A Bobwhite Killing

by Jan Dunlap

  She rolled her beautiful blue eyes and groaned. “I don’t want to marry Alan, Bob. I know he’s your best friend, but he can’t tell a Northern Cardinal from a Bluejay.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” I told her. “He was birding with me today, and I think he’s salvageable.” I pressed my lips against hers in a warm, soft kiss.

  “I mean my bride, Luce,” I said a minute later. “I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

  For a few seconds, she didn’t say a thing. She just stared at me.

  And then, finally, she smiled.

  “Yes.”

  Bob White’s “A Bobwhite Killing” Bird List

  Yellow-billed Cuckoo

  Red-shouldered Hawk

  Upland Sandpiper

  Eastern Meadowlark

  Western Meadowlark

  Bobolink

  Horned Lark

  Turkey Vulture

  Acadian Flycatcher

  Vesper Sparrow

  Savannah Sparrow

  Field Sparrow

  Willow Flycatcher

  Indigo Bunting

  Great Horned Owl

  Mourning Dove

  Killdeer

  Cliff Swallow

  Barn Swallow

  Northern Rough-winged Swallow

  Worm-eating Warbler

  Blue Jay

  Eastern Phoebe

  Eastern Wood-Pewee

  Red-tailed Hawk

  Northern Bobwhite

  Acknowledgements

  Several years ago, I went on my first Minnesota Birding Weekend led by Kim Eckert. Our group didn’t find any bodies, but we did see turtles, along with quite a few birds. That experience convinced me I had to set a Bob White Birder Murder on a weekend birding trip in order to take advantage of the wonderful repartee amongst a flock of seasoned birders. Thanks, Kim, for introducing me to that part of the birding life. I also want to express my appreciation to Karla Kinstler, Director of the Houston Nature Center, for allowing me to write her and Alice into Bob White’s world. If you ever have the chance to attend the International Festival of Owls in Houston, Minnesota, in early March, it’s well worth the trip—the whole town goes crazy over owls (think owl-face pancakes and a Great Gray mocha for breakfast), thanks to Karla’s efforts.

  Resources for Birders

  Birding websites

  http://moumn.org -

  - Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union website offers audio, video and photo galleries of Minnesota birds, along with occurrence maps, birding hotspots, and other birding information

  http://mn.audubon.org/

  - Audubon Minnesota website answers bird FAQs, reviews conservation efforts in the state and provides ways individuals can become involved in helping Minnesota’s bird populations

  http://www.allaboutbirds.org

  – Cornell Lab of Ornithology website has an extensive data base on birds and links to a variety of information about birds and birding

  http://birdingblogs.com/

  - a multi-author birding blog with posts and birding news from around the world

  http://www.blogs.com/topten/top-10-bird-and-birdingblogs/

  - a list of the best individual birding blogs where readers can learn about everything that has to do with birds (and life in general!)

  http://www.audubon.org/

  - visitors can locate local chapters on this website of the National Audubon Society and learn about conservation and education efforts across the country

  Bird feeding supplies stores

  http://www.wbu.com/

  - find a local Wild Birds Unlimited store near you for birdfeeding supplies and expert advice

  http://www.wildbird.com/

  - find a local Wild Bird Center near you for birdfeeding supplies and expert advice

  To continue the story:

  The Boreal Owl Murder

  Murder on Warbler Weekend

  A Bobwhite Killing

  Falcon Finale

  A Murder of Crows