Sounds as if you have covered 'all bases'. Don't feel intimidated at all -- keep up the communication with the neighbors as many will learn about wildlife from you. Let me give you a good example regarding neighbors on either side of my townhouse on Fourth Street in Laurel. Both neighbors saw me watching the Chimney Swifts go to roost and I was able to squelch (sp?) their mistaken i.d. of the swifts -- in both cases they were confinced that the swifts were bats! With that thought they were somewhat aprehensive about them and now they marvel at the numbers as I do! Cheers, Kathy Klimkiewicz Laurel MD ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: silly question Author: mdosprey@ARI.Net at NBS-Internet-Gateway Date: 9/25/98 5:27 PM Ok. I have been meaning to ask this for some time now. Since I already stuck my toe in the pond, so to speak, and found the temperature fine, I will venture with what may seem trivial to many of you. Here goes--- How does one get over the feeling of reverse paranoia when using binoculars in her backyard in the suburbs? I mean I feel funny running around my yard and neighborhood using my binoculars. I am worried the neighbors will think I am spying on them. (and I am not, HONEST) I have told every neighbor I have talked to for more than 10 minutes that I am a birder (and put it in the bi-yearly neighborhood directory). Do you think that is enough? Thanks for putting up with me. Dona Bethesda, MD dona@gateway.net