who have young, uncontrollable
whippersnappers, if you just plant the right seeds in their soul, the
final tree may just be amazing.

Cheers Good People
Kevin

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Dr. Kevin Vang: School of Earth Sciences or the School of History, Philosophy
and Politics, The Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2019, AUSTRALIA

Director, Environment and Development Group International, 64/302 Burns Bay Rd
Lane Cove, NSW 2066 AUSTRALIA Email <kvang at laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au>

ANTARES*HEPHAISTION*ALDEBARAN*FARAMIR*ALTAIR*NORDLAND*RIGEL*MUIR*ETNA*RIVENDELL
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