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From: burhans@mizar.usc.edu (Mustang Sally)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Questions from a novice Birder
Message-ID: <31274@usc>
Date: 22 Mar 91 00:00:53 GMT
Sender: news@usc
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Lines: 30
Nntp-Posting-Host: mizar.usc.edu
Originator: burhans@mizar.usc.edu

I can't believe how long it took me to find this group! What fun!
I've been birding since December 26th (my sister in law got me
the Western field guide to birds for xmas) and am having lots of fun.
At this stage, practically *every* bird is a a life bird. Anyway,k
I have three questions.

1) I'm interested in getting a good pair of compact binoculars.
   I have been advised against compacts but I do a lot of running,
   esp on trails in the San Gabriel mountain range (saw a red tail
   hawk at eye level and a coupla circling ravens (lifer!) this Sunday)
   and would like to carry them in a fanny pack so I can stop and watch.
   Don't want to spend scads of money at this stage $100-150 ish. Light
   weight is what I'm looking for.

2) I've been catlogging birds on campus here at 'SC (house sparrows,
   rock doves, morning doves, scrub jays, one northern flicker and
   lots of mockers) and recently found what looks like a MoDo nest atop
   a light fixture on a balcony by my office. Saw one bird sitting and
   another bringing twigs. So the question is, if its a nest and there
   are little modo eggs, how long before I see little baby modos?

3) My sister-in-law is getting married and going to Spain for her
   honeymoon and I'd like to find a good bird book for her. As she
   is learning Spanish, I'd like be interested in a spanish language
   one.

Thanks a lot!
-- 
Jackie Burhans (burhans@usc.edu)          
Data Stylist, USC Student Affairs