perhaps no one should post sightings from now on unless you can provide 
photos, at least of anything unusual.  that might be the best course for 
those who so strongly  argue that such is the only acceptable evidence 
for this bird.

and I would also opine that comparing those who judge that they have 
seen the IBWO to ghost busters is a rather strong personal attack.   
there is evidence available to all of us, there are also the personal 
judgments of individuals some of us know and some of us do not.  we can 
all hold our individual opinions/judgments concerning the reviewable 
evidence -- the film & the audio tape -- and we can each decide whether 
we give credence to the judgments of those who claim to have seen the bird.

I am personally highly skeptical about whether the IBWO has been seen, 
but that skepticism is far different than my intending to cast doubt, in 
public or privately, on birders of long experience & demonstrated 
competence who believe they have seen it.  I just need more to be 
/confident/ myself that the IBWO survives.

chris kessler

Parke wrote:
> Where's the photos?
>
> Parke.
>
> On 3/16/2007, "Bill Ellis" <> wrote:
>
>   
>> If birders doubt the many sightings by birders on the Cornell
>> team and the many sightings reported in Gallagher's book, then
>> how reliable are the reports of birds on MDOsprey, even the ones
>> seen by multiple observers?  The whole experience of birding, of
>> Christmas Counts, of the MD Breeding Bird Atlas, etc. etc. rely
>> on multiple confirming observations corresponding to fact.  The
>> skeptics are making a special exception to the underlying
>> assumption that developed in the 20th century, that field birding
>> does not require bagging the bird.  That field guides and written
>> observations are as good as a shotgun.
>>
>> If you are an ornithologist, I can believe you need better proof.
>> If you are a birder, then you need to ask yourself, how many
>> confirming reports do I need to believe other birders' sightings?
>>
>> I went to Arkansas.  I know what I saw through 10x binocs at
>> about 100 ft range.  I am just one of many birders and
>> non-birders who have seen an IBWO in recent years.  Do the travel
>> - see the bird - cut us some slack.
>>
>> Bill Ellis
>>     
>
>
>