[obol] another CBC perspective...

[Linda Fink]

What I didn't say about the Extreme Birding Upper Nestucca CBC was that 
I had the time of my life. Imagine snow-covered trees and hills, 
prettier than any Christmas card photo, then imagine skiing effortlessly 
(because of earlier truck tracks) through that winter scene. That was my 
experience on count day. Until my skis iced up and I ditched them. Then 
I hiked pretty easily in those truck tracks, enjoying the snow and 
spectacular waterfalls, stopping now and then to listen, talk to the 
birds (mostly winter wrens), and snack on the prodigious quantities of 
food and warm beverage I always take along.

Darrel, I did the Dallas CBC -- once. Driving miles on level to rolling 
hills counting hordes of starlings and golden-crowned sparrows (or geese 
and ducks) is not my idea of fun. Each to his own.

I love the Upper Nestucca CBC, whatever the weather. I dress for it. 
Next year, if the roads allow, I'll go up the night before and camp in 
my sector, waking to spend the whole day birding that serene and lovely 
mountainside... instead of half the day getting there. No matter if I 
don't see many birds. The purpose of the Christmas counts, I believe, is 
not to try to see more species than any other count, but to find out 
what birds are there on that day in that weather. And to have a 
wonderful time. Which I did. And, on our count, to have a fabulous hot 
meal afterwards at our wrap-up point, within the circle, at the home of 
a participant, swapping tales of the day's adventures. (Thank you, Linda 
Leavitt!!)

Now what could be better than that?

Linda Fink, 2007 Upper Nestucca CBC Survivor, eager for next year's count