Richard,
I for one can say that if it weren't for the friendly Maryland birders I met
when I first moved down here in 1993, I would still be crashing through the
woods, wandering aimlessly, my pants in tatters and my field guide ripped to
shreds as I wailed inconsolably about the dearth of birds to be seen here in
the flatlands (anyone not from Vermont is automatically a "flatlander").
People are people everywhere in the world, and the number one rule is: treat
them as you would want to be treated. Good birding to you!
Frank
***********************
Frank "The Hermit" Boyle
Rohrersville, MD
***********************
-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of RICHARD JILL WOOD
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 10:57 PM
To:
Subject: [MDOSPREY] an apology
Dear all,First off, I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year.That
being said, I would like to, at this time, apologize to you for being a
pain in everyone's side in the past year. However, at the same time,
I feel that I was somewhat justified, because I feel that I was not exactly
greeted warmly when I arrived in Maryland in September of 2005. I posted a
request for someone to join me in birding locally, and all I got was one
response, and that was from someone many miles from where I live.
I know there are at least three members of MDOSprey that live near to where
I live, Kye Jenkins, Debbie Terry, and a person living in Towson, whose name
escapes me (Steve Sanford?), yet none of these people responded to my
request for a local birding partner.A few years ago, I almost moved to
Massachussetts, and I posted on their bird list requesting about possible
birding partners, and I got several responses. This led me to label
Maryland birders as "unfriendly". When some responded that they weren't
unfriendly, it only made me more angry, as nobody would put their money
where there mouth was. I guess I got what I asked for.It also upset me when
I reported sightings of birds that I have seen before and others on the list
question my judgement. Some of the off-list mails that I got were downright
mean, including ones from George Jett, Ed Boyd, Matt Hoffman, Hans Holbrook,
and others. I suppose on could say that I deserved it. I believe that Jay
Jones was the one that came up with the term that I used to death, "The High
Priests of Local Birding", and Gerry Tarbell clued me in to the late Rick
Strom's behavior toward "newbies"; I quote him here, "Rick lived over near
Bel Air. Local guru to say the least. When he would jump in on discussions
on the MDOsprey, it usually ended them. It was like he was the final word
and nobody much challenged him." I decided to challenge the experts and got
crushed like a bug.Again, I apologize for the way things went in 2006 on
MDOsprey. I know that I didn't make any friends, and I would like to make
amends in 2007. I'd like to be able to go birding and to report what I see,
but it's probably too late for that. For what it's worth, my best sighting
of the year so far is a Merlin.Best regards,Richard
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