I would like to start 2016 with my brief tribute to Barry Levine. I was stunned to return home yesterday and read of his illness and death. Barry was not a friend of mine. I only saw him in the field on occasion. But he was one of those human beings that you could intuitively and immediately like. He was kind, gentle, and helpful to other birders, as well as being an excellent birder. My most recent contact with Barry was last August, just after the Lesser Sand Plover was reported on the beach north of Ocean Shores. I drove up the beach the next morning just as Barry and Jim Flynn were watching the plover fly away. I was crestfallen. They both readily agreed to caravan up the beach with me for a ways to lend more eyes to my search. They took at least another half hour out of their own birding day to help me in my futile search. That was Barry. That is Jim.

My heart goes out to Barry's family, his friends, and to our own birding community for the loss of such a kind person. May everyone be safe, healthy, and enjoy some great first birds of 2016 today.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA