I totally agree with what Hal said. In the years I ventured into the
lesser inhabited regions
of far eastern Oregon, I quickly learned that if I stopped my car on any
road that was not
a main highway, a local would drive by to check me out within 10-15
minutes.

Once they realized I wasn't a developer, or a government agent hell bent
on stealing their water, or a crazy environmentalist (they will tolerate
sane environmentalists), they would either be bemused or actually helpful
in talking about the birds they've seen.

I like the idea of a business card-like birders card, which should be
even more fun. On at least two occasions the owners/farmers were pleased
with the idea of someone actually making a list of the species on their
property.

Once, while parked in the middle of nowhere, just one single huge
cottonwood on a dry river bed, which has nesting orioles and a huge
abandoned nest - golden eagle, and a bunch of small birds, I saw dust in
the distance. Soon a large dusty pickup pulling a big horse trailer pulls
up, the passenger side
window rolls down, and a youngish rugged cowboy stuck his head out and
said,
"What the hell you doin' out here in that ittybitty car?" (1976 volvo
sedan, not huge, but hardly itty bitty)

"Bird watching." says I.
He turned and said something to the driver, then turned back, "Hell of
way to spend your day."
Then a red tailed hawk flew overhead, and the next thing you know he was
telling me of
the various hawks they'd seen recently and where. Great fun.

The hard part is deciphering local bird names and their way of describing
it, to the actual bird.
Anyway, didn't make any enemies, might have made a few friends.

I'm DD.
Douglas Daily, Patricia Federighi, Bargello ^ ^
Northgate, Seattle, WA o o
mailto: dfdaily at juno.com --
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