As far as eating on trips:

I have found that the best thing is to bring saltine type crackers and
constantly nibble on them. This tends to keeep the stomach full which is
a very good thing, and it gives you something to do when the birds get
slow.

As for not eating, I agree with Burt that this is dangerous. While it
doesn't work for eveyone, I would strongly advise that pelagic birders
follow convential wisdom at least at first. If it dosen't work for you,
than change. But there is a reason that most people eat on their trips.
It works.

Dan Stoebel
Pomona College
Claremont, CA



On Sun, 20 Oct 1996, Burton Guttman wrote:

>
> Fred Bird replied to Judith's request for information about seasickness
> with some advice that contradicts what I told her privately and what I've
> read elsewhere. Of course, Fred is right when he says, "what works for
> one often doesn't work for others," but I wonder about some of his points.
> For instance,
>
> > Wear an ear patch prescription device. I forget the name.
>
> I understand the scopalamine patches aren't available anymore; but they
> definitely worked for some folks and not for others, and they had side
> effects such causing a very dry mouth. Dramamine is readily available
> and is very effective.
>
> > Eat lightly the night before and not at all in the morning.
>
> I've followed the advice to get a good night's sleep and then eat a
> solid, non-greasy breakfast, emphasizing such things as toast, cereal, and
> milk. Debra Shearwater has said that an empty stomach is a loose stomach
> and that it's important to keep eating and drinking. Experienced pelagic
> trippers seem to bring lots and lots of sandwiches, and I've found
> oatmeal cookies to be great stomach-fillers.
>
> Above all, I strongly advise people to buy the sea-bands, available at
> drugstores, that put pressure on an acupressure point on the wrist. I
> tried them out on two trips out of North Carolina, and I'm convinced I
> would have been sick as a dog without them.
>
> Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
> The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
> Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794
>
> Reunite Gondwanaland!
>
>