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Local knowledge
Some months ago I joined a TAS walk in the Everglades, led by Angel and Mariel. I neglected to publicly mention, so I am doing so here, how professional and absorbing their guiding was. Beyond merely noting which birds we were observing, both Angel and Mariel went to great lengths to impart information about the birds' life cycles, natural history, habits and place in the ecosystem.Surrounding flora was similarly illuminated. I have had the benefit of world class birding guides in Central and South America, and can affirm that birding with A and M is, in every respect, a fuller experience.
Beyond this however, my wife,Emily, who did not attend that walk, has a special commendation for Angel. Emily suffers from an undiagnosed condition that makes her irresistible to biting, stinging insects(her most recent significant encounter being with a saddleback caterpillar - google it). Even the simplest mosquito bite provokes an itchy or stinging welt or rash, and despite application of bug spray and other deterrents, she still gets bitten and suffers-especially since the only post bite remedy, Skeeter Stix, is no longer produced with an active ingredient that numbs her itch. Cue Angel, who imparted on that walk, that a banana, rubbed on the bite will ameliorate the sting. And my wife is here to tell you all--albeit vicariously through me--that it works. Indeed, ever since that weekend when i suggested she try it, Emily has been successfully and immediately relieved of the sting by the application of a banana to the site of the bite, and I recommend that anyone with a similar affliction would do well to try this remedy.(N.b.-it works with a frozen banana or a fresh one-we have done control testing with ice cubes, which offer no relief whatever). So again, Angel and Mariel, thank you for an enlightening walk.
Comments
i agree when i have gone with them they help me as i am in a motorized wheelchair
The banana is a West Indies remedy, and it works. There are other such remedies for other types of bites and stings. You don't want to know the remedy for the sting of a Portuguese Man-O-War!
I was told by someone from Trinidad that banana leaves are the cure for sunburn. Rub the area with olive oil and cover with tender young banana leaves. The leaves will cook and take the heat away from your body. It works.
Thanks for the tip about bananas and stings.
Hi Susan. It's good to hear from you. One evening, many years ago, I walked into a patient's room in the emergency department. I was bowled over by the odor. Undressing the little kid, we found his belly wrapped up in gauze, which was holding the slices from several onions all over his skin. The parents said that the onions would absorb the heat from his fever, and cook, taking his fever away. We gave him some Tylenol, and his fever went down.
A dab of house hold ammonia works well, this is the main ingredient of most mosquito ant-itch cremes.
Angel and Mariel are the best. Awesome guides, and just great all-around people. Angel taught me the that banana trick too, it really works!
Obviously you never birded with Larry Manfredi, or Robin Diaz, or Paul Bithorn, or........ Who do you think Angel and Mariel learned from? Let's give credit to all the great birders in South Florida. And don't forget past birders that no longer live here, like Brennan Mulroney and Alex Harper. There are others that are no longer with us, but will not be forgotten.
I have a goal to create a page of TAS Greats
(I am sure I have missed a few)
Jill Rosenfeld
Juan Villamil
Elane Nuehing
Harvey Abrams
Dick Cunningham
Elizabeth (?) Eden
Mort Cooper
Karsten Rist
Pat Suiter
Bob Kelley
Bill Robertson
Oscar Owre
Aileen Lotz
Alice wainwright
Dade Thorton
Dan Beard
Charlie Brookfield
Thanks for sharing the list of TAS greats. Virginia Edens, whom I loved dearly, was a great birder and a greater person................
I learned a lot from Larry, Robin, Rangel, toe and countless others.
Does Stephan who lives in Oregon count? He was fantastic on the outing in the state of Washington a few years ago. He did live in Miami for a while
Yes!
The TAS list of greats are all deceased. A new generation of birders now has an excellent cadre of TAS field trip leaders, including the aforementioned folks, to choose from.
See http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/programs/field-trips/tas-field-trip-leaders to learn more about the outstanding TAS field trip leader team. If you'd like to become a member of our team, either to lead a local walk or a trip farther afield, feel free to contact me at fieldtrips@tropicalaudubon.org.
Brian Rapoza
Field Trip Coordinator
Tropical Audubon Society
Sadly, I have not seen Brian's name in the bunch. A fantastic, valuable member to TAS and a great person so go birding with . Just had to say....
I focused on a group of TAS Greats (yes deceased), Those who lived their lives with great conviction and dedication to the birds and our south Florida environment. They are all an important part of Tropical Audubon Society's history.
We greatly appreciate the service our TAS leaders and could not have the field trip schedule that we offer year in and year out without them. I know that each of them recognize the names listed and I am sure that many of them aspire to that level of greatness. I will leave it to them to make their mark.
And yes, thank you Paul. I woke up in the middle in the night realizing that it should have been Virginia not Elizabeth Edens.
And let me add a couple of names that should not have been forgotten
Polly Redford
John Ogden
Alexander "Sandy" Sprunt
Joe
For mosquito bites -- IF you don't happen to have a bottle of Ammonium Hydroxide with you just squirt a bit of Windex or other ammonia containing window cleaner on the area and you will be good to go.
Sure it isn't "as" good as the straight ammonia cleaner (NEVER use concentrated 15-30% ammonium hydroxide - it is NOT good for you and will burn you) but it will work and, if you are like me you "might" have a bottle in your car.
All the best,
Grover Larkins
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