Hi all,
Tweeter Jim Shifflet of Fidalgo Island has gone down to Mexico several times
with Noel Snyder to study the resident population of Thick Billed Parrots down
there. He didn't seem terribly optimistic about them last time I asked him.
I was surprised when we got a chance to see the caged birds that were released
in the Chiricahuas that they had to be taught how to get seeds from Pinyon
Pine cones by wild-reared birds, as they had no more idea how to do it than
you or I would at first.

My wife Delia Scholes just received notice that she is sponsoring the Thick
Billed Parrot in BirdLife International's new publication Threatened Birds of
the World. It costs $165 to sponsor a species in this book (OK, I'm broke
right now) and even though my wife swiped the last U.S. parrot, there are
still lots of other species to be sponsored (1,111 threatened species by
BirdLife's count). The book will be a major tool in the effort to save the
world's rarest birds. Of the organizations I contribute to this is the one I
am fondest of because it cuts right to the chase, trying to save the most
endangered birds wherever they are. Anyway: BirdLife International,
Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, UK tel: 44 (0)1223 277318
e-mail: birdlife at birdlif.org.uk

P.S. How is anyone ever going to top the Owl-Horse mortal combat story this
year? The Harris Sparrow showed up again today. Thanks,

--Ed Newbold, Beacon Hill, Seattle newboldwildlife at netscape.net



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