Posted by Joel Rosenthal on March 19, 2017 at 19:46:30
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.