My first exposure to nature when I moved to MN from Oklahoma! I was out at Grand Forks AFB managing a project of installing deep wells and assessing base contamination. I was collecting samples from a monitoring well in late May in the morning after a rainy night. Puddles were everywhere.
As I did my field work at the well, I noticed something move to my right. I froze as I watched a Long-billed Dowitcher "Singer sewing machine" its way through puddles not far from me. I stood frozen as in Oklahome such a bird is rare indeed. I was afraid that any movement would make it fly away. As I stood there, it continue "sewing machine" its way closer and closer. I could barely breath or blink. Then as I stood there, the bird worked its way right between my legs!!!! I had this rush of OMG and then as I found that I could move (I was supposed to get some work done!) and that the bird could care less. I said to myself "I'm not in Oklahome anymore." I didn't even watch the bird continue on its way as I went back the chore of collecting groundwater samples from the well. What a great preview of what I was in for in my move to the birdie land up north. By the way - please sign up for the MOU booth at the fair. Prime spots are still available. Bring your kids to staff the wheel while you interact with the birding public and the touch-screen computer. You can become an expert in as little as 2 minutes the way it is set up for easy use. Thomas Maiello Angel Environmental Management, Inc. Maple Grove, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
