The ptarmigan capital of the worldTales from the dump
with Walt Humphries
Friday, November 26, 2010
If we can't be the diamond capital of North America, then maybe we should declare ourselves the ptarmigan capital. They are a truly magnificent bird. Now I know some people like to malign the ptarmigan, but they were here long before we came along and with any luck they will be here long after we leave. They have survived more then one ice age and more then one period of global warming, and they are still going strong. So they are probably more adaptable then we are and some would argue, smarter in their own way.
We should set up official ptarmigan feeding stations around town and promote ptarmigan viewing as a winter pass time and also as a tourist draw. We could post films and pictures of ptarmigan on YouTube and other Internet sites. The world would see them and people would come to view them.
We could also have live cams, so people from around the world could watch these wonderful birds. We could have live cams at the dump so that the world could see all the wonderful salvage there. We could have a camera showing people enjoying the winter on Back Bay and maybe even one showing the scintillating debates at city hall and the legislature. People would see our fair city at its finest and some of them, would come to see it in person. It is just a matter of building the right hype.
We could declare a special festival and ptarmigan day, when everyone dons their ptarmigan toques and hats, their ptarmigan mitts and scarves and we all the do the ptarmigan dance at the park beside city hall. Complete with free hot dogs and hot chocolate for all who attend. The tourists would love it.
Northern News Services Online-The ptarmigan capital of the world======================================================================
We should have International Ptarmigan Day. On International Ptarmigan Day, it should also be International Round Up and Exterminate Rabbits, Gyrfalcons, Ermines, and Enemies Of Ptarmigans Day.
