32 TP HE “AUS DIUsB POINT Be ee iaes 
“This is Bill Cullen at NBC Radio 
with a report on one of the most 
cut-throat spectator sports 
known to man ... bird-watching!” 
‘In the fall, our parks, forest preserves and shorelines are alive with an 
ever-growing species of hunters—ones without guns—avid fans of the 
gentle sport of bird- watching. 
‘The very mention of this cult is likely to conjure up images of 
prim ladies in tweeds and sensible shoes and men fumbling vaguely with 
ancient telescopes. 
But John Peterson, a writer who has investigated the set, says bird- 
watching is one of the most relentless, cut-throat and competitive forms 
of one-upsmanship known to man. 
He describes a meeting of bird observers in Montgomery County, 
Maryland, at which a high school senior reported: ‘I was at the River 
Road turf farm two days ago and saw 20 golden plovers, about 35 
killdeer, and one buff-breasted sandpiper.”’ 
A grey-haired lady stood up to announce that she was there that 
same afternoon, and saw only six golden plovers, but paused drama- 
tically, and added: “But I saw IWO buff-breasted sandpipers.”’ 
The other 60 members murmured their appreciation. And that’s 
the way it goes. Where have you been—and what have you seen? These 
are the two questions bird-watchers ask of each other whenever they 
meet on competitive ground. 
Apparently, it’s a great coup to be the first to see a particular bird 
in a state and add it to the state's list of recognizable flying objects. 
So, for example, if the great white heron is suspected of visiting the 
state of Virginia, where it’s never been geen before, a certified sighting of 
this bird would be worth a lot of points in bird-watching circles. 
This theoretical point total would be even higher if the spotters 
are from some other state because then the local groups would have 
to admit they were falling down on the job. 
