Greetings from Nevada
Miliff@aol.com
Mon, 1 Jun 1998 20:51:03 EDT
Hi all!
I am writing from my laptop en route from the Point Reyes Bristle-
thighed Curlew back to Reno, Nevada (but am actually sending this more than a
week later). I'll be spending the summer working for Great Basin Bird
Observatory which is heading Nevada's first Breeding Bird Atlas. Brian
Sullivan (New Jersey boy that some of you may know from Kiptopeke, VA, where
he has been the hawk counter for the past three falls) and I are working (more
or less) full time trying to confirm whatever meager suite of species we can
flush out of the Sagebrush and Greasewood out here. Actually, a few Atlas
blacks have...trees. I any event, it has been interesting work and is my
first time atlasing, which I find I enjoy
immensely. Aside from cleaning up a couple lifers (Cassin's Vireo, Tricolored
Blackbird, Hammond's Flycatcher) my highlight has been a Badger, a life mammal
which I have long been hoping for.
Word seems to have reached home of my team's success in the Texas
Birding Classic, and I thank Rick, Norm, and Fran for the words of Congrats.
It
certainly was a great time. Tiring, but a lot of fun. I figure the least I
can offer in return for their kind words and support is...a long winded epoch
detailing our trail to victory! The following message (The Secret of My
Success - The Texas Classic 1998) will have the whole scoop on that!
You will also note that my sudden burst of three emails includes an
ABA Field Notes letter. Please, please, please take the time to have a look -
and please, please, please with sugar on top send us your sightings from this
spring! Jim and I monitor birds reported to the email chat groups, but many
others will slip through the cracks without your reports!
Best,
Marshall Iliff
miliff@aol.com