First I have to say I love the Zen birding idea!  I'm also appalled that
any real birder would try to see the Ivory-bill (except by volunteering to
help on a bonafied research team, maybe).  If somebody starts such a group,
let me know--I want a button.
One other thought--I was just talking to someone who has been saying for
some time--as he enthusiastically reminded me--that some of the reports of
the ivory-bill he had heard are likely true; he's convinced of it now, and
I think it does seem likely.  So if anyone wants to look for them without
doing any harm, why not get hold of the recent books telling of past
reports of sightings, and scour those areas some more; maybe you can be the
one to find them in a new place.
But, getting back to birding here, for me one of the things about this
discovery that has really hit home is--it's going to make a difference in
my atlasing efforts.  I have the northern half of Rock Creek Park in my
block, and had been getting pretty discouraged about the chances of finding
Ky or hooded warbler there.  Now, I feel like making a real push to try and
find them--anything seems possible! And if any of you see one there within
the safe dates, or doing anything "nestish" at any time, let me know.  (If
it's south of Military, tell Denise Ryan.) After all, if a large showy bird
can hide so well, those warblers could be missed even more easily.  But I
do suspect they won't be in the park in numbers until we somehow get a
handle on the deer problem,  so the understory can come back.
Patricia Wood
Silver Spring MD