Well put. I enjoyed more 'firsts' of the year yesterday at Lincoln College's
Carver Farm in Jeff. City. Again, well put.

Lynn Miller
Lone Jack,MO
Jackson CO


Quoting Jack & Cathie <[log in to unmask]>:

> I loved your commments, Susan. However, some of us "oldsters" have that same
> > enthusiasm since we are "young at birding". I have been saddened to
> discover
> > like-aged peers prefer dry comments like, "Yea, I've seen it before." when
> > trying to share the joy of a new discovery. Worse yet, is to be treated as
> > a totally ignorant person without any knowledge (even though new to
> birding
> > or a birding area) and be told, "Stay back!" or "Move! I/we need to
> identify
> > that bird!". The man that intoduced this wonderful life experience (giving
> > me a 'friend' I can keep with me at all times) taught me to share, open up
> -
> > and re-enforce why a bird is what I identifided it as: name the field
> > marks, flight pattern, call, habitat, etc. He always offered a bit of
> > helpful or beneficial knowledge about a species that helped me to identify
> > it later when I was on my own. He was always there to help birders of all
> > "birding ages" receive the knowledge they needed to grow. I'm sure my
> > mentors (some of the finest birders in the country, some contributing
> > editors to top birding guides, some devoted lovers of sharing birding
> > knowledge) knew what they were doing when they taught me to keep some rare
> > "bird treasures" to myself because not all other birders appreciate birds
> > in the way I've been taught to. . . . and that no one person "knows it
> all".
> > As a "1-yr old birder", I convinced a leading authority in this country to
> > change his ID on a very important species find; I have been able to ID many
> > of the 'first of the season' and several 'first in the area' for Texas
> > coasts. I don't think I'm special or an expert but many of these were found
> > because I see birding with the eyes of a 'young un' and don't know I can't
> > find species where the books say. I've learned some birds have not read the
> > books so don't know boundries, but most people have read the books and
> frame
> > themselves in. We all have something to offer and lots to learn - it is
> such
> > a shame that only the age-young are given the patience, admiration and
> > encouragement that many age-old people need for the only joy they may have
> > in their lives. One of the reasons I love birding so much is because I can
> > see the value it offers to anyone, anytime, anywhere at any age. I see that
> > what I have learned has now been passed on to my grandchildren (all which
> > can start naming species by age 1). I share that with them because I love
> > to see them discover something new, and because they appreciate with awe
> > what I am so excited about discovering myself. It is because I wish so much
> > I had learned of "birding" when I was young and could have seen so many
> more
> > species than I will ever get to now. I share it while with my mother as
> she
> > fights her long cancer battle. I am able to point out birds she has always
> > had in her yard but has never seen before, and yet she is the one that has
> > always had the love of birds and I just came into it. I've learned that
> > little ones share my excitement and have joy for me because of a new
> > discovery I've found for myself. I'm learning that some of the most
> > beautiful and special birds are in the most ugly places man creates a mess
> > of: Sora and it's young, Louisiana Waterthrush visiting at length with a
> > Common Yellowthroat on a barbed-wire fence, Orange-crowned Warbler,
> > Baltimore Oriole, Warbling Vireo, 200 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers roosting
> > each night, a Prairie Falcon and on and on. Where? In a weedy 20' x 40'
> > patch of discharge water in a nasty camper park I stayed at in Carthage, MO
> > 2 yrs ago (as a brand-new birder). I am still seeing "lifers" (as some in
> > the birding world call them) every season of every year and my heart does a
> > dance and my thanks always goes heavenward. I am so thankful for the sight
> > and mobility that I do have and for being given such an opportunity to
> enjoy
> > such treasures - and I always wish there could be someone else to see it
> and
> > share the precious sighting with whether it is a "first" or "fiftieth"
> > time. Today was one of those days as I observed a male Common Yellowthroat,
> an Ovenbird, and a White-crowned Sparrow all sitting in a small, tight group
> in a tree here on the farm. My breath is taken away and I wonder how many
> others have seen such a wild and wonderful combo of birds in their own back
> yard!
> >
> > I appreciate your comments, Susan, for all the truth they hold . . . . I
> > just think that same truth bleeds over to all ages, even some of us
> > "oldsters"!
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Cathie Foster
>
>
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