Subject: 500! And I'd like to thank....
Date: May 15 17:46:16 1998
From: heronwing at juno.com - heronwing at juno.com


Hello Birders -

This past weekend, I visited sunny southeast Arizona, where I identified
my 500th ABA Area bird. It was a White-throated Swift, seen at the
famous Patagonia rest area.

Before I get jumped on for being a "lister," here's what I have to say.

Yes, I am a lister. I am NOT ashamed of it. I love to travel, and I
love birds. Listing gives me the opportunity to do both. My tourist
dollars pump money into these areas (which can have a positive influence
on local conservation efforts). I believe in and follow the ABA Code of
Ethics, and would never think of disturbing the birds, the environment,
or private property owners. I volunteer my time and donate my money to
conservation groups and birding organizations. So please don't start
flaming me.

As all birders know, you don't get to see very many birds without at
least some help from other birders. This little milestone of mine
brings up an opportunity to thank some people who helped me along the
way. They are many, so if you are easily bored by such things, hit the
delete key now.

The Milestone Birds:

For my 100th bird, a Black Guillemot seen at Acadia National Park in
1990, I'd like to thank my brother Dave. He and I began birding together
seriously that year.

For my 200th bird, a Blue-winged Warbler seen in Waterbury, CT in 1992,
I'd like to thank my brother Ron. He started birding with me in 1990,
too.

For my 300th bird, an Elegant Trogon seen in the Chiricahua Mountains of
Arizona in 1993, I'd like to thank my best friend Kathy Wills, and Myra
McCormick of Bear Mountain Guest Ranch in Silver City, New Mexico.

For my 400th bird, a Baird's Sandpiper seen in Willamantic, CT in 1995,
I'd like to thank my brother Ron again, his son Richard, and Mark
Szantyr, who helped us find the bird, and told us some interesting
behavioral quirks.

For my 500th bird, the White-throated Swift seen at the Patagonia rest
stop in SE Arizona, I'd like to thank Melody Kehl of Outdoor Adventures
in Tucson.

And for all the birds in between, I'd like to thank the following:

For the birds of Arizona: Melody Kehl of Outdoor Adventures in Tucson;
Ken and Mary Karrels of the Double K Ranch B & B (great garden!) and Myra
McCormick of Bear Mountain Guest Ranch in Silver City, NM

For the birds of California: Jon Dunne of Wings, Inc., and Debi
Shearwater of Shearwater Journeys in Monterey.

For the birds of Florida: the irrepressible Wes Biggs of Florida Nature
Tours in Orlando.

For the birds of Louisiana: my son Alan Gagnon and daughter-in-law Liz,
and the United States Army

For the birds of Maine: Captain Barna Norton of Jonesport, and the staff
of Acadia National Park.

For the birds of Minnesota: Parker Backstrom and Jon Dunne of Wings, Inc.

For the birds of New Jersey: Pete Dunne and the Cape May Bird Observatory
staff.

For the birds of New Mexico: Myra McCormick of Bear Mountain Guest Ranch,
Silver City; Ralph Fisher of Black Hawk Tours in Silver City; and Bob
Johnson and the El Paso Audubon Society.

For the myriad birds of Texas: Betsy and Allan Ray Moers of the Surf
Court Motel in Rockport; Captain John Hannon of the Pisces in Rockport;
Doug Emkalns, Bob Johnson and the El Paso Audubon Society; and Steve
Walker and Jim Hernandez of the University of Texas at Brownsville.

For the birds of Washington: Tom Schooley, Alan and Liz Gagnon, and the
U.S. Army

For all the shared information, I'd like to thank the American Birding
Association, Cornell University of Ornithology, BIRDCHAT, TWEETERS, and
MASSBIRD. Your help has been invaluable.

For the birds of Connecticut, I'd like to thank all the terrific birders
of my home state. They have written books and newspaper columns, called
in sightings to the rare bird alert, called me, emailed me, snail-mailed
me, encouraged me, taught me, inspired me, and guided me along many
trails. They are myriad. Some of their names are not known to me, and I
have never met some of them. But they are all very special. Thank you
to: the late Dr. Roger Tory Peterson, Noble Proctor, Gene Billings, Buzz
Devine, Dwight Smith, Dave Rosgen, Joseph Zeranski, Thomas Baptist, Milan
Bull, Dave Provencher, Dori Sosenski, Mark Szantyr, Greg Hanisek, Frank
Mantlik, Frank Gallo, Julian Hough, Jim Zipp, Jerry Connolly, Russ
Naylor, Ron Bell, Tom Harrington, Patrick Comins, Ray Belding, Fran
D'Amico, Jamie Meyers, Jay Kaplan, Paul Desjardins, Dave Tripp, Paul
Cianfaglione, and many, many more.

For the means to make much of it possible, I'd like to thank Dad.

But most of all, I'd like to thank my two brothers, Dave and Ron. They
have driven me all over Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New
Jersey and New York in search of new birds. They have learned from me,
learned with me, and taught me. Without their encouragement, this
obsession would never have taken flight. Ron still shares it with me,
and that makes me the lucky one.

Cathi Pelletier
Waterbury, CT
Heronwing at juno.com