Yesterday Jane and I walked the full perimeter route around our farm and forest property. There was nothing overly remarkable about this walk, other than that it began and ended right at my back door. I love it here. I returned home Sunday evening following two weeks of consulting work in sunny but overly-populated and traffic-congested southern California (headquartered in Pasadena.) While I was out there I did manage to observe a lifer, a Lewis's woodpecker I enjoyed seeing in the foothills of Orange County. But it's great to be home for a couple weeks. Yesterday's walk was graced by the voice of a singing hooded warbler. I celebrate this species as the reason I'm interested in birds, because... well... I guess there has to be a reason. In May of 1963 young nine-year-old Bobby was bored. No friends were available to play. So I explored as I often did in the small woodlot in the backyard of the house where I grew up, in the Columbus suburb of Whitehall. As I was imagining that I was Tarzan, or some such boyish fantasy, a hooded warbler flitted down and perched within eight feet. I remember the moment as if it was yesterday. I stood there mesmerized by a bird I had never seen or even imagined. Mom had feeders, and I was familiar with all the usual birds. I used to draw cardinals ad nauseam. But this was new, and transformative, urging me forward into a life of fascination with the wonders of the natural world. So, each year I pause, smile, and remember, whenever I first encounter a hooded warbler. It has been 54 years of wonders. Other "new" stuff encountered yesterday: catbirds Lot's of rose-breasted grosbeaks many common yellowthroats black-throated green warbler (singing) Nashville warbler At one point I had Kentucky warbler, Carolina wren, and ovenbird within earshot, offering a great comparison of songs. I haven't had Kentucky warbler around here for quite a few years. They used to be annual. At least three other warbler species, but I need to brush up on the songs, an annual refresher course. Red-eyed vireo A pair of wood thrushes, possibly preparing to nest Life is good. Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum County ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]