Tweeters,

This morning I walked out my front door on Queen Anne and was greeted by
the call of a red-breasted nuthatch -- in a land of cute manicured gardens
where starlings and house sparrows reign, a first for me, and a rare treat
indeed. The sound lifted my spirits and put a smile on my face as I strode
through the lovely autumn air to the bus. I wanted to share with someone
the joy that a simple sound can bring, but today the hallowed halls at work
are silent. I didn't think at first to share it with tweeters, since the
call of a red-breasted nuthatch is hardly news, and I don't want to clutter
the waves with mundanities, but then, I thought, who could better
appreciate and understand such an occurance? We all get excited about the
rare, the unusual, the inexplicable and the wacky in the bird world, but
now and then I read postings that remind us to look at the ordinary and
find beauty. I promise not to post every time I see a native bird in my
neighborhood, but I know that most of you out there can appreciate the
sentiment, so thank you, just for that.

katie

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Katie Sauter
Center for Streamside Studies
University of Washington Box #352100
Seattle, WA 98195
(206)685-3505
sauter at pisces.fish.washington.edu