President's Winter Message

Winter is here, a lot of cold and snow, but for many of us in the BBC it’s not a time for staying inside. I can’t wait to get out in to the clear, clean air every day. It refreshes my spirit, helps me deal with the inevitable life downers, and restores a sense of perspective. And what better reason is there to get outside than to observe and experience birds.

And birding can be a good source for exercise. Though it’s not especially known as a strenuous sport, parts of it can be. When finishing a birding trail one way, hustle back aggressively where you’ve already birded. Don’t avoid going up hills. Push yourself a little. Carry around a backpack with some birding gear weight, and add some extra. And don’t forget to stretch before a bird walk. For those with mobility limitations, birding still provides the fresh air and sun and peace of mind we all need.

So, Instead of writing about my October New Guinea Trip, which I told an attendee to our Annual Covered Dish Dinner / Peter Kaestner Lecture that I would do for this Chip Notes - I’ll be sure get him a recording of my recent presentation about the trip - health and fitness will be my topic. That’s because the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle has been on my mind a lot lately due to a rash of health emergencies this past year in my family. My 87 year old mother had a nasty fall and broke her shoulder and was in a hospital for 4 months, my younger brother had a serious stroke and is now just recovering after months, and my youngest sister was recently diagnosed with colon cancer which has spread. Geeeshh!!

All these issues have me itching to preach to my birding family and everyone else the importance of keeping fit. So here goes.

Exercise, exercise, and exercise some more. It doesn’t have to be 3 hours a day, and you don’t have to train for a marathon. You just have to keep doing it. Little bits here and there.  Walk fast, frequently. Take stairs, almost always. Run up stairs if you can. Lift small weights while on commercial break from a TV show. Keep moving. And stretch, always stretch. Your legs, your back, work those joints, do yoga or simple stretches at home against a wall.

Maybe you’re suffering from joint or leg or whatever pain, which limits your movement. Get it fixed if you can. Don’t hesitate. Modern medicine is miraculous and can solve a lot of problems. Exercise other parts of your body that aren’t hurting.

And if you go to a doctor, or have a procedure or operation, follow the doctor/therapist instructions for recovery. Religiously. If you’re supposed to get Physical Therapy three times a week, get it three times a week. If you’re supposed to do 20 elbow lifts a day, then do 20 elbow lifts a day.

Get outside, every day! Get fresh air and sunshine, it’s good for you. While you’re outside, move. Walk, work, play, whatever, get outside.

Don’t smoke, and quit if you are. Strokes (like my brother’s), lung cancer, high blood pressure, why? Give up smoking!  It’s hard to. Very hard. Very very hard! As a smoker for a total of 23 years I know. Don’t give up. Figure out a way, read up on it, keep trying any suggestion anyone gives you.

See your physician regularly, religiously. And do what she says! She says you need a colonoscopy, lung scan, blood test, whatever, do it and do it right away.

Of course, eat as healthy as you can. And if you’ve taken in a bit too many carbs, work them off. Easier said than done, I understand, but just try, and don’t give up. Find a partner to work with, sign up for sports, exercise programs where you have a committed time. That’s it, that’s enough. I hope you can get the message and learn from people who didn’t get the message and are now suffering.

And to end on a good note, it’s so awesome to see some of our newer members really in to birding. Big time, hard core even.  Sarah, who just stared a couple months ago, Kevin Yan, AB and Gil, Carl Engstrom and Ian Moody. They’re out at the hot spots all the time now. And they’re a lot of fun! Say Hi when you see them.