Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 02:53:39 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Frank Boyle Subject: Re: John V. Dennis In-Reply-To: <200302121456_MC3-1-29F0-BE9E@compuserve.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I certainly echo Henry's sentiments regarding the lives of naturalists, living and deceased. I first started my life-long love of all things natural with birds, way back when my parents bought me my first book about birds. It was a funny little book titled "Birds Do The Strangest Things!". To be a good birder, I think you also have to be a good naturalist by default. Many people come to mind - Claudia Wilds, Rick Blom, Mark Garland and Chan Robbins. My thoughts on this also include many fine scientists who come to birding through other disciplines - Stephen Jay Gould, Edward O. Wilson, and countless others. Now there are those among us who would argue that there are birders who bird, list, twitch and not much else, who nonetheless contribute much to the field of ornithology. True, to be sure, but deep down inside, whether they choose to be aware of it or not, they are naturalists. Too often on this board we shout down any post that has to do with butterflies, botany, entomology or anything not strictly related to birds. I for one will still continue to marvel at the wonderful web of life that birds and humans are part of, and yes, occasionally I will post my views on natural history this board - that's what a message board is all about, exchanging ideas and bird sightings, insects and dragonflies, travels and experiences - not just a static listing of birds sighted in our immediate area. ************** Frank Boyle Naturalist Laurel, MD ************* ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================