I'd like to weigh in a bit on the international debate relating to 
ABA and Bird Watcher's Digest. The world has almost 10,000 bird 
species and we in Maryland regularly focus on somewhere in the order 
of 350 or so regular breeders, migrants, and accidentals. In all of 
the U.S., that number swells to at most 850-900 species. When we put 
on our blinders to the rest of the world's birds, we disregard most 
of the planet's bird life, including particulars on many species that 
may turn up on our shores.

I think the discussion of the growth of global birding does have some 
link with globalization, or at least the shortening of distances 
between continents thanks to modern travel, the Internet, etc. But I 
imagine that at one time or another any North American birder stops 
and gasps at the ostriches, hornbills, motmots, or parrots we can 
readily see in zoos or on TV, and then we inevitably wonder about 
their wild habitat and other wild avian neighbors. The same would be 
natural for lovers of wine, cars, butterflies, fashion, etc. 
Therefore, I don't think reading about international encounters with 
birds needs to be a monetary or lifestyle question for many. Articles 
about birds in other parts of the world expand our knowledge of birds 
in general and help frame our awareness on issues such as how birds 
are classified taxonomically, their habits, their roles in their 
ecosystems. There have always been international stories on birds in 
U.S.-focused publications such as Birding and Bird Watcher's Digest. 
I would agree with those who say that a whole issue on grasslands or 
an entire issue on international birding might be entirely 
unappealing to some. I would also understand if some folks felt the 
same way about Birding issues focused only on conservation issues.

That written, conservation awareness has become inextricable from 
responsible birding. Part of adhering to the code of ethics of the 
ABA or the personal code of anyone who cares about wild birds 
includes respecting the birds' need for adequate habitat and 
protection from disturbance. If you go to a well-known marsh and play 
tapes for a black rail, your potentially harmful behavior presents a 
disturbance risk that may compromise conservation efforts. In this 
increasingly crowded state and country, I think, in short, the lines 
between birding in North America and birding and thinking about 
conservation issues are blurred these days, and so it's not 
surprising that magazines like Birding take on more of these issues.

When discussing Americans' attitudes about foreign countries, I often 
praise the British for considering the world their backyard. 
Sometimes in the U.S., I think people get caught up in the backyard 
as their world. That's secure and a personal choice. I feel that way 
about my yard sometimes. But I also would not like the publications I 
receive to ignore a growing body of amazing bird lore and knowledge 
that is out there to enjoy. Over the last 20 years, birders have come 
to understand that scarlet tanagers, wood thrushes, American 
redstarts and Baltimore orioles, among many other species, spend 
about a third of their year on Maryland breeding grounds. Where they 
spend the rest has the world to do with our enjoyment of these birds 
at home. Groups like the American Bird Conservancy and The Nature 
Conservancy have taken their focus far beyond our borders for these 
reasons. Kenn Kaufmann, in an attempt to help support growing 
conservation awareness in the Latino community within our country and 
beyond our borders, undertook the monumental and financially 
unrewarding task of having his field guide translated into Spanish.

My opinion on the Birding issue is this: that there's always a place 
for conservation and international stories, but that their place in 
Birding is perhaps best served in but one or two of the articles per 
issue. I too miss the identification articles and the regular mix of 
birding location tips, North American focused articles, and the like. 
But I will continue to look for those international stories that 
highlight birds we rarely glimpse in books or on TV--or at all. Birds 
know no boundaries and while the ABA does, I salute them for 
sometimes going beyond them.

Howard Youth
Bethesda, MD