Spruce Grouse? A jinx bird? Hah! Tromp through the Okanogan Highlands often enough and, sooner or later, you have to kick one off the path.

My jinx bird is the Golden-crowned Kinglet. Yeah, yeah, I know. Kinglets are as common as raindrops in Seattle and, for someone who barely squeaks past the driver's license eye exam, about as easy to follow as an individual raindrop. I lived in Seattle for eight years, and I'm sure I spent half that time surrounded by their taunting see-see-sees, trying to find one that would hold still long enough to focus the binos.

Jinx birds are in the bad eyesight of the beholder.

Kelly Cassidy

Pullman WA