This thing about the bluebird reminds me of something which happened in 1994.
While on a trip to Michigan to visit friends, I stopped at the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor to check on some bird skins in their collection (UM has
something like the fifth largest collection of bird skins in the world,
according to what I have heard). Anyway, along the hallway near the museum room
there are a number of mounted specimens inside a glass case. I happened to be
looking at them when a group of grade school children led by a teacher, and
accompanied by several mothers came through and began looking at the specimens.
While they were looking at the Eastern Bluebirds there, the teacher began
telling his students, "See how the female is brighter than the male? That is so
she can attract a mate". One of the mothers who was standing near me whispered
to the other, ""I thought it was the other way around". Since she was standing
so close by, I said to her, "It is the other way around". Ornithology 101 it
wasn't.
Darrel
From: "Alan Contreras" <acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tc@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: "cgar bird" <cgar.bird@xxxxxxxxx>, obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, February 8, 2016 9:01:59 AM
Subject: [obol] Re: PDX Frontier Bluebird
And there are rare occasions when Betty is used for a male - there was a World
War II admiral known as "Betty" Stark, though his first name was really Harold.
.
.
Alan Contreras
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
Eugene, Oregon
On Feb 8, 2016, at 8:50 AM, Tom Crabtree wrote:
I think Frontier is being politically correct and supportive of their obviously
transgendered bluebird.
Tom Crabtree, Bend
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of ;
Carol Pinegar
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2016 11:47 PM
To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [obol] Re: PDX Frontier Bluebird
I have sent an email to Frontier via customer service suggesting that the
company consider renaming "Betty" the Bluebird.
Happy birding, despite the Gashawks
Carol P, NE Portland
