tweeters - in my few (8) years as a birder, I've noticed that many (seems
like most, sometimes) birders are most thrilled with large birds of prey. I,
however, while greatly enjoying the sight of any raptor, would rather search
through a thickly brambled area for a sparrow or warbler. One of the fondest
memories I have is two years ago, laying on my back on my roof in Pickens
Co., SC. during spring migration one day. I caught brief, but telling,
glimpses of a Cape May and, better yet, a bay-breasted warbler, along with
the more common warblers (but just as beautiful), in the oak branches above..

The sight of small, and sometimes hard to identify birds, hidden usually in
dense coverage, is what gets my birder's blood boiling.

In the end, I'll take what I can get. But I often wonder if there as many
birders who get excited about a bushtit as a Cooper's? Or are there more,
but silent?

Eric Henriksen
Arletta, WA
(206) 265-2991
ericboyd at aol.com
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