Hey tweets, years ago when I took the master birder class, we were
supposed to gather at the Ravenna park and ride to carpool for a field
trip to look at habitat in eastern Washington. The weather was bad -
cold and rainy - and as we students stood around waiting for the trip
leader to show up, we all agreed that the trip would have to be
postponed. No one in their right mind would essay a field trip with
conditions so iffy.

We made a compact that we would all speak to the trip leader at once,
so no one of us would look individually wimpy. When Brenda, the trip
leader, appeared we told her our decision and asked her to set up
another date.

"Well," she said, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I am going
today." Brenda was not going to let a little thing like student
wavering stop her.

It turned out to be a wonderful trip.

I bring this up because today reminds me of that bad-weather day so
long ago. In fact, there are many winter days in Seattle that remind
me of that day. But I am going: this time to the Fill at 3:00 to do
the bird tally/soup potluck/book reading. The weather looks hopeful:
no snow so far, no rain, temperatures moderating. I did a pre-count of
the possible birds we might see this afternoon, if we have enough
pairs of eyes, scopes, and binoculars out there looking. We *could*
hit 70 species. Wouldn't that be a treat?

If you plan to come, we'll meet at the Center for Urban Horticulture
at 3, head out to bird between 3 and 3:30, return for the tally at
4:00, eat potluck soup/crackers/etc., listen to a book reading, and
finish by 5 or so.

Dress for the weather. If you can't bring a potluck contribution, come
anyway. I'm sure there will be plenty of eats to go around. - Connie,
Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com