Hi, Rap:

I used to teach birding classes at the nature center where I worked.
That was almost as much fun as teaching little kids, not only to identify birds, but to actually "watch" them. I have my Petersen's Guide with all the birds checked off that I've seen... but haven't looked at it in years. At first, I was carried away with numbers. I've since just enoyed watching birds, we have a bird feeder in our window, and I just bought one of those sunflower bells to hang in the tree near the house, for Cardinals and larger seed-eating birds.

Favorite bird? The mockingbird, hands down. We had a pair nesting in a shrub next to our front door last year, and it was such a kick to hear them singing. After the eggs hatched, the proud parents would dive bomb me when I came out the door... give me a good whump onthe top of the head. I like them because their saucy (not to eat, but the way they carry themselves... kinda like blue jays who know more songs..

Jerry