[mou] Good Bird Questions

[Rick Hoyme]

It depends on the context. If I'm out in the field and someone asks me
that question, I would say that a good bird is a bird that is either a
speciality of the area, (ie. I saw a Blue Grosbeak 50 feet south of the
visitors center say at blue mounds) or if the bird is unusual for the
some reason (Casual, Accidental , Rare Regular, out of season or unusual
location). If I only have seen the common things I would probably say
something like "Just the usual stuff" but if I don't know the person, I
might  follow it up with an inquiry to see if they are looking for
something specific or want to know what and where those more common
birds are found.

Rick Hoyme
Hennepin Co

>>> "Pastor Al" <PastorAl@PrincetonFreeChurch.net> 10/22/04 02:28PM
>>>
What's the first question that an incoming birder asks you as you're
leaving?:

"Any good birds?"

How does one answer that question?  "They're all good" sounds
sanctimonious.
Sharing your best bird from the location leaves you open to subtle
scorn or
a game of one-uppance (you can see it in their eyes, "is that all"?).
Replying with a question may only delay the inevitable.

So, this leads me to two highly philosophical questions on this rainy
afternoon (while stapling membership applications together):

* In your opinion, what constitutes a good bird?

* How do you answer the question?

Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
pastoral@princetonfreechurch.net 

(55 Bonapartes on a sewage pond were my best birds over lunch hour -
but are
they "good" birds?)

_______________________________________________
mou-net mailing list
mou-net@cbs.umn.edu 
http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net