Hello Tweeters,
It is fascinating to read all this different experience how people got
touched by birds there saw and turned in to verry active birders.
My Story started on a Sunday the 22nd 1985.The Tahoma Audubon had a
field-trip to Ocean Shores,and my Son Patrick ask me to drive him.
At this time i was not a birder, and only taken Patrick who was than a
Junior Naturalist at Snake Lake. Bob Ramsey than was the instructer and he
wanted Patrick to go.I only intend to help driving and was not equipt with
any birding equipment as a pair of binoculars or i was prepared for a long
walk on the Game Range.I remember going on to the Game range,always in
the bak of the crowd,since i did not anderstand the language what this
birders using,calling this birds names i never heared of,as Western
Sandpipers,Least Sandpipers,Long-billed Dowitcher,Short-billed
Dowitcher,Pectoral Sandpiper and so on.I was feeling real dumm amongst all
this smart birders.
And i was realy impressed with the little Sandpipers all over the beach
comming so close that you felt you would step on them.That was than,when
Ocean Shores was heaven for Shorebirds.I than fallen in love with this
birds where you can see them so close.On the end of the day i decided to
sign up for bird classes with Ken Brown of the Tahoma Audubon.My whole life
changed since than to the better,including the relation i have with my Son
Patrick. But to this day Shorebirds are still my favoured birds,where i
still get so exited the way there walk in short fast stepps.This to mention
today when i was photographing this strange Duck on Rusten Way, what was
diving all the time.While waiting 9 little Black Turnstone was flying
in,settling right in front where i was standing. For a while my attention
was giving to this smal dark Shorebirds watching and even taken photos .Yes
i must say not on particular bird,but all Shorebirds fascinate me to this
day.

Ruth Sullivan
Tacoma
godwit at worldnet.att.net