Subject: Re: a "Generation X" Perspective (fwd)
Date: Jun 12 13:39:53 1994
From: dan owens - danjo at HALCYON.COM

I really enjoyed Rob Scott's comments and feel he made some very
good points. It seems odd to me that so many people seem to need to make
quality judgements about other birders. There are, of course, many
different types and styles of birders and birding, but isn't the important
thing the fact that we enjoy and value birds?

Some people feel that some birders use bird books too much and
that it will somehow limit their abilities as observers. It seems to me
that no matter where your training comes from, whether it be a book,
another birder, or making sketches and comparing them to pictures at a
later time, you will become a better observer in time. I feel that the
most important thing in this process is that the birder want to learn.

I learned about birds and started being interested in observing
them because of my Grandmother, who by most definitions wasn't even a
"birder", she just liked birds. One interesting tool she used to teach
me was a card game that was similar to Gin Rummy, but used bird families
instead of suits or numbers. After that beginning, most of my
identification knowledge has come from field guides and experience.

My wife has gained her skills almost entirely from me and, of
course, experience. When she started, I usually told her what a bird was
and then why it wasn't some other type of bird. Now we usually either
compete to identify the bird or work together when it is something new
or difficult. The point of this is that we are both good birders and I
don't believe that our different learning paths have affected our
abilities or enjoyment of birding.

Rob made a particularly interesting comment about people with some of a
naturalist bug in them. It has always seemed odd to me that some birders
watch and really enjoy birds without knowing much about them. I have met
many birders who don't know the alarm call of a Chickadee. I have
noticed many new or interesting birds because my Chickadee buddies have
let me know there was something nearby (usually a raptor!). One time
birding with three other people in Alaska, I heard their call and asked
the others if they knew about alarm calls. They all said that they had
never heard about them before. I explained about the calls and then
pointed out some more alarm calls the Chickadees were making. As we
turned in the direction of the Chickadees, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, flying
about five feet off of the ground, actually flew through our group! I
was instantly elevated to guru status and expected to produce birds on
command!

I personally appreciate all birders and am glad there are people
who value birds and hopefully all wildlife. If enough of us enjoy nature
perhaps we can save some for the future. The important thing is that we
care about nature, and not our equipment or style.

+----------------------------------+
| Dan Owens danjo at halcyon.com |
| North Bend, Wa |
+----------------------------------+

================

From: Kevin Vang <Kevin.Vang at MQ.EDU.AU>

In response to Dan Owen's excellent article on birding.

IMHO, this has been the best response of the the lot!! I couldn't agree
more. Each to their own. My Aunt May always said there's two important
things that everybody must work very hard all their life to do--find their
own way to God and their own way to bird!!

Kevin

******************************************************************************
Dr. Kevin Vang: School of Earth Sciences or the School of History, Philosophy
and Politics, The Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2019, AUSTRALIA

Director, Environment and Development Group International, 64/302 Burns Bay Rd
Lane Cove, NSW 2066 AUSTRALIA Email <kvang at laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au>

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