Subject: [Tweeters] =?iso-8859-1?q?Thoughts_on_pishing=85?=
Date: Oct 3 14:34:23 2004
From: Fred Bird - fredbird at heliotropeseattle.com


Thoughts on pishing


First, on its effectiveness: in my experience it always works to some
degree, but to a greater degree it works best with sparrows, chickadees and
the like, particularly when there is a conglomeration of birds present. As
an example, a week ago today (Sunday) near Moses Lake, a friend and I were
barely able to get migrating, solitary and hungry warblers to pause even
briefly, but nearby I heard a lot of house sparrow chatter in a thick bush.
A quick burst of pishing before the bush brought over 50 (!) sparrows up to
the top of the bush, and while the species was of little interest, their
numbers and uniform response was hysterical.

Second, my experience around the world, from New Zealand to Europe, mirrors
what happens at home: pishing almost always works a little bit but is
dramatically effective only occasionally. Perhaps if I could master pishing
in the appropriate native accent, I might be more effective.

Third, as to style: I use two forms -- plain pishing where the first ?i? is
not pronounced and a ?chicking? sound made in the back and side of the
mouth by abruptly releasing the tongue upwards.

Finally, some thoughts on social sensibilities: using or explaining the
term in public has never bothered me but I certainly avoid actually doing
it within earshot of civilians for fear of public humiliation! Perhaps Burt
and I should form a pishing support group...

Amongst fellow clan members, however, anything goes
My best example of
throwing social restraint to the wind occurred at the 1987 or ?88 ABA
convention in Duluth when at an evening dinner event I went up to then ABA
president Larry Balch and asked him to ask the assembled crowd to pish
collectively then and there, as 600 people pishing together at the same
time had to set some kind of a world record, at least equal in significance
to the dubious Guinness records, such as the world?s longest hotdog or
similar contrivance. Larry happily complied with my request (although I
sometimes wished he hadn't used my name!) and the crowd chimed in
enthusiastically.

Fred Bird fredbird at heliotropeseattle.com
1249 NE 92nd Street
Seattle, WA 98115
Cell: 206-200-2514
Home: 206-526-5671 FAX: 206-522-6557
Work: 425-388-7021
Work: fred.bird at co.snohomish.wa.us
School: fredbird at u.washington.edu
Home Web: www.heliotropeseattle.com/fredbird.htm
Work Web: www.co.snohomish.wa.us