Because my son is an active youth birder, I have followed the ups and 
downs of the ABA Youth Program over the past 4 years.  They dropped the 
ABA/Leica Tropicbirds teams for the Great Texas Birding Classic and the 
World Series of Birding approximately 3 years ago and replaced it with a 
different type of birding competition to try to draw in more youth and 
adult birders.  When I saw the new "competition" and the first prize of a 
Leica spotting scope, I had my son gather up and team, follow the rules, 
and submit their entry.  And to our great surprise, his team won ... but 
as a footnote ... his team was the ONLY team that entered!
     
Then the fun started.  The head of the program at the time left the ABA.  
I continued to bug the ABA about the "prize" but had no luck until Lori 
Fujimoto stepped in and the team did receive the scope.  I have spoken and 
dealt with Lori a couple of times since then and I certainly consider her 
an asset in the ABA office.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that the ABA will be having a youth 
track at their upcoming conference in Maine.  Also, The ABA's Fourth Young 
Birders' Conference will be held at Fort Collins, CO (Registration is now 
open).  The dates are: 30 June – 5 July 2006 • Ages: 14-18 • Cost: $795 • 
Limit 24 • Leaders: Jon Dunn, Steve N. G. Howell, Michael O'Brien, & 
Louise Zemaitis.

I hope my son can make it.  It will be the third ABA Young Birder's 
Conference that he will attend.  The previous 2 were in Sierra Vista, AZ, 
and the Kern River Valley, CA.

Jim Wilson
Queenstown, MD

ps:  Jim and Jordan Rutter (from Montgomery County) are both members of 
this year's ABA/Leica Tropicbirds team for the Great Texas Birding 
Classic.  They are still accepting donations for their pledge campaign.

pps:  A friend alerted me to woodcocks displaying on her farm.  I took 10 
young birders from Kennard Elementary School (and parents) on a field trip 
last evening.  We missed any flight displays but we did hear them 
peeenting.  Wow!  10 Elementary school kids being quiet in a field for 
nearly 45 minutes.  Certainly more amazing than the woodcocks peenting!