I feel I owe an apology to the records committee for bringing up an old
issue in my examples below. It was not meant to be harmful to them and is
nothing more than a very old example. The committee has worked hard over
the years to bring themselves up from a negative reputation they once held.
I hadn't actually meant to target the committee, just point out that the
rulers of Maryland (and elsewhere) birding can sometimes be wrong.
We can all be wrong sometimes. But we should all strive to be ethical and
accurate in what we report. And we should also be willing to give credit
where it is due.
I have no experience with Kevin or his troubles. But I feel he should
enjoy birding. If someone is taking away that joy then he should bird
without them. If his sightings are not quite what they seem, then perhaps
he has lost something for it. Or perhaps we have. All too often I have
seen some birders needlessly discouraged by others. We should all work to
teach in a positive manner and be open to learning as well.
J. Steven Huy
Middletown, MD, USA
-----Original Message-----
From: J. Steven Huy [SMTP:]
Sent: Saturday, 01 January, 2005 21:09
To:
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] May I have your attention
Kevin,
Don't get upset about this. Some birders have egos so large they don't
have brains left over to accept that someone else may see something rare.
But it's only a few. Most are good so stick with them.
I was once told by some prominent Maryland birders that it was foolish to
attempt to band saw-whets in my area, that I would never succeed. I was
laughed at in the Cape May Bird Observatory visitor center many years ago
for seeing a black rail out of season; they refused to go out and look
although there was another record that late in the season. I was once told
on a CBC that my long-eared owls would not count if I did not give out
their location (which certainly would have resulted in the birds being
harassed). The records committee long denied a record of a gyrfalcon in the
state from a man knowledgeable in raptors and who actually trapped and had
the bird in hand.
Enjoy your sightings. If someone wants to whine that they don't believe
you or that you should have called them, don't let it worry you. You can
tell them where and when, unless it's a sensitive species, and if they
can't find it, too bad for them.
Don't take birding so seriously that you lose the joy of it. And ignore
those that have become spitefully competitive about it.
J. Steven Huy
Middletown, MD, USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Graff [SMTP:]
Sent: Saturday, 01 January, 2005 12:36
To:
Subject: [MDOSPREY] May I have your attention
Hi all,
It's come to my attention that I may no longer be a
birdwatcher after getting three harsh emails from
several birders about me seeing a Mew Gull and other
rare birds. I may decide to quit from birdwatching
after 17 years and 1 week. But not right away, as I
have couple of bird clubs trips to lead later this
spring. I had enough of abuse over the years from
emails. I actually saw a Mew Gull "Common race".
The reason I say American race, because I don;t want
anymore harsh emails.
Couple of you was telling me from emails that I
should have someone backed me up on any trips I go to.
Well I tried that for years. I asked anyone I know to
join me for birding out of town and they didn't want
to go with me. Only person ever came with me was Stan
Arnold assisting me during my Horsehead Wetlands
Center Breeding Bird Atlasing.
Other things they mention on emails that I should
call someone right away if I saw something rare, well
I cannot. Because most of you know that I'm hearing
impaired and rarely I can hear clear voice on cell
phone. I always have my old, out-of-date cell phone
(no emails, no voice mail, nothing on it) with me.
I'm having hard time picking out a right cell phone so
I can email Matt Hafner or Bob Ringler on their cell
phone with message to alert them if I got something at
the time. And I cannot afford to get a good digital
camera like Mark Hoffman has.
I feel like I'm no longer wanted around.
My life is never easy being deaf and difficult time in
school, been failing school for twenty years due to
lack of help from teachers and learning disorder. But
I have talent having good eyes for counting large # of
birds, and id's too.
Why would some of you abuse me for years? I'm trying
to be like you, birders.
If you want me to stick around, reply offlist!!!
Kevin Graff
Jarrettsville, MD & Ocean City, MD
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