So, while I'm mentioning global warming, it seems a good time to bring
up good health and an even greater appreciation of nature while we're
out there birding. A year ago, I proposed a 2007 CHALLENGE called Bird
Walking. I'm going to renew that Challenge for 2008, so any interested
birders can laugh at, or take to the field the "rules" I've listed below.

I truly dropped the ball on following up with my proposal. However,
there was one response to my challenge that impressed me very much...

Joe Meche wrote me that he completed his CBC territory on foot one sunny
day last January. He chalked up 51 species and 12 miles.

I had a number of responses to the Challenge before I dropped the ball,
so I hope people are still out there thinking about Bird
Walking/Wheeling. As for me, I concluded that there's just too much
concrete for me to pound between my home and Discovery Park. So, I've
recently put together a bus route that takes me close enough to walk
over the Locks and on into the park in about an hour. Still, I can't
count it for birding according to these rules. I'll have to stick with
walking to Carkeek Park and birding the waterfront in Edmonds where I
have weekly appointments.

I hope you enjoy this idea as much as I do.

A 2008 Challenge: BIRD WALKING/WHEELING

PRIZES:
1st Prize: Better Health
2nd Prize: The Physique You?ve Always Wanted
3rd Prize: Savings on Gas and Transportation Expenditures
4th Prize: An Appeased Environmental Conscience

TERMS:
1. All bird species counted must have been seen without the use of any
motorized vehicle. Bird species seen on any birding trip involving
motorized vehicles do *not* qualify.
2. Bird species seen on any motorized trip that was scheduled entirely
for another purpose, such as work, or visiting family and friends, *do*
qualify. However, if the trip was scheduled in order to see birds, birds
seen do not qualify. In other words, those of us who have to travel by
motorized vehicle to get to work can count birds according to Term 1
while we?re at the workplace. However, we can?t travel by motorized
vehicle, even if it?s a bus, to our workplace for the purpose of birding
it. Of course, if you live close enough to walk or bike to work, do
count birds seen when you go to your workplace by un-motorized means
just to bird it.
3. Bird species seen from indoors do qualify.

CATEGORIES:
WALKING
? from Home
? from Work
? while Visiting Family/Friends
WHEELING?manually driven wheelchairs only
? from Home
? from Work
? while Visiting Family/Friends
BIKING
? from Home
? from Work
? while Visiting Family/Friends

TIPS:
? Take enough water to drink at least ? a gallon before noon.
? Give your snack bars to your favorite professional athlete.
? Eat regular healthy meals.
? Sleep at least 7.5 hours every 24. (Preferably 8 or 9 hrs.)
? Think clean thoughts and do good deeds.


Enjoy!

Patricia S. Lott
Seattle, WA
mail to: VariedThrush at comcast.net