Tweets:

As an art historian who also happens to be a birder, and who often wonders which of the two is the stronger interest, I'm fascinated by representations of birds in art. I also happen to be a graduate of the University of Chicago; for five years I walked by the Oriental Institute on the campus twice or more a day, and often went inside to wander the exhibits. Now, all these years later, I still get the UC magazine (nothing on this earth is more tenacious than the fundraising operation of an institution of higher education, although the Egyptian view of the afterlife comes close). The latest issue has an article on an exhibition at the Institute called "Between Heaven and Earth: Birds in Ancient Egypt," which will remain on view until July 28 of next year. Here's a link to the article:

http://mag.uchicago.edu/arts-humanities/bird-bird?msource=MAG10

So, if you've ever wanted to bird in Egypt, perhaps while touring the archaeological monuments there, but (like me) for one reason or another have not, maybe this exhibition will be of interest. Chicago is, after all, closer than Cairo, although there is room for debate about which of the two destinations is safer -- and Egypt may have the better climate, as anyone who's suffered through a Chicago summer and/or a Chicago winter can testify.

Enjoy!

Hal Opperman
Medina, Washington
hal at catharus.net