FIELD MARKS and other birding nonsense – Final Edition, March, 2009
Bumper Stickers We Would Like to See
After a lively discussion of how difficult it is to get a meaningful answer out of many Belizeans, the conclusion was “Ask a Mennonite for a straight answer” All agreed this could be a bumper sticker to warn unsuspecting tourists of the problem getting good information in Belize. Bob is planning on setting up his bumper sticker concession in Corozal.
Topes – The Village Status Symbol
Friday, March 6, Bob Bobbitt gave an excellent lecture on the tope. He explained that not all topes are created equal, as the type of tope in front of your home indicates your status in the community. Of course no tope indicates you have little standing and a rope is still close to the bottom for status. A gravel tope is a bit better. If you have an asphalt tope in front of your home, it is all about size, small ranks just above gravel. A concrete tope puts you fairly high up the status ladder. Add vibrdores and you are clearly near the top. Those with the most status in the village are blessed with a pedestrian ramp. Those who have fallen out of favor are condemned to digging a dip across their stretch of road.
Inquiring Minds Want to Know…
We have all heard things that go bump in the night. Now we know it is Larry, thumping our tires.
Brutus Fools Birder
At La Milpa, Brutus took advantage of the screened porch behind his room to play a practical joke on Heather Bobbitt. He grabbed his squeaky frog and hid by the door to Mrs. Bobbitt’s room, where he proceeded to make the frog squeak repeatedly. Mrs. Bobbitt came running onto the porch seeking the bird calling so close to her room. Brutus chuckled a bit as he walked away with his frog.
Mighty Maxine Meets Match
Tom Choate tells us, when he was in the lead car heading out of La Milpa in search of birds, they found a huge male Oscellated Turkey at the edge of the track. Gordon stopped and all looked, expecting the bird to disappear soon. Instead, as the car approached, it moved to the middle of the road. Soon it was out of sight, hidden by the hood of the car. Maxine left the car to see if it was out of the way so we could be on ours. When she looked around the front of the car, the turkey turned, puffed up to make himself look larger, refusing to move. Although this big tom was waist high to Maxine, she gave the turkey a hard push into the ditch. By the time she was back in the car, the turkey was back in the middle of the road, ready to do battle with the rumbling machine invading its territory. With no thought for self- preservation, Mighty Maxine left the car to show the turkey who was boss. She chased it into the ditch, well behind the car. In the mirror they saw it return to the road in time to chase the 3rd vehicle off its turf.
“If you’re crazy, there’s two things you can do to make yourself feel better: One is to get yourself cured. The other is to make everyone you have to deal with crazy.”
Alan Dean Foster
This is the reason every birder tries to teach everyone he knows to bird… or at least suggests that they should try it.
Return to Teotitland
Patchy golden clouds puff out over the distant, mysterious peaks. Most of the mountains hide from view, elusive, as if shunning the first light of day.
Wisps torn from the shadowed gray clouds are elevated by the winds, toward the high points, where they flash yellow and vaporize into the dark sky.
The whole scene of dark green mountain forest seems cold and forbidding, yet here and there flashing a golden smile, tempting and inviting a morning exploration.
As we draw nearer, some of the somber, desert-like lower hills begin to catch first light and reveal a great variety of shapes and colors. Tall cigar-shaped cacti and square-trunked candelabras thrust their multiple fingers into the light, their dark green haloed by illuminated thorns. Rounded shoulders of pale prickly pears are donning mantles of tan and buff, through which the dark knobs of buds appear
Like buttons. Perhaps a secret army of hobbits is trying on their uniforms.
Thin feathery fronds of Acacias and thorny mesquite begin to resemble glowing lace as the golden sun hits them and is scattered by wind-moved leaves. Among some are long pods of dark red, dangling, slowly waving as if the tree itself was moving little by little to warm stiff cold limbs.
Everything in the cold and shadowed foreground is still, hushed and expectant, awaiting renewal. But from the distant golden hill many bird voices are raised in joyous twittering and song. A binocular view reveals many puffed up breasts, lined up atop the cactus, catching the glorious golden warmth.
Now let the birding begin!
Tom Choate 4 Feb. 09
While You Were Out Birding, Brutus Was Sending Email
Dear Mom,
Life has been quite an adventure since I left Sandpoint. These folks like to go places all the time. Sometimes it is just a few hours out in their boat. Other times, they pack up most everything they own and take off in this little house they drag behind the truck. Since the end of December they have wandered around all kinds of strange places. This trip, they are traveling with a bunch of people who have little houses too. Nobody has another dog, so I don’t have anyone to play with. That is okay, because at happy hour I get treats from lots of people and don’t have to share. Pat and Paul take good care of me. They give me baths, lots to eat, buy me toys and let me sit in Pat’s lap on travel days. Being an only dog is a good life. I am still waiting for Pat to knit me a sweater. So far, I only have a rain coat and lifejacket. This fall they are talking about going to Idaho for the jazz festival in Sun Valley. If I can talk them into a side trip to Sandpoint, will you be around? It would be good to see you.
Love, Brutus
Dear Brutus,
Sounds like the life of Riley, a Mother always wants better for her kids. Sounds like you got it. If I can set it up for you to visit in October, can you sneak me into the little house you ride around the country in? I’d love to ride in a boat; all I get to ride in these days is the car or the truck. I do get to go to the bank once in a while where we get a cookie. Life here is tough. When we went out for our morning walk this morning it was 2°. There’s still snow all over the ground. I’m not too big a fan but your sister, Millie, goes crazy running through the snow. We did have some special fun this winter. We had a big old moose out in the back yard. We’d bark at her like crazy, but it’s hard to get a rise out of moose, especially when you’re as small as we are. She pretty much ignored us, but we didn’t care. We just barked like crazy and had a wonderful time. As long as you promise to stow me away before you go home I think it’s OK for you to visit in early October. I talked to Mom and Dad and they think we’ll be here. But I didn’t tell them about our plan for me to escape. I would like a sweater. Tell your step Mom I’m a size 4. Be sure she knows that’s in dog size.
Love,
Your Mom
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Publisher, Editor and Chief S.O.B. Patricia Buescher Proof reader and Bird Identification – Paul Buescher Photos – Bert Frenz, Paul Buescher Contributors – Jane Trease, Tom Choate, Bob Bobbitt, Brutus |
And the Winner Is…
For the best CB call, Bob Bobbitt
“I think topes are status symbols.”
Runner up, Ken Trease
“Have you notice the Magno bull signs are anatomically correct?”
Thank You
The participants of Tour J150965 thank Bert and Shari Frenz and Larry and Marlene Sazama for making our adventure in Mexico and Belize a wonderful trip. There were times we didn’t believe we signed up for where you were taking us, but in the end we all will go home with wonderful memories and great additions to our bird lists (even the sobs.)
Farewell, From Your Non-Birding Editor
We are busy planning a trip to the London Zoo to continue our search for the rare Mexican and Belizean Penguins. It has been a pleasure to entertain you. Happy birding.
A Birding Quiz (SOB’s do not have to answer)
Part I
Ten bird puns for bird groups (not species)
Example: Collects unwanted things Answer: Junk-o
1. Needed on old men’s’ heads:
2. Fabric of early flags:
3. Similar to turkey burger:
4. Smokes too much:
5. Baseball hero:
6. Found in most roads:
7. Known for beating up opponents:
8. Over seasoned potato:
9. Yeast infection:
10. This bird feeds in sewage:
Part II
Specific bird puns – the clues lead to the name of a specific bird.
Example: Thanksgiving treat Answer: Ovenbird
11. This bird eats buildings:
12. The NRA’s favorite bird:
13. Common bird always seen by birdwatchers:
14. This is a spicy colored bird:
15. A train between Fredericksburg and Mount Vernon:
16. Too early to be good to eat:
17. Relatives with bad feet:
18. Looking for the donkey:
19. Takes extra profit: `
20. Useful in Alaskan winters:
21. Sneaky character, now in jail:
22. Old William has osteoporosis:
23. Irish redhead attends wake:
24. Cost of buying shovels:
25. Fun in California grasslands:
26. After diarrhea from excess fruit:
27. Flip the buns of your burger:
28. Rented pest control:
29. Important Swedish catholic:
Part III
Mammal puns for bonus points (species)
30. Polka dot panties:
31. Comes to your house when you move:
32. Israeli with sexual fantasies:
33. Lit in certain church ceremonies:
For answers, contact the pun master, Tom Choate: mtngoatc@yahoo.com
Following are recipes omitted from the Caravan “Cook Book”
All are favorite on the road recipes from Pat and Paul Buescher’s kitchen
Crunchy Turkey Hot Dish
10 ¼ ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
¼ cup water
2 cups cooked cubed turkey or chicken
½ cup coarsely chopped cashews
1 tablespoon chopped green pepper
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion chopped
2 cups chow mein noodles
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In 1 ½ quart casserole, combine soup and water. Add turkey, cashews, green pepper, celery, onion and 1 cup chow mein noodles, mix well. Top with remaining 1 cup noodles. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly.
Halibut Steaks and Yogurt Sauce
1 pound halibut steak (1/2 inch thick)
Salt and pepper
1 small onion, peeled and sliced in rings
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ to ½ cup plain yogurt
¼ to ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle halibut steaks with salt and pepper. Place fish in baking dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange onion rings over halibut. In a saucepan melt butter. Add lemon juice and yogurt. Blend. Pour sauce over halibut in baking dish. Sprinkle cheese over fish and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until done.
Vegetarian Tortilla Pie
1 ½ cups salsa, fresh or canned
1 ½ cups whole-kernel corn, thaw if frozen
1 can (about 15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
½ cup fresh cilantro (if desired)
4- 10” diameter low-fat flour tortillas
1½ cups shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese (about 6 ounces)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, mix salsa, corn, black beans and cilantro. Place one tortilla on cookie sheet. Spread of 1/3 salsa/corn/bean mixture and top with 1/3 of cheese. Repeat layering two more times, ending with last tortilla. Lightly spray top tortilla with nonstick cooking spray. Cover loosely with foil. Bake pie 35 to 45 minutes, until cheese melts and filling is hot.
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