mistaken calls

S. Harvey Mudd, MD (shm@codon.nih.gov)
Mon, 16 Mar 1998 14:18:11 -0500


I would like to echo the many comments that have thanked Marshall Iliff for
his recent clarification of his current thoughts on his Yellow-billed Loon
sighting.  In line with Ed Boyd's comment, I would agree that no apology is
called for when one goes to the trouble of getting out the word about a
potentially important sighting as rapidly as possible, only later to find
that one has been mistaken.  The alternative of waiting until certainty is
attained may allow many good birds to get away before they are seen by
others.  So let us all be tolerant and more grateful to those who alert us
quickly to potentially  great sightings, even if some turn out to be false
alarms.

Harvey Mudd 


____________________________________

S. Harvey Mudd
NIMH/DIRP/LMB
Building 36, Room 2D-15
36 CONVENT DR MSC 4070
BETHESDA MD 20892-4070
tel: 301-496-0681;  fax 301-402-0245
email: shm@codon.nih.gov