Michael and Tweeters,

A few years back, when Cornell was doing its Project Tanager, it sent out
in the participants' packet quite a wonderful tape of tanager, robin,
black-headed grosbeak, AND warbling vireo. I'm a pretty good birder by
ear, but after listening to that tape on and off for three years, I now
question every 'warbling' type song I hear, and think, now was that a
pause, a hiccup, a ....? :-) Seriously, though, if you can find one of
those tapes, it's excellent (or get someone to copy it for you).

And regarding western tanagers, one came through briefly on the 15th, never
to be heard again, so I assume our nesting birds are not back yet. 'My'
Swainson's thrush arrived on the 21st and has stayed and is even singing
quite lustily as I write this.

I know one should do one subject to a message, but my comment on
twitching/chasing birds mirrors most of you, I think: just that it's
everyone's own business as to how or why he birds. The only time I get
critical is when someone rushes in, glances at a bird, ticks it off a list,
and then leaves, often never having the skills to re-identify the bird
should he see it again. Rick Romea said it best, I think:

<Besides, I got to watch the Siberian Accenter, and took careful notes (even
<a pathetic sketch)...it looked very different from the drawing in the
<National Geographic Field Guide, and if I ever come across one on my own, I
<may recognize it. Will you? :-)

Cheers, Diann

Diann MacRae
Olympic Vulture Study
tvulture at halcyon.com