Well, aren't we being 'politically correct' or maybe just polite :-)) In
San Diego (La Jolla), my official NOAA home duty station, but which most
fortunately I need only frequent infrequently, THAT vehicle is commonly
called "The Roach Coach". It pulls up at like clockwork at 10am, does an
instantly recognizable little horn like musical 'doodle-ee-doot-do-dooo' that
everyone is accustomed too, and folks swarm out of their offices..., well...,
like Brewer's Blackbirds, to partake in the offerings. That in itself,
once you've actually seen it is pretty bizarre, but what really cracks me up
is when I am here at home (Bellevue) and just by chance on the phone at that
appointed time with someone down there and can, over the phone, hear that
familiar tune come blasting into my ears, and everything just plain stops
until the incident has passed. Nothing screams "So Cal" any louder than
that!

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue (Eastgate), WA

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Subject: lunch truck effect (?)
From: amk17 AT earthlink.net
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 19:23:27 -0500 (EST)

While on a trip, picking up my rental car, a lunch truck (dining vehicle)

pulled up in front of me. As it rang its bell, about 50 brewer's blackbirds

began calling and flying in from all around the airport parking lots.
Within

seconds, the truck was surrounded by brewer's blackbirds looking for a free

meal from the lunch truck.





I was awestruck that these birds have learned to "follow" the lunch truck
for

handouts and recognized the "bell". I didn't see any people similarly flock
to

the truck ;-)





Any one else notice such behavior?



Happy birding,

A. Kopitov

Seattle, WA

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