I had to bite and respond to this one, not because I have a fascinating
story but because I'd never really thought about it....*flashback to 8th
grade, setting: Kansas*....after a visit to my Grandparents in Virginia I
was intrigued by how Grandma wrote in dates of observation next to the
birds in her bird book of species she saw in her yard. I did the same for
about a week around our yard, in a little blue-covered copy of the Golden
Guide to Birds, then lost interest, but the seed had been planted. *Flash
ahead to 11th and 12th grade, Panama*. I discover marine biology
through a high school internship and for two years am under water any
chance I can get, though every once in a while I come up for air, and see
some pretty spectacular birds. I remember frigate birds, oropendulas,
toucans, and various parrots....piqued my interest but the water still had
a firm hold on me. The summer after I graduated from high school, Dad &
family were stationed in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. I was there most of that
summer before college began, and with very little water around, had to
entertain myself at Ramsey Canyon, Madera Canyon, Huachuca Canyon,
Patagonia, etc. I still get tingles when I remember how excited I was
when I identified my first unknown bird (a black phoebe) on my own
using my brand new National Geographic Guide. What can I say, there
was no way I could have avoided becoming hooked at that point!
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Kelly A. Bettinger
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Habitat Management Program
Species-Habitat Project
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091
360-902-2604
bettikab at dfw.wa.gov
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