Tweets:
I once again saw the true spirit of Christmas Bird Counts at Grand
Coulee Saturday. Sure, CBC's are about collecting data, but they are
also a once-a-year opportunity for passing along to newcomers the
passion and privilege of birding. (My husband and I got the birding
"infection" on a CBC at Mt. Diablo, CA in 1987 and have never
recovered.)

One of my friends who had never been birding in her life decided she
want to do the Grand Coulee CBC this year - a total surprise to me.
Rhonda was teamed up with an excellent birder from out of town (a
Tweeter: you know who you are!) and another relative --but RABID--
beginner.

I got Rhonda's report today: the out-of-towner took the time to make
sure she saw every bird, and taught her to "pish" (she's excited about
wielding her new tool and said she was going to try in on some robins in
her yard today), and he made sure she had as much information as she
could hold in one day. It's amazing to me how much she retained from
just one day of immersion. She learned about taxonomic order and the
field marks of the ring-necked duck, just two examples.

A warm thanks to her mentor-for-a-day and to all of you experienced
birders who got (or will get) teamed up with a beginner. The True
Spirit of the Christmas Bird Count be with you and bless you in the New
Year.
Kristi Streiffert
Coulee Dam, WA