Reading Kevin Graff's e-mail a few moments ago triggered a few thoughts:

1. No one likes to be found wanting on a bird ID, to be challenged when one 
is certain -- or nearly so -- of what one has seen.  This goes to the heart of 
our sense of our own knowledge, observational skills and competence.  
Yet...every single birder has made an inaccurate call/ID at some point, and many of us 
do so more times than we like to admit!

2. What is intended as a point of discussion on a difficult bird may come 
across to the reader as harsh and judgmental.  Particularly when it is done by 
e-mail, where the reader is missing all the important cues of nonverbal 
communications.  For an excellent example of how to gracefully and diplomatically 
discuss a possible rare sighting, see Bob Ringler's message this morning on the 
swan at Black Hill.

3. The tendency of most humans is to universalize our own experience.  With 
birders who live in an affluent area like the DC region, we may just assume 
that everyone has the same level of equipment that we do, or should have.  One 
has to stop and reflect sometimes, that those of us with expensive optics and 
communications gear are privileged indeed and not everyone is so blessed.

With the above in mind, perhaps a good New Year's Resolution for all of us is 
to think twice before sending an e-mail and ask ourselves how we would react 
if we received it.  Humor, modesty and diplomacy go a long way in keeping a 
community net functioning effectively.  

In closing, I might add that I believe that birders as a group are more 
honest, generous, thoughtful, helpful and kind than the population at large.

Bob Mumford
Darnestown