My apologies for having started this dispute between Richard and Norm. My complaint was with the Post and not with any MD Osprey members. Finding two glaring errors about birds in the space of a week bothered me, especially given how many experts we have in this area whom the Post staff might have consulted. We have one of the best papers in the country here in DC/MD and I just want it to be better.
   
  I don't claim to be an advanced birder (I'm barely intermediate and probably more of an advanced beginner if anything), but I expect common birds to be accurately identified in our great newspaper. After all, we don't have many great papers left in this country.
   
  Finally, I personally like be challenged by Osprey members on sightings. It has made me a more disciplined birder, and compelled me to check every unusual bird I see against numerous guidebooks and my Thayer software. It's also forced me to work harder on learning calls. In short, being a member of this list has been a great education for me. 
   
  John Sherwood
  Washington, DC