I think the following is apropos: From a column by Rick Marsi in the Ithaca Journal--- "One stares at manure with mixed feelings. On the positive side, a swath of freshly spread manure can turn a farmer's field into a songbird harvest table. As for negatives, manure is manure, and driving through the countryside seeking it out for the sole purpose of staring at buntings walking through it makes a birder wonder, at times, if other avocations require such forays toward the peculiar. 'I watched cow pies all February', is not the response folks expect when they ask how you've passed the winter. Being a birder demands you give that response sometimes. You must stay strong in your convictions. But who cares what people think. Have you followed a manure spreader yet this winter? Don't keep putting it off."
The above, from Rick, touches at the heart (or is it the butt?) of Bob's proposed fieldtrip. I can personally attest to Bob's strong convictions. He is also peculiar. Note: some years ago, I spent 2 years on a research project using cow manure to generate methane. It was a hands-on job, if you get my drift. But I found cowpoop to be wonderful stuff, with it's own distinct "bouquet". It can get under your skin. S. Fast Farmcountry. On Friday, February 7, 2014 3:45 PM, bob mcguire <[email protected]> wrote: I will lead another impromptu Cayuga Bird Club trip this coming Sunday. Meet at the Lab of O at 8 am. We will be back at around 2 pm. I plan to look for all the good winter birds. Beginning with gulls & grebes on the lake, a snowy owl (if anyone has not yet seen one), larks/longspurs/buntings in the fields, and then some ducks. I AM open to suggestions. Bob McGuire -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
