>Hi there , I am new to tweeters, and was wondering if someone can help
>me . I was backpacking in the Wm. O Douglas Wilderness Area at White
>Pass, near Shoe Lake this last weekend, and I saw this bird! Now this
>bird was grey/brown with soft smooth feathers. A bit larger than a
>pigeon, smaller than a grouse. black eyes, and black straight beak.Short
>tail. Very timid and curious looking. It was in the trees above us, and
>followed us up the trail. Soon others followed, and after awhile, we had
>scores of companions watching us hopping from tree to tree following us.
>We all jogged our brains for it's name, and are stuck. Can someone help?
>Jeremy Newman, Kelso,WA, elton at cport.com

I know of no bird that follows hikers but the Gray Jay, and your
description sounds a bit like them in some ways but very different in other
ways. The description also sort of sounds like some gallinaceous bird, but
they certainly don't follow people around. All in all, this is a complete
puzzle to me.

Sorry I'm being literal, but 1 score = 20. Did you really have dozens of
birds following you? Did you see Alfred Hitchcock lurking anywhere?

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416