Author Archives: Richard

Birding on Backcountry Skis

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We’ve had some wonderful powder snow and I’ve been able to break some trails in our woods and adjacent forest with snowshoes.  I carry binoculars on every outing but with some sub-zero days and brisk winds, the birds have been a little sparse.  Most of the action seems to be back at our feeders.

Yesterday, the wind quit, the sun came out for a while, and it was a perfect afternoon to get into the pine forests that surround us.  Of course, my birding companion, Penny the Vizsla, was ready to roll.  Just as I was getting my skis out of the garage, I noticed a couple of birds in trees down the driveway.  I already had my binoculars under my windbreaker and so I took a look, and decided that I needed to get closer.  Of course, Penny was already heading down the driveway.  The two birds were high in a tree and as I got closer and past a tall spruce tree, I could see about twenty “golden globes” perched on the branches of a tamarack.  I intially thought that they were female/juvenile Pine Grosbeaks.  They flew off in a large group – spooked by the dog – and that was it.  I realized later that they were Evening Grosbeaks when I read in The Crossley Guide that they ” form flocks that can often be spotted perched like Christmas lights on a tree….

"Hey Dad, why do you keep stopping and checking the trees? Let's go!"

“Hey Dad, why do you keep stopping and checking the trees? Let’s go!”

We headed out on the trail that I had earlier packed with snowshoes and enjoyed a nice romp, seeing and hearing chickadees and the usual suspects like crows and blue jays.  It was one of those outings where it was unimportant that I didn’t see any target birds — the fresh air, fresh snow, energetic dog, and perfect ski wax made it a wonderful birding trip.  And perhaps next trip, we’ll spook some Ruffed Grouse or an owl.  The Evening Grosbeaks just added icing to the outing.

Common Pochard — Yes!

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On New Year’s Day, a very rare duck – a Common Pochard — was identified by Vermont birders with help from others.  It was seen on the second and not seen for two days,  until today, January 5th.

Common Pochard taken Jan. 2 by Larry Master

Common Pochard taken Jan. 2 by Larry Master

Here is the alert issued on VTBIRD by Jim Mead.

Leave it to Ted Murin(one of Vermont’s Top Birders) to have the perseverance to try and relocate the Common Pochard for others to get a chance to see it. He called me about 25 minutes ago to tell me that he has in fact seen the Common Pochard this morning at 10:05 a.m. !!! I was close to my house when he called and raced home to get the word out to all of you ASAP. He was on the NY side of the Champlain Bridge when he found it and he just called me again to tell me that he is trying it from the VT side. It is very windy- about 15-20 mph from the NW. The ice edge is closer to the bridge now and the best place to see the duck at this time would be from the bridge. The Pochard is with a large mixed flock of ducks approx. 1/4 to 1/2 mile from shore and approx. 3/4 of a mile from the bridge. When he saw it, it was close to the ice edge. He said that the viewing is good aside from the wind. He also mentioned that there are 16 Bald Eagles there and that they are putting an attack on the ducks and it is quite a show.

I hope that many more of you get a chance to see this rare beauty.

Good luck to all and thank you very much Ted- nice job. Jim Mead

County Big Year – Good First Day

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We awoke to more new snow and a stiff Northwest wind, and a forecast for even colder temperatures.  It stays dark until about 7:00 AM but sure enough, at 7:05 the first Black-capped Chickadee visited with window feeder.  Right after that, a Common Redpoll came to the thistle seed feeder and then the parade of hungry birds started.

Our first bird of 2013 was a Black-capped Chickadee. photo by Mac Mansfield.

Our first bird of 2013 was a Black-capped Chickadee. photo by Mac Mansfield.

Shortly afterwards, I took our Vizsla out on a cold birding snowshoe outing but most of the birds still around were back at the house chowing down.  We then went out and birded for an hour at North Branch Nature Center and got a lot of exercise but few birds.

I had figured that there were about 15 species here in the County this month.  When I returned home, the feeders were alive with redpolls and after studying them for some time, I spotted a Hoary Redpoll right next to a Common Redpoll.  By noontime, I had logged the following birds:

American Crow
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Dark-eyed Junco

It was a good first day. Tomorrow’s temperature is supposed to be even colder. Is is OK if I crank up the wood fire and hope for a Downy Woodpecker and a Brown Creeper at the feeders?

County Big Year – Goal Setting

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As I plan for a Big Year for the county, I’ve been looking over the data on eBird for Washington County for counts of birds for the last few years.  This year’s reports have new records — 196 for the county and 167 by the top individual, the team Fred & Chris Pratt.  They are gone three months of the year which makes the feat even more impressive.

The Hairy that hits our suet daily should be an easy New Year's Day county tick.

The Hairy that hits our suet daily should be an easy New Year’s Day county tick.

We had finch irruptions this year but few if any rare species like the Northern Hawk Owl or Varied Thrush of former years so based on about 200 species for the county, I’m going to to set a personal target of 170 species in Washington County for 2013.  (I have only logged 132 species for this year although we were gone from the state quite a bit.)  So, off we start next week.

I'm hoping that the Common Redpolls that are overrunning our feeders will stay for another week -- or longer.

I’m hoping that the Common Redpolls that are overrunning our feeders will stay for another week — or longer.

I decided to set some monthly goals as well based on past arrivals of species on eBird.  I took a look at January bird records and set a target of 35 species for the month.  Many of them will be easy (crow, chickadee, blue jay, nuthatches,etc) but I’m hoping to see Bohemian Waxwings, which I’ve missed this year, a Northern Shrike, which is a nemesis bird for me, and a return of Pine Siskins and Pine Grosbeaks.  The waterways have pretty much frozen up so the Mallard and mergansers I have on the list may have to wait until later.  I also need the Common Redpolls to hang around for another week.

White-breasted Nuthatches, like this one visiting today, are here all winter (along with their red-breasted cousins.

White-breasted Nuthatches, like this one visiting today, are here all winter (along with their red-breasted cousins.

The next step in my planning will be to spend more time with maps of the county, putting together a list of hot spots and areas that have potential that I’ve never visited.

Given the new two feet of powder, I have a feeling that much of my January birding will be on snowshoes or XC skis.  Oh Darn!

I Love Buffleheads

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I’ve been watching a small flotilla of hen Buffleheads in the Amesbury section of the Merrimack River this week.

The diving of Buffleheads is magical to watch. photo by ingridtaylar

The diving of Buffleheads is magical to watch. photo by ingridtaylar

It’s Butterballs’ diving that forces me to stop and linger, to observe for understanding.  I watch the thrusts, leaps, propulsion and buoyancy.  Their plumage is pulled tight into their body; then, with a thrust of power and a slight, forward, nearly upward leap, they plunge. Their pink legs and feet force this propulsion. Upon surfacing, they bob cork-like on the surface like a tiny toy used to lure a reluctant toddler to its evening bath.

Buffleheads are one the fastest waterfowl and are easily recognized by their small size, large head and flight cadence.

Buffleheads are one the fastest waterfowl and are easily recognized by their small size, large head and flight cadence.  photo by mikebaird

The smallest of the diving ducks native to North America. They are sexually dimorphic both in plumage and in size. Drakes just exceed a pound in weight, and the hen, even smaller, weighs in at three-quarters of a pound. They’re agile swimmers and divers.  On land, they’re awkward with legs set well back on their bodies.

I’ll never tire of these buoyant, petite ducks ~ the ones that fly low over water and then higher over land.  These black and white ducks are fast in flight with rapid wing beats without even a whistle.  They are one of the fastest waterfowl and are easily recognized by their small size, large head and flight cadence.

While a flock is diving for food, there’s almost always at least one sentinel on the surface alert to danger.  I see them divide their time between shallow dives and rest periods on the surface.  I’ve timed their dives ~ they stay under 10 – 14 seconds.  After the dive, they surface, and their bills are prey less since they consume their prey while underwater. On freshwater, they eat mostly insects, and in waters of salinity, they feed predominantly on crustaceans and mollusks. Aquatic plants and fish eggs are often on the menu too.  Once during the shorter, harsher days of winter, I saw some foraging even after dark.

On the water, when lighting permits, Buffleheads create stunning reflections of symmetrical beauty.  They have dark-chocolate, brown eyes.  Drakes are white with a black back, and their black head has a greenish to purple iridescence and a large, white patch from behind the eye to the top and back of the head. The dark hen sports a single, almond-shaped, white patch behind the eye.

Buffleheads have a woodpecker and boreal forest connection. Buffleheads nest almost exclusively in cavities excavated by Northern Flickers and Pileated Woodpeckers. The breeding range of the Bufflehead is restricted to the woodlands of North America. The vast majority of Buffleheads breed in boreal forests and substrates studded with aspen.

The Bufflehead is shy and mostly monogamous, often remaining with the same mate for several years – an admirable trait in today’s world of short-term commitments. The hen lays eggs at a slower interval than most other ducks, commonly with intervals of two or three days between eggs.

I think of the importance of the Northern Flicker and the Pileated Woodpecker and their skills as excavators as I study Buffleheads in local rivers, sheltered waters of Ipswich Bay or the Plum Island estuary area.

The intertwined threads in nature continue to amaze me.  When one pulls one thread, others unravel…

Sue McGrath
Newburyport Birders
Observe ~ Appreciate ~ Identify
Newburyport, MA
www.newburyportbirders.com

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Baby Monitors for the Birds

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Buttoning up windows for winter is great for energy conservation but no longer can you hear the “toot” on the Red-breasted Nuthatch or the chatter of Common Redpolls.  Rich Guthrie, who write a great birding blog, discovered a simple solution to this dilemma several years ago.  He writes:

By putting a baby-room monitor outside, I can listen to those sounds – even as I sit here at my desk, day, or night.

Now I can hear the distant Pileated Woodpecker calling from the island across the way, or the nuthatch taking another sunflower seed from the porch feeder. What a delight!

The set-up consists of plugging in the “baby” part outside, and the mommy listening device inside. Fortunately, I have a covered porch so I can keep the thing out of the weather.

These monitors are fairly common at yard sales or thrift shops and come cheap. I wouldn’t lay out more than $5.00 for a set.

As a different dimension to my yard list, I should have kept a list of the many different species I’ve heard and identified via the monitor. But I already know that the list is long. I can recall hearing Snow Geese flying over in the dark of night or picking up on the flight calls of flocks of Brant winging up the river. There’s a flock of Canada Geese that comes in to the same beach each evening – usually just before dark. I get to hear them now and then through the night. Other nice nighttime  revelations picked-up  include Screech or Great-horned Owls hooting, coyotes singing away, or  raccoons squabbling in the dark.

It’s so nice to be here in the comfort of home and share the joy of a melodious Song Sparrow welcoming the warmth of  sunrise on a frosty morning. Or to learn that a flock of siskins has decided to stop in for a snack.

Cornell Project Feederwatch folks wrote:

Steve Maley, a master Jack-of-all-trades and volunteer at Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, suggests rigging up a baby monitor for a low-cost solution that lets you hear the birds all year long.

Steve writes, “Cold weather has come to Rochester, NY, the windows are closed, and the bird hordes come to the feeders. Your home insulation keeps you warm, but silences the noisy blue jays, the woodpecker calls, and the goldfinch chatter. But you can still enjoy those bird sounds from your warm living room. Pick a window with a good roof overhang, and hang a $20 baby monitor outside near the top of the window. The receiving unit can go inside wherever you want to hear the birds. Plug in the 9 volt DC transformers, turn on both units, and once again enjoy hearing the birds from inside your living room or kitchen. My monitor has been on since last spring, and the receiver gets turned on only when I want to enjoy ‘being outside’ to hear the birds.”

 

Redpolls — Where Have You Been?

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Redpoll2WCommon Redpolls arrived at our feeders in late November and ate us out of house and home for about a week — and vanished until today.  I’ve not seen any Redpolls in the woods or anywhere around central Vermont but suddenly, about a dozen were chowing down on our sunflower and nijer seeds this morning.

It’s great to have them back — they are just great to watch as they chow down.  You might remember, from this post, that they have a “pocket” in the neck area to store food.  I thought of this today as I watched one grab at least a dozen seeds.  I didn’t stick around to see if it could still lift off with that payload.

So, regardless of whether you are a new group passing through, or an old group coming back to where the food is great, welcome Redpolls.  You perk us up on these short, short days.

Planning for a Washington County Big Year

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Previously, I wrote that I was looking into doing a big year in 2013 since we are staying in Vermont this winter.  I was considering a state-wide effort but after giving it more thought, felt that it would be a nice challenge to bird Washington County — it’s more energy-efficient, time-efficient, and manageable with having to bird mostly with a dog along.

"I hear you're planning a big year -- can't wait."

“I hear you’re planning a big year — can’t wait.”

So, I’m already learning a lot as I plan.  We have lived in this county for about 25 years total — including the last 13 — and I am just now learning the boundaries.  It’s a 695 square miles with lot of zigs and zags.  There are only a few bodies of water so we look for shorebirds in flooded cornfields.  Here is some material that my friends at North Branch Nature Center put together for a county contest a year ago.

Q: What birds can be found in Vermont / Washington County?
A:
  –  Vermont Daily Field Card: This is a great checklist that can be used for day-to-day
birding in Vermont. It includes rarity and time of year for each species.
  –  Bird Checklist for NBNC & Surrounding Parks: This checklist was designed for use at
NBNC and surrounging parks but also includes directions to some other local hotspots.
  –  Vermont State List: A list of all birds ever seen in Vermont, even if they were only
seen once.
  –  Breeding Bird Atlas: Contains a list of known breeding birds in Vermont and includes
maps of where breeding has occured.
  –  Vermont eBird Bar Chart: The powerful eBird website allows for a bar chart displaying the
frequency at which birds occur throughout the year in our state. You can submit your
sightings to eBird too! (added 1/12/10)
  –  Washington County eBird Bar Chart: Similar to above and specific to Washington Co.

Q: Where are the best places to see birds in Vermont / Washington County?
A:
–  VT eBird: Has a list of birding “hot spots” and even allows you to see which birds have
been reported at those sites.
  –  Birding Guide to Chittenden County: A resource from Green Mountain Audubon.   –  Birdwatching in Vermont, by Bryan Pfeiffer and Ted Murin, is an excellent resource
for birding in the state.
  –  Birdwatching in the Mad River Valley: The “Mad Birders” have posted a list of places to
bird in the Mad River Valley on their website.
–  Lake Champlain Birding Trail: A free guide to birding spots along the lake.
–  Connecticut River Birding Trail: A $5 guide to birding spots along the Connecticut.

Q: What are good Identification Guides?
A: There are many great identification guides and you may ultimately want to obtain several. Some have different features and/or styles such as detailed life history, range maps that appear next to plates, photos vs. illustrations, etc. Some may be small & compact (for field use) while others may be bulky but comprehensive. Furthermore, some guides are specific to a certain region (ie, Eastern vs. Western) or type of bird (Gulls, warblers, shorebirds, etc.) Below are some suggestions:
–  Cornell’s “All About Birds”: an free, online guide
–  Sibley Guides
–  Peterson Guides
–  Audubon Guides
–  Stokes Guides
–  National Geographic Guides
–  Kaufman Guides

Q: What Towns are in Washington County?
A:Washington

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A Wrap-up To The “What Sparked My Interest?” Posts

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At the beginning of December, 2012, Gerry Cooperman posted a query on the MASSBIRD list serve in which he asked

“all that bird to take a moment to step back and look at why you do what you do. What was the spark that got you started?”

I was intrigued by Gerry’s questions and wrote to him asking to use his posting on my Vermont Birder blog.  I figured that I’d use a few of the responses he might get as guest posts — bloggers are always looking for interesting content.

Little did I know, or did Gerry, that the next few weeks of postings would be full of individual stories from all over Massachusetts as well as other parts of the Northeast.  Once I got started, I decided to keep plugging away and have ended up with over fifty “sparks.”  There is a link off the blog header to get back to this summary.

I have put the links to each group.  I only used first names of people but you can search for your name and should find the blog post in which your story was included.

Original Post     Gerry Cooperman

Part 1  (Paul, Kathleen, David, Steve)

Part 2  (Catherine, Tom, Gerry, Jessica)

Part 3   (Doug, Stuart, Walt)

Part 4  (Dana, Dick H, Jim, Leslie, Fred)

Part 5   (Carolyn, Darin, Tom, Dee)

Part 6  (David, Sarah, Gian, Glenn)

Part 7  (Jean, Ann, John, Henry, David)

Part 8  (Jo-Anna, Kevin, Mike, Jim)

Part 9  (Lori, Jo-Dee, Amy, Greg, Mark)

Part 10  (Suzanne, Warren, Marjorie, Bruce)

Part 11  (Margie, Tim, CJ, Paul, Josh)

Part 12  (Denise, Myer, Jim, Linda)

Part 13  (Jeff, Michael, Dave)

Part 14  (Matt, Scott, Gerry)

This turned out to be a much bigger project than I expected but I, like many MASSBIRD readers, got hooked by the interesting diversity of people and stories. There are many themes — some being “starting early,” “mentoring,” rekindling the spark … I invite you to re-read these and see what you find.  If nothing else, we’ve proved that MA has a lot of interesting birders who are good writers — and tell their story well.

There was some discussion of gathering these into some sort of collection.  If someone is interested, go for it.  Just be careful of the images — all are Creative Commons licensed and just need attribution.  I know that some posts got lost in the shuffle but we did get 58 of them cleaned up and posted.  They’ll be archived here for some time so feel free, when the birding is slow, to come back and read some.  It was a privilege to work with your material.  Dick

What Sparked My Interest in Birding – Part 14

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Here are some more posts from MASSBIRD describing birding “sparks.”

Matt began noticing birds early:

I’m not sure I actually have a spark; when I was 2 weeks old my mother’s journal contains a line “Birds and airplanes catch his attention more than anything else, he’s fascinated by them.”  The airplane thing never took off .. I took my first flight earlier this year at the ripe old age of 30.  The bird portion of that never faltered though.

Evening Grosbeaks were the first birds to catch Matt's attention. photo by aurospio

Evening Grosbeaks were the first birds to catch Matt’s attention and also (below), Scott’s. photo by aurospio

My most vivid early memory of birds though was the Evening Grosbeaks that would visit a feeder we had attached to a window of our apartment, around the time I was 4.  I’d get up early in the morning and the sun shining would cast the shadows of the Grosbeaks against the shade that was still closed.  I would always peer around it, and they were so tame.  Even with the shade up you could sit on the couch right in front of the window just inches away from these big boisterous yellow birds.  I didn’t know they were an irruptive species at the time, they were so frequent in the first few winters of my life.  I used to sit there for hours watching them feed on the plank of wood we had attached to the outside windowsill.  I still remember the feeling of the window’s old pane of glass pressed up against my nose as I tried to get as close as I could to the birds.

Scott describes his “spark bird” and adds a thoughtful thank you:

My spark was the dreams of wanting to see an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in 1979.  I started looking thru many bird magazines and books fascinated with this bird. That winter I had the best show of Evening Grosbeaks, dozens of them on my 2nd story platform bird feeders. Hooked!

However, if it weren’t for the wonderful guidance and friendship from Rodney Jenkins, who picked me up many a Sunday, I may not have continued birding. Rodney and I went on so many adventures and he really showed me how to find birds by truly shaking the bushes or rattling the trees so to speak, in search of the common species, and the elusive ones.

Scott has great memories of a large heron rookery in Phillipston. photo by mikebaird

Scott has great memories of a large heron rookery in Phillipston. photo by mikebaird

One of my fondest memories is the day we found the Great Blue Heron Colony in Phillipston.  We drove over this old road & that one, and into the deep woods of Phillipston in the area of the underground cable/electric lines. We were finally rewarded with 43 active nest out in a swamp near an old summer camp, it was so exciting!  I also remember Rodney showing me my life Black-throated Blue Warbler near the heron Colony, of which I can still see that bird to this day.

Thank you Rodney

And we’ll end this series of post with a wrap-up by the birder who got it started, Gerry Cooperman:

To all who posted their spark tales I thank you for sharing part of your life with all of us. The stories were moving and poignant. You all contributed in making Massbird more than simply a sighting report. You have given Massbird a new voice. A voice not heard before and what you do now to make that voice stronger will define who we are. But more importantly it will pass on our stories to a new generation. As we were given the spark along the birding way we were also given lessons. Lessons that would mold us in action and deeds. It is not just about the birds. Pete Dunne stated in one of his books that if you are a dedicated birder and don’t write about it you are depriving many of something very special. The stories keep generating the sparks. Do not deprive anyone.

My spark that was started in July of 1970 was a mere ember. Slowly gaining strength over time as experience and education began to slowly fan that smoldering ember until it grew into a  flame. A flame that would define my life as an individual. In life as you mature there are significant moments. Lesson moments , if you will, that will define your character and how you appreciate all the people and moments. It’s not always just about the birds but sometimes we are so focused on that that we lose sight of all that is important around us. We get caught up in the moment. Hubris becomes our friend and that makes us someone different. The lessons learned are really  moments of awareness. They become the building blocks of our character.

Allow me to share with you one of these memorable moments. A moment that taught me a lesson and helped mold me as a person.

I was getting jaded as my job took me to many key bird states: California, Texas,Washington, and Florida, and I somehow always had a weekend of free time. Spending time at Salton Sea, Palm Springs, El Paso, the Everglades, and the Keys.  New places, new birds, Hey! this is real easy.  Never once did I think about how fortunate I was. And of course doing anything that was some what unusual made other people very curious.  People wanted to know what you saw, show it to me in a book,and where have you’ve been? It can make you feel important; of course in a mind of one. Without being aware you start to lose perspective on what’s really important. It’s so easy to look into a one way mirror.

I was about to receive my lesson ( unknown to me of course) as I was off to the ABA convention in Tucson. After clearing baggage I was directed to a station wagon and wound up in the last row. We get under way and someone in front yells out,”what states are you from?”  The only thing I remember was that one of the three men in front of me says Maryland and when it’s my turn I say Massachusetts. The Maryland voice says,” I used to live in Massachusetts” and turns around extending his hand and says ” Hi I’m Chan Robbins.”

Birds-of-North-America-a-Guide-to-Field-Identification-1966From day one, as a beginning birder, I have always used the Golden Field Guide and now I’m holding his hand. Hopefully he didn’t see the dumb look on my face as I was trying to say some thing really intelligent. What came out was,” Hi! I use your book.”  Gosh wasn’t that brilliant? To which he replied with a grin ,”don’t tell anyone but so do I.” He thanked me and what struck me was his kindness to even engage in a conversation with me. He was interested in talking to me and it was sincere. I never even gave him my name and if he was sitting next to me I probably wouldn’t have released his hand. This was the beginning of my lesson.
The second day out we happened to be on the same field trip. He acknowledged me with a simple ,” Do you have my book today?” He remembered me probably because of my inane utterance. I told him it is always with me. He smiled and nodded a silent approval. Now we head for our destination. We were going up a hillside when the leader calls out Buff-breasted Flycatcher. Certainly a new bird for me and to my surprise a lifer for Chan Robbins. He was so excited he literally jumped up and down for joy. He did not care that there was a group of birders watching him. He was appreciating the moment. It was a special moment in his life and he was celebrating the event. He was Chan Robbins the birder nothing more nothing less.

Here was a man at the pinnacle of the birding world acting like most anyone who gets excited upon seeing a new bird. Doesn’t everyone? I realized he could have kept quiet and nobody would know but this man was genuine. He knew who he was as a person. His appreciation of the moment magnified his excitement. He was also excited about seeing birds again that he hadn’t seen in a little while and he made it known. It was like old friends meeting once more. My early mentor was right, appreciate what you see now because you never know when you will see it again. It wasn’t just about special birds it was about all birds. I have never forgotten our encounter and the special moment of self awareness that I learned.The lesson was now complete.

Be yourself – everyone else is taken. Never allow any deed make you somebody else in life. I appreciate and respect the accomplishments of others but have a difficult time in understanding why being humble and gracious takes too much time or effort for a lot of people  I’m not quite sure why! A long time ago I was as guilty as anyone.Is being true to yourself so difficult?

It’s never just about the number of birds you’ve seen or about the places you’ve been or about the people you know. It’s not about any measurable or material things. It’s always just about you and who you really are as a person. A person with a special gift as a carrier of the flame. When you truly know who you are and pass the spark to others the flame burns the brightest. A Golden Field Guide is always out and laying flat on my bookcase as a constant reminder of the lesson. And, most important, the man.

Your spark stories tell me that someone was gracious and kind to you. Their station or status in life was unimportant. Their focus was you. You will pass the spark on to others and always remember what was done for you. Hopefully you will always keep in your hearts and minds the special life lessons given to you. It’s never ever been just about the birds. It is always about how you live your life. Thank you Mr. Robbins.

Initial Post   Responses:  Part 1    Part 2   Part 3   Part 4  Part 5  Part 6  Part 7  Part 8   Part 9  Part 10  Part 11  Part 12  Part 13

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