Folks,

The annual Audubon Society Skagit birding-by-bus tour was held in
early Feb, and we also experienced blatant hostility from local residents,
especially in the Samish "island" region..............persistent honking
of car horns/screeching tires/brakes, glaring looks and gestures........
mostly from pickup truck types, but also from a few cars. We were careful
about where/how the bus was parked, and we were mindful of not getting in the
roadways or trespassing. Our trip leaders also pointed out local eateries
and shops that are worth our conspicuous patronizing. A local B&B owner
out jogging was extremely friendly to our group (about 25 of us) seeing
us as potential customers.

I do wish the local Seattle Audubon Chapter offered more birding trips by van
rather than just the annual too-big bus trip and as an occasional
addition to the generous number of car-pool trips. Two passenger vans would
hold just the right size group for a birding field trip (I found this to
be so on the recent Sparrows Workshop in Sierra Vista AZ). Van trips cut
down on the number of cars and caravan lines of cars to visit some of
these more sensitive local areas.

I know many of us, with busy careers draining us during the week,
would be happy to pay $20-$50 for a great birding day with someone else
doing the driving, and not worry about the hassles that car-pooling can
sometimes bring (people being rude and really insulting because I don't
want to drive more than 55 MPH!!! Yah, I had a really sour experience on
a car-pool trip with Seattle Audubon and drove because I felt guilty about
never driving and wound up with the birdwatching companion from hell! She
doesn't realize how close I came to stopping the car and throwing her
out!). Some folks prefer and want the economy and perhaps the greater
freedom of car-pool trips. And, yes, I have had some wonderful carpool
trips with local Audubon groups, too.

However, some of us would like to have more comfortable, convenient
alternatives, especially weekend day trips, and are willing to budget the
extra $ for the privilege. I have taken a van trip with the Mercer Island
Rec Dept, nice trip but caters to beginners, and Pandion Tours Bainbridge
Island annual boat trip is a must, and Dennis Paulson's (and others)
classes with accompanying van trips are marvelous. Does anyone know of
local guided van trips that are particularly designed for more
knowledgeable birders and take small groups out for a day or perhaps
weekend trips to a variety of NW habitats? It'd be great to have planned
day trips for BC areas, for east of the Cascades, for specialty birds of
WA, etc., etc. Anyone out there offering these trips? Thanks for any
recommendations.

Maureen E Ellis
me2 at u.washington.edu
Seattle, WA
***************************************************************************
On Fri, 16 Feb 1996, Wes Jansen wrote:

> I was fortunate enough to be there last night to see this spectacular
> bird along with several others. As to whether or not the owl was
> becoming nervous because of encroachment by enthusiastic birders, it was
> really difficult to tell with certainty. <snip>
>
> By and large most of the people in the area seemed nice and were glad
> to have this rare visitor. Of course there are always those who feel
> that birders equate with the hated environmentalists who are trying to
> stop the God-given right to rape the land. Indeed the pipeline road into
> the woods to the south seems to be a dumping ground for those who choose
> not to use the transfer station only a half mile away. I'm always amazed
> how birders have to be so careful not to offend anyone, while in the same
> area the land is being used as a garbage dump. But if we must pacify
> locals who may actually harm the bird because of our interest--it seems
> like a pretty sad world at times...
> wjansen
>