I saw my first dipper on Big Elk Creek in Targhee National Forest in Idaho in the '80's. It was winter and icy around the edges of the creek, and I saw a small bird foraging along the creek bank. I became concerned when I saw it go under the ice. After consulting my field guide (I was a new birder), I realized I had seen a wonderful and adaptable little bird. I saw dippers along Big Elk Creek many times, but when we bought a cabin on the Henry's Fork, near Harriman State Park in Idaho, I saw many dippers at all times of the year. It always amazed me that they could be out and about on -40 degree days, happily doing their foraging.

One day while working in my kitchen in Idaho, a crow landed on the windowsill, just a few feet from me. We thought it might be injured and my husband, kids (about 5 and 8, at the time), and I went out on the porch, where it promptly jumped on my husband's shoulder and schmoozed up to him. My kids were absolutely enthralled and my husband was concerned for his nice shirt, as he had just returned from work. We found out later that a teenage neighbor boy had found it as an injured chick, and had nursed it back to health and released it. Obviously, it had imprinted on humans! We saw it a few times after that, but then it disappeared.

Karen Jones
Port Ludlow