Re: Better Reporting

Eddie Talik (etalik@erols.com)
Fri, 19 Jun 1998 15:28:12 -0400 

Hi all,
     I agree with Norm Saunders.  One of the reasons I signed on to
MDOSPREY was that I enjoy hearing other people's stories about birding.
I in no way thought this was an exculsive scientific arena. I thought it
was a cool way to keep up on what was happening in the Maryland birding
world.  
     Sure, if someone sees a Kirtland's Warbler at Jug Bay, I'd like to
know as many details as possible, but remember, nothing prohibits me
from actually e-mailing someone directly to get more of the details I
wanted.
     Some of us enjoy birding for the beauty of it.  Although I keep a
multitude of lists, I sometimes go out to the local pond and just see
what I can see.  I don't take note of the weather, time, or number of
birds I've seen.  I just go to look.  Lets say my daughter and I are
walking in a park and we see something neat.  I'd be more likely to
stress her reaction or our interaction to the sighting.  After all, in
the long run, what is more important; the fact that I saw a
Yellow-Headed Blackbird at School House Pond or the fact that my seven
year old daughter and I saw it together and she called it a Woodpecker
(Now, before everyone goes crazy, I did not see a Yellow-Headed
Blackbird at School House Pond, I'm only trying to make a point). 
     Please don't misunderstand me.  I konw the value of proper
scientific observations.  I know that as many details as possible
regarding sightings can assist others with what ever project they are
working on.  My main point here is that we should not lose sight of what
probably attracted us to birding in the first place.  Think back to the
first bird you had to look in a guide book to identify.  Remember the
feeling you had?  Remember the person who introduced you to birding and
how amazing they seemed to you?
     Instead of posting downright nasty messages complaining about how
someone reports a birding experience, I suggest that you look closer at
that report.  You may learn more about the true nature of birding from a
message like this than you might expect.  To me, birding is a wonderful
blend of art and science.  Don't be too quick to elinate one or the
other.  It is my strongly held opnion that birding without art is no
different than sitting on the side of the road counting cars as they
zoom by.  You compile numbers for some road expansion study, never
really apprecieating the wonderful workmanship of a Roles Royce as it
passes by.  You never feel the thunder of a Harley Davidson as it makes
its presence known.  Oh, how much we miss when we fail to look.   
-Eddie Talik