Greetings All

So easy to ramble on this topic. I will try not to, despite my definite
tendencies towards loquaciousness.

1) Bird Tours: Hate 'em, except the type like the Dry Tortugas where you are
dumped out and allowed to wander on your own. I am way too impatient and also
like to "find my own birds." Interestingly, I am going on a bird tour in
Bulgaria this spring, but that is my wife, me, and the guide -- who is a birder I
know, but not expert, and does more wildlife photography than birding. He
apologized for not knowing the tougher ID's, though he knows where to go (he
assists with a true bird tour company). I felt that was perfect. As much a
knowledgeable friend as a tour guide.

2) Bird Tour Leaders: Like so many things in service industries, it depends
on who you interact with. I think the machismo described by Burt is unusual,
though there is definite pride in being good at what they do -- as their should
be, at least to some extent. Indeed, a good friend of mine leads tours for a
living and can be a bit prickly in real life. I was amazed to see how kind and
gentle he was with clients. I think this is more typical.

3) Birding Alone. Ahhhh. So personal. Depends on your goals. Birding alone
can only take you to a certain degree of competency at ID, and that is clear.
Beyond that, you need other folks to learn from (and they don't necessarily have
to be "better" than you are, though it is more helpful if their knowledge
base is greater than yours). I don't like birding in groups bigger than 3 or 4,
because in general that seems to lead to increasing chaos, fewer birds seen,
etc.

And that's enough of a ramble, even without a soapbox (or podium). -- and
boy, if we're having this discussion, it MUST be winter.

Cheers
Steve Mlodinow
Everett WA