I've been dating an avid hunter/fisherman for six months now. He is not
only very conservation-minded, but he's also way better than me at spotting
birds in general and especially at identifying them in flight at a distance.
He knows lots of details about all types of ducks such as the colors of
their legs/feet and subtle feather details which many field guides neglect
to mention or illustrate. He's also very knowledgeable about non-game
birds, from years of being in the field and on the water. I went duck
hunting with him in the fall, and found it to be on balance more enjoyable
and educational than upsetting, although I wouldn't want to shoot anything
myself. It sure gets you out in the marshes at an early hour, where there
are of course many birds to see besides ducks. He eats everything he
shoots, and I'll take wild duck over farm-raised chicken any day. Right now
there's a salmon season going on in Puget Sound, so I get to bird-watch from
the boat while he fishes. He's even offered to take me up the sloughs in
his river boat in the spring to watch songbirds. Being together has
undoubtedly broadened both our perspectives, and given me new birding
insights and opportunities as well.

Andrea Grad
Alki
agrad at helsell.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Wilson E Cady [mailto:gorgebirds at juno.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 9:36 PM
To: agrimes94 at earthlink.net
Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Spencer Is./ hunters


I am a casual hunter and the father of an avid hunter, I too also
talk
to hunters while birding. I was leading an outing to a refuge once and
when I stopped to talk to a duck hunter my participants were surprised.
That surprise turned to delight when the sportsman showed us his birds
and I used them to show the group field marks they would be hard pressed
to see in the field.
I would like to think the hunter's opinion of "birdwatchers' was
also
changed.
Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA.
gorgebirds at juno.com