> As an active birder, naturalist and environmentalist, I can and will 
> express my views on this and any forum relating to the health and welfare 
> of our native flora and fauna.  Don't like it?  Delete it.
>
> ************************
> Frank Boyle
> ************************

Frank,

Actually, I think not. This forum is set up to discuss the birds and birding 
in Maryland. The topic on the cranes that has caused so much controversy the 
last few days is not directly related to Maryland birds. Yes, the bird is 
being shipped here for rehabilitation and a story about that would be 
considered inside the guidelines of the listserv and the facts related to it 
would be of interest for background. The topic as it pertains to the birds 
of Kansas and hunting in that state IS NOT related to Maryland birding. 
There are other forums in which this thread would be more appropriate, 
perhaps BIRDCHAT for instance. Some, I'm sure, disagree to an extent with 
this view and some want to use this as a soapbox to make political views 
against hunting, the election, the IQs of Kansas hunters, etc. Regardless, 
the shots that have been made by various posters over the last few days, 
including yourself, do not fall into this listserv's guidelines, period. 
(See pasted example below)

Original post:
"We as a nation re-elected George W. Bush as our president. Nuff said.
**********************
On Behalf Of Patrick Santinello"
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Your Reply:
"Er, I think you meant "you as a nation".
**********************
Frank Boyle"

What do the expressions of these political views have to do directly with 
the topic of the thread, or with birds and birding in Maryland? Many on the 
list didn't vote for Mr. Bush and many did, but what does that have to do 
with some moron hunters in Kansas shooting Whooping Cranes? If Mr. Kerry had 
won, these birds would still be casualties. Rude and inciting postings like 
your last two, and the one that you responded to, only help create more 
wasted bandwidth with unnecessary responses from those irked because of 
their dissenting views. If you, or anyone else, wants to send someone an 
inflammatory response, be our guest, but leave the rest of us out of it by 
sending it to the person you want to direct the message to, not to the 
listserv. I know I don't need to hit the delete button anymore than is 
already necessary without these frivolous posts. As Rodney stated, "Can't we 
all just get along?"

Disagree with any of these views Norm?

Anyway, in regards to the crane thread, I guess that I'm more surprised that 
the story in yesterday's Baltimore Sun reporting that the state was 
considering hanging 'For Sale' signs on hundreds of acres of state park 
property to raise funds hasn't caused a whisper of outrage on this listserv. 
Talk about a thread that should be getting birders and environmentalists in 
general rallied together! This is a topic that strikes the members of this 
forum directly and there hasn't been a peep. That would be a related topic 
that should be inviting a letter writing compaign and an opportunity for 
people to make political views about our elected officials. I find this very 
strange.

Ed Boyd
Westminster, MD