Bob's essay was one of the best I've read on MDOsprey in a long time.
Kudos!!


Somewhere in between my beginning birder days and now I morphed into being
an amateur naturalist.  I have birding to thank for awakening in me a never
- ending curiosity about all the life around us.  I started out as a solo
birder, by necessity - Vermont at that time didn't have a well - organized
"birding community".  When I moved here some 15 - odd years ago, I was
simply amazed by all the wonderful folks I met and who expanded my knowledge
of birds tenfold.

Listing? I stopped listing a few years ago, and the reasons elude me
somewhat.  I only keep a life list now, and I have to admit that I have a
backlog of "lifers" that I'll compile when life slows down (I suspect that
won't be anytime soon).  I think, for me at least, that the simple pleasure
of watching the bluebirds in our back yard setting up their nests, or
hearing the "toot-toot" of the Red -breasted nuthatches during a quiet
snowstorm like we had last weekend are examples of what I take joy in these
days.  

Yes, it's a wonderful world.

Thanks again, Bob!


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Frank Boyle
Rohrersville, MD

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