Yesterday, while driving from Puyallup to Tacoma on River Road, I glanced
over at the Puyallup River and briefly glimpsed a bird resting on a sand
bar. I wasn't able to stop, but it was all dark colored except for bold
white markings. That's about as much of a description as I can give, but my
initial reaction was, "male Harlequin Duck." Is it possible that Harlequins
would be flying up river this time of year to reach their breeding sites? Or
do they take a more direct route?

Michael Brown
Puyallup, Washington

"to announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we
are
to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and
servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

-Teddy Roosevelt

"...I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of
what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?"

-Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac