Tom Ulrich, the wildlife photographer from Montana, was here recently to give two programs at Southern Arkansas University for his 18th consecutive year. Since he is always our guest when he comes to Magnolia, I had warned him in advance that the house was topsy-turvy but that, with the aid of a map, he could probably navigate between bedroom-bath-dining table.

We surely enjoy his visits and his programs, which are a photographic chronicle of his previous year’s travels. AAS really should consider having him again as a speaker; I believe his was a popular presentation when we had him at the spring meeting several years ago. I regret that I’m never able to book him for the butterfly festival in Haynesville as he’s always traveling afar at that time of year.

Speaking of traveling, Tom is leading a small group from Holbrook to Ecuador for a nine-day trip leaving May 30, focusing on birds in general and hummingbirds in particular. When he was here he still had two vacancies if anyone would like to go. (We can’t go as I will be appearing in “Steel Magnolias” at the college theatre at that time.)

We are presently involved in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Until just a few days ago we had not seen the first American Goldfinch at our feeders, but now they are our most abundant species as they often are in the winter. On February 13, Dick Taylor e-mailed that the finches had just appeared in his yard a few days previously. He had counted a high of 65 Goldfinches with two Pine Siskins holding their own among them.

Dan Scheiman reports that in March he will be moving into his first house, there in Little Rock. After Samantha moves in following their May wedding, he says they look forward to tending a garden and feeders, and will happily host birders any time a rare bird might be attracted to their yard. It’s my guess they’ll have some good ones through the years.

I had only meager response to the appeal for news from members for this column. So what does that mean? Rather than bore you with what the Lacys are doing, I composed a bit of trivia.

TEST YOUR BIRD BRAIN

The answers to the following brain teasers are bird species that are listed for the lower 48 of the United States, or can be viewed from the coastlines. I’ve listed the number of species appearing in each answer that has multiple species and in parentheses the number I challenge you to find. At the state meeting at Hope you can call my hand on any obvious ones I omitted. And you can even brag a bit if you made a passing grade.

1. Name three birds whose names are connected to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

2. Okay. Much too simple. Name 17 (14) birds with one of the states of the U.S. in the name of each.

3. List 12 (10) species that are said to reveal their names in their vocalization.

4. This species might be expected to sing for his supper.

5. My daughter, who lives on a small lake in a wooded area in Baton Rouge, calls this one her negative bird.

6. The eyes have it. Name three species this statement might be said to suggest.

7. Name 27 (20) species with red in the name of each.

8. This one apparently has a good sense of humor.

9. These 4 (3) might need a shave.

10. Are these 7 (6) dressed to take part in a robbery?

11. In earlier days on the farm you could use this to get a drink.

12. The names of common trees appear in the names of these 10 (9) bird species.

13. This bird might bring back embarrassing memories of being duped and left holding the bag.

ANSWERS BELOW

We’re not traveling just now while involved with the remodeling job but will be leaving for Kenya and Tanzania on April 8. IF the lions don’t get us, we’ll tell you about it at the spring meeting.

ANSWERS TO TEST YOUR BIRD BRAIN: 1. Clark’s Grebe, Clark’s Nutcracker, Lewis’s Woodpecker. 2. California – (Condor, Gnatcatcher, Gull, Towhee, Thrasher, Quail) Carolina – (Chickadee, Wren) Connecticut – (Warbler) Florida – (Scrub-jay) Kentucky – (Warbler) Louisiana – (Waterthrush) Maryland – [Yellowthroat (old name)]. Mississippi – (Kite) Tennessee – (Warbler) Virginia – (Rail) (Warbler) WHAT! No birds named for Arkansas! Let’s not let this embarrassing bit of trivia go beyond our borders. 3. Chickadee, Killdeer, Peewee, Phoebe, Chuck-will’s-widow, Whip-poor-will, Common Poorwill, Chachalaca, Bobwhite, Great Kiskadee, Bobolink, Dickcissel. 4. Song Sparrow. 5. Fish Crow. 6. White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Goldeneye (any species) 7. Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Red-throated Loon, Red-billed Tropicbird, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Red-footed Booby, Reddish Egret, Redhead, Red-breasted Merganser, Red Knot, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, Redwing, Redstart (any species), Red-billed Pigeon, Red-masked Parakeet, Red-crowned Parrot, Redpoll, Red Crossbill, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-whiskered Bulbul. 8. Laughing Gull. 9. Black-whiskered Vireo, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Beardless-tyrannulet (Well, he might need one when his beard grows back.) 10. Hooded Merganser, Hooded Warbler, Hooded Oriole, Black-hooded Parakeet, Red-masked Parakeet, Masked Booby, Masked Duck. 11. Dipper. 12. Alder Flycatcher, Bananaquit, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Juniper Titmouse, Magnolia Warbler, Oak Titmouse, Pine Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Pine Warbler, Willow Ptarmigan. 13. Snipe