Hi Tweets

I first met Patricia and Alan several years ago when they attended a class I was at, on Interpretive Birding. Patricia was just getting interested in birding, and this was a period when she often was in a wheelchair. She asked really good questions during the class. The next morning, when the class spent part of a day with the instructor in the field at the Montlake Fill, Alan was there to push Patricia around in the chair. They both were very attentive and asked pertinent questions.

Shortly after, I taught a Beginning Birding class for Seattle Audubon and they both were in the class. They were type of students who really paid attention and were looking for good information. By that time Patricia was walking with the aid of sticks, and was the proverbial sponge for knowledge about birds. She had excellent eyes, could pick birds out right from the start, and of course her hearing was superb. Maybe she had a hard time generalizing about a particular species, but she sure could zero in on them.

Alan and Patricia took a couple of other classes I taught, and went on several field trips that I lead for Seattle Audubon and later Eastside Audubon. Even when she was struggling, Patricia was always enthusiastic, cheerful and wanted to go the whole way on a particular trip. As the years went by she became an excellent birder, and I was always glad to see them on a trip. I remember the first time she came out on one of our walks at Marymoor. She knew that we took about 5 hours or so, but was determined to stay with us for the whole walk. She did it too! I am proud to have been one of the people who helped her in her birding.

I was glad that she was able to complete the Master Birder course, and I knew she would be a good one. During this period she became more involved in the Washington Ornithological Society, and came onto the Board just as I finished my last term as President. I knew that they had a powerhouse joining them, and that she would do good things. After this years Conference in Walla Walla she called me and asked if I would spend some time talking with her about my experience in organizing and running the Conferences. We met for part of an afternoon, and as usual she was taking in information in great gobs and asking good questions. I knew she was closely involved in planning for future Conferences.

In all the time I knew her she was invariably cheerful and upbeat, even when she was having a difficult time with her health. Whenever you would run into her there would be that great smile.

As many people have said we will all miss her, and be poorer for her going. But, I know she is charging ahead in her new state of being.

Alan, I hope you will continue to come around to birding activities, we've all come to appreciate what a fine gentleman you are!

Brian H. Bell
Birding & Natural History Guide
Woodinville, WA
mail to bell asoc at isomedia dot com