In a message dated 4/29/2006 7:54:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time,  
 writes:

I'm  leaving for a three week assignment in Baghdad next Tuesday. Anyone have 
 
recommendations/thoughts/suggestions for birding there?

-- Scott  Michaud
Riviera Beach, MD



Scott,
 I was at Border's last night and found a book that I asked my  daughter to 
get me for my birthday in a few weeks. Her boyfriend comes home next  week from 
his "tour" in Iraq, and I told her that it might help us find a  "common 
ground", since he is Navy and I am most definitely anti-war. The book,  though not 
really a field guide as such, is BIRDING BABYLON: A Soldier's Journal  from 
Iraq, by Jonathan Trouern-Trend, 2006. It looked like a good read, small,  
hardbound with nice cover and illustrations. At $9.95 it was priced right  too.  
Maybe this is one to take with you, along with a local field  guide.

Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD