HI:
Someone might find this interesting?

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
ipaulsen at krl.org
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 10:00:44 -0500
From: AL <al at CCANDS.COM>
To: BIRDCHAT at listserv.arizona.edu
Subject: [BIRDCHAT] PMS

No, not that PMS - but Post-Migration Syndrome - sometimes written as POMS,
to differentiate it from PRMS (Pre-Migration Syndrome). Many experts feel
that the two afflictions have the same causes, and have lumped them together.

PMS is characterized by a sad wistfulness, a wishing for Mays gone by and
Septembers upcoming, a slight discontent when birding or thinking about
birding. Symptoms include:

* "But" statements - as in, "yes, that Indigo Bunting is beautiful, but you
should have seen the Cerulean Warbler here last month";

* Postus interruptus - electing not to share one's birding experiences
electronically - "does anyone really care about my 36 commons today at
Hokee-Fenokee Fen?";

* Sporadic sighs and far-off looks - either remembering a good fallout, or
looking forward to the next;

* Occasional outbursts of frustration - often in 90 degree heat,
contemplating anti-aircraft weaponry against the 100's buzzing around you
(despite the one inch coating of Off), while realizing that one has hiked
30 minutes into the swamp to be rewarded by a Red-eyed Vireo - again;

* Trip fantasizing - while reading about Ed's 200+ life bird Pago-Pago
trip, or contemplating a five hour drive into nowhere WI to chase the one
warbler that evaded you this spring;

* Listing blahs - wondering when - if ever - you will add the next bird to
the year list.

No cure has been found, but suggested treatments include: deeper
observations & contemplations of the birds one does see, reading excellent
birding literature, window-shopping at Eagle Optics and planning fall trips
with three good birding buddies.

Wistfully,

Al Schirmacher
Madison, WI
mailto:al at ccands.com

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