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From: cwilliamson@pimacc.pima.edu
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: re: Car birding
Message-ID: <1991Apr4.231840.5995@pimacc.pima.edu>
Date: 5 Apr 91 06:18:40 GMT
Lines: 20

There a certain birds you can only hope to find by car birding.

For example, trips to the Salton Sea come to mind. If you 
cover enough miles through the agricultural fields in the 
winter and spring, you are bound to find a flock of MOUNTAIN   
PLOVERS. The search image for involves finding a certain 
type of freshly plowed field, and then noticing, "JESUS! Some
of those dirt clods are moving!" Last year we found a flock that
was in a field that had tractors working. I always feel lucky
when we find Mountain Plovers. I feel lucky at the Salton Sea, and I really
feel lucky to find them in the Sulfur Springs Valley in Arizona.

Another fun bird to scan for from the car in the agricultural
fields is BURROWING OWL. THe search image here is the rounded head, again
easily mistaken for a dirt clod. Scan holes along irrigation ditches. It is
always great fun to find one to show to a group of beginning birders.

Chuck Williamson
Tucson Az
CWilliamson@Pimacc.Pima.Edu