Subject: Re: profit
Date: Aug 19 20:22:05 1995
From: Debbie Athanases - athanasd at belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us


I've been lurking on Tweeters for a while now - this thread looks like a
good place to get my feet wet (virtually, anyway, until the East side
loosestrife pull begins).

I subscribed to tweeters with the hope that it would be a hotline for
birding opportunities for a beginner like myself.

Birding is an interest that was put on hold years ago when I became a mom.
I am now in the middle of a divorce, and I'm trying to make some positive
changes in my life. I now have some kid-free weekends and vacations
which I would love to devote to birding outings and tours.

I have a series of queries - feel free to delete at any time!

1. I joined the Natl Audubon, assuming that I would get a local
chapter membership which would give me info about outings - so far no local
newsletter or any such thing has materialized. I read through the recent
posting explaining the Audubon organization, and I'm wondering - do I need
to join the local chapter individually? I live in Redmond so I guess it
would be ELWAS.

(It would be helpful to have the various chapters' activities
posted online so you don't have to join them all!)

2. When I don't have a kidless weekend, I try to take them out to a
place with birds and kid appeal. We've done Juanita Bay and Mercer Slough
and the Lake Hills greenbelt. It's a challenge though because if I take
my eyes off my 4-year-old (like, looking through the binos) for more than a
few seconds, he tends to take off! Do any Tweeters do their birding with
kids? Any tips (places or techniques)?

3. On the topic - I would appreciate being informed about tour
opportunities, but I share the concern of having the list taken over by
"commercial" messages. I don't imagine it would happen overnight, and if
it did happen it sounds as though there are some possible solutions.
Several Tweets mentioned the many other sources of this information. I
would find it a challenge to subscribe to all those publications etc. It
would be nice to have a clearinghouse.

One approach which seems to be unobjectionable is when someone requests
specific information, so here is my request. I would like to celebrate
my first kid-free vacation, which will be mid-winter break (a week
in mid-February '96), with a birding tour. I can't afford to travel
abroad, which is the focus of the tour ads I've seen. I'd like to see
the bird action in a different region of the U.S. Weather-wise, the
Texas and Arizona hotspots seem like the best bet. Since I would be
travelling alone, I would want a full-blown guided group thing with
lodging and transportation. Does anyone out there have a recommendation
for the best February birding and a tour provider?

A thousand thanks for your patience, and any advice!

Unlurkingly yours,


Debbie Athanases athanasd at belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Bellevue High School
10416 SE Kilmarnock St. SKEPSOU!
Bellevue WA 98004
(206) 455-6146