** Reply to note from tweeters at u.washington.edu Tue, 3 Dec 1996 00:02:39 PST


> Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 16:19:18 -0800 (PST)

> The day I see 900 eagles in one spot and 24 snowy owls in one spot I'll
> think I've died and gone to heaven.
>
> Cindy Trumble

Pride of ownership can be very strong. I remember doing a bird course for an
Elderhostel group with Cathy Antoniazzi in Mt. Robson Park back in about 1991.
We had a scope on the resident Bald Eagle nest across the other side of Moose
Marsh letting the group get a good look. Some curious passers-by screeched to
a halt on the busy Hwy 16 which we were set up beside. Turned out they were
holidaying from Indiana or somewhere in the Steel Belt. Naturally, they thought
we were looking at a moose. When they found out that we had a Bald Eagle in the
scope, they went berserk...screaming at the rest of their compadres in the car
to "Get out here and look at OUR eagle!". They had never seen one before.
Cathy and I chuckled at this one as did several other of the american
elderhostel members with us. But there was no doubt that they are awesome
birds and we realized that there was good reason for the attachment these
people felt to this species other than just political indoctrination. I sure
wish I had the time to go back to doing Elderhostels again. Some of the best
times I have ever had.

- Jack


Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca