Subject: Diversity (humor) forwarded from the PNW ecoforum list
Date: Aug 7 16:58:14 1999
From: D. Daily - ddaily at u.washington.edu



I took up consumerproduct watching about a year ago.
My life list grew extremely rapidly, and since bird watching
takes me on the road, I got to add lots of new 'species' from
exotic places like Far eastern Oregon and Italy.

I was looking forward to travelling to the east coast to tick off
100s if not 1000s of life products, but ran into a couple of
other consumerproduct watchers, and we got into a big fight
about the rules!

I was counting life products that I saw, wandering the aisles of
supermarkets and department stores and malls and fastfood places.
They said, it doesn't count unless you eat it or use it.
They said, it's like birding by ear, if your life list is only
birds you've heard but never seen, well, it's suspect.

So I gave up. There's no way i can afford the time or money to
experience so much diversity.

So I sit in my back yard, eating my simple supper of potatoes,
broccoli, tomatoes and gardenburger, wondering why this
white-crowned sparrow won't shut up. He's been 'PINK'ing for
20 minutes very loudly.

Whoa. And here come the bushtit mob. maybe i'll ask them to
stop by the table and have a beer. If i can't ID thousands
of consumerproduct species, i'll just get to know the
individuals of the few species of birds who play in my yard.


Douglas F. Daily
ddaily at u.washington.edu
Facilities Services Business Office
Phone: 221-4357
Box 352215
Seattle WA 98195