Sorry about the hiatus. My computer had to go to the hospital (memory implant), and as soon as it was discharged, the World Tour cranked back up.

Last week’s stop was Highlands, North Carolina, where I delivered something called the Zahner Conservation Lecture on Thursday evening (modesty prevents me from describing the audience’s wildly enthusiastic response) then signed books at the town’s independent bookstore, Cyrano’s, on Saturday.

As you approach Highlands, signs announce that you are entering a bird sanctuary, and I believe they’re telling the truth. On Friday, equipped with an I-pod on which was stored every conceivable bird song, the gracious, funny, and very knowledgeable John Stowers led some dozen of us on a bird hike along the Bartram trail to a destination called White Rock. We saw scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings, and an assortment of warblers, among other species. Even I, your binoculars-challenged armchair birder, had great looks at black-and-white and chestnut-sided warblers. Other folks in the party saw hooded and black-throated blues. It was almost enough to make a person want to go birding.

Yo! Big shout-out to Clair Simpson, proprietor of Cyrano’s–more proof that the independent bookstore is alive and kicking.