Subject: Pale Male
Date: May 20 20:29:58 2004
From: Squeakyfiddle at aol.com - Squeakyfiddle at aol.com


Kudos too to the intrepid and quirky NYC birders who are a big part of this
story.

Over the past 10 years I've spent a good amount of time in NYC and have
always taken at least one day of every trip birding in Central Park. The birders
there are wonderful. There are winter feeders set up at one location in the
Ramble where you can sit (warmly dressed) on a bench for hours while the local
birds come in to feed and the local birders come in to chat and watch. I ask a
lot of questions and am generally over-enthusiastic when I see something new.
Often my "new" bird is a common local. "Tufted Titmouse? Wow!" I've had people
lead me through the park to show me Screech Owl nests and Lazuli Buntings, and
others who were more than happy to help me ID the lovely new calls I was
hearing. I got to return the favor one early spring day when I ID'd the mystery
bird at one of the feeders as a Pine Siskin.

Ain't life grand.

Catherine Alexander
Lakewood Neighborhood
South Seattle