I’m always amazed at where anthropology has lead people. Kevin Short (of the Daily Yomiuri Columnist) provides an example my friends in Reconciliation Ecology will enjoy.

In the Appalachian Highlands of the northeastern United States, where I grew up, birdwatching was not thought of as a suitable hobby for a man. Local ornithological interest was limited to pheasants, grouse, ducks and geese–the kind of birds that could be shot and later roasted. A man walking around watching birds through binoculars would have been considered a bit weird at best.

My first experience with birdwatching came much later in life, when I was a graduate student in Anthropology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. One spring day I heard a great ruckus coming from the back lawn of our dormitory. When I looked out I saw a bunch of heavily-bearded guys munching on hot dogs and slugging from a keg of cold beer. Every so often they would look up at the sky and break out into animated jigs and loud cheering.READ ON @NATURE IN SHORT / Birdwatching proves to be a very suitable hobby for this U.S. male : Science & Nature : Features : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri).