In the gloomy pre-dawn hours of November 10, 1974, one could see a sinister-looking caravan moving swiftly north on the Dauphin Island Causeway. The destination of the vehicles was the still-slumbering town of Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Even though the occupants of these cars were not hostile, they were heavily armed – with boxes of Dramalnine, heavy coats, well-used binoculars and field guides. This was the day that 21 hardy and enthusiastic birders braved the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in search of pelagic birds. These courageous souls were: Dick and Judy Crittenden, Temple Douglas, Howard Einspahr, Reid Freeman, Billie Sue and Donald Hulsey, Tom Imhof, Greg Jackson, Helen Kittinger, Roger Naner, Ann Miller, David Patick, James and Lee Peavy, Bob and Elberta Reid, Percy Thigpen, Arthur and Becky Tyson and Harriett Wright.