Birders look
skyward to
study fowl
The warmth of the summer sun
stimulates the desire to be outdoors, and
the hectic rush of finals confirms the need
for a stress-free pastime. Basking in the
sun. you hear the song of a bird. Turning
over, you spot a robin and watch it fly
away.
Struck by its beauty, you become eager
to find out more aland it —' this is how
bird watching becomes a hobby.
"AH they (bird watchers) need is a good
eye and ear.” says Herbert Wisner. a bird
enthusiast and senior biology Instructor
at the University.
A field guide and binoculars are also
mandatory. Wisner adds.
Wisner says the study of birds is an in
teresting field and a great pastime.
".Birders," as bird watchers call
themselves, sometimes go out every
weekend to the birds' natural habitats —
the coast, marshes and forests —- and
append hour after hour observing the dif
ferent species of birds and their interac
tions. Wisner says.
Studying and watching birds provides
a better understanding of .the environ
ment as enthusiasts become aware of the
needs and'the habitats of other life forms
In the world. Wisner says, lie instructs a
.class on the natural history of birds
. (Biology t(>6).
"Birds act as Indicators- of trouble,”
. Wisner says. ‘.‘A drop in bird population
• can be due to human destruction, pollu
tion or through natural causes.” . ■.
. . t Juan Ruiz, a "junior psychology . major ■
and one of Wisher's'students, says: "I
-. ' began to appreciate something that I’ve
always taken.Tor .granted' .!'■ have a'
Is it a plane? Is it superman? No it’s a bird. Memebers of Herbert Wisner’s bird wat
thing class gaze into the sky searching for some feathered friends.
hunter's interest in birds, and now I know
exactly what kind of bird I'm shooting at.
and if it's extinct or not."
Bird watching includes identifying
birds through their markings and songs
and learning about the different seeds that
each kind eats and the types of trees it
nests in.
. Bird, watching is rewarding, says
Steven Erb. a senior economics major and
another student in Wisher's class "It's
exciting. Going out. searching for and try
ing to identify the bird that you see gives
.you a better appreciation, of birds and of
their beauty!" he says.. .
In December. a Christmas bird count is
held'in which '15-mile-diameter circular
areas are observed, 'and the number of.
bird-, species in each’ of these areas'-are •
counted and recorded for bird en
thusiasts. In Eugene, an annual breeding
survey for the .Fish and Wildlife Services
is conducted eaph. June. ' . '
In addition, the Lane County. Breeding.
Bird Atlas identifies all‘the breeding
places of tlje different bird species in the
county’.. The ’Southern Willamette Or-,
nithological Club, was .established for
local birders.- and the Oregon-Field Or- ,
nithologists is a state- organization that
publishes a journal, Oregon Birds, and
conducts - annua'l meetings‘ for its .
members • •• •' . .
' .Wisnef will instriict-a field ornithology
ciass.at. the University this slimmer‘for .
•anyone interested -in taking an indepth ■.
•look at birds-in the wild. . ' '* t.
Stor • by Fraleiie Guzman .
^hoto by Kim Carlfpn.
PNB rates
respond to
FCC order
In compliance with a Federal
Communications Commission
order, a $1 “subscriber line
charge” was added to Pacific
Northwest Bell’s monthly
telephone bills for residence
and single-line, business
customers this month.
In addition, most long
distance rates dropped 5.6
percent.
PNB’s Oregon residence
customers will pay an addi
tional 45 cents per month to off
set lowered fees paid by long
distance companies connecting
to the local network.
Measured line rates for
businesses have increased $4.10
in accordance with the Oregon
Public Utility Commissioner’s
staff finding that previous rates
were below cost.
Bruce Hall, PNB area
manager for community affairs,
said none of the changes will
result in increased revenues for
.PNB, ’
“These changes’reflect- the- .
-pricing adjustments going on
throughout out industry,” he
. said,’
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